Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MARCH 26, 2025 The Ethics Review Commission convened in a regular Commission meeting on March 26, 2025, at Austin City Hall, B&C Room #1101, at 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas and via Videoconference. Secretary Stanton-Adams called the Ethics Review Commission meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance In-Person: Secretary Nguyen Stanton-Adams, and Commissioners Luis Figueroa, Mary Kahle, Patrick Keel, Adam Materne, Jordan Preddy and Ross Pumfrey were present at Austin City Hall. Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Commissioner Brittany Sharkey. Commissioners Absent: Commissioners Amy Casto, Haksoon Andrea Low and Brian McGiverin. Staff in attendance: Caroline Webster, Executive Liaison & Assistant City Attorney; and Lizette Benitez, Staff Liaison. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No one signed up to speak during general communication. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Ethics Review Commission may announce it will go into Executive Session pursuant to Chapter 551.071 of the Texas Government Code to receive advice from legal counsel on any matter listed in this agenda. 1. 2. The Commission may go into Executive Session to discuss: A complaint filed by Adam Haynes against Mike Siegel raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance), Section 2-2-13 (Candidates’ Contribution Limits), Section 2-2-21 (Additional Information Required on All Campaign Finance Reports Filed with The City), and City Charter, Article III, Section 8 (Limits on Campaign Contributions and Expenditures). The Ethics Review Commission may announce it will go into Executive Session pursuant to Chapter 551.071 of the Texas Government Code to receive advice from legal counsel to discuss: A complaint filed by Adam Haynes against Zachary Jon Scott Faddis raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance), Section 2-2-3 1 (Conformity With Texas Election Code), Section 2-2-21 (Additional Information Required on All Campaign Finance Reports Filed with The City), Section 2-2-23 (Political Committees), Section 2-2-26 (Filing Of Campaign Finance Report Data), Section 2-2-31 (Definitions), Section 2-2-32 (Reporting of Direct Campaign Expenditures), and Section 2-2-33 (Disclosure Statement Required). 3. The Ethics Review Commission may announce it will go into Executive Session pursuant to Chapter 551.071 of the Texas Government Code to receive advice from legal counsel to discuss: A complaint filed by Jack Chrismon against Carmen Llanes Pulido raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance), Section 2-2-3(B) (Conformity with Texas Election Code). The Commission went into Executive Session at 6:16 p.m. to discuss Items 1, 2 and 3. Outside Counsel, Alan Bojorquez, advised the Commission on Items 1 and 2 during Executive Session. Assistant City Attorney, Caroline Webster advised the Commission on Item 3. The open meeting resumed at 7:34 p.m. The Commission took up Item 7 first on the agenda, followed by Item 8, 4, 5 and 6. As stated in the beginning of the meeting, Item 9 was postponed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4. Approve the minutes of the Ethics Review Commission Special meeting on December 11, 2024. Commissioner Keel’s motion to approve the minutes was seconded by Commissioner Pumfrey. Secretary Stanton-Adams’ motion to approve the meeting minutes with amendments was approved on an 8-0 vote of all members present. Commissioner Materne seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Secretary Stanton Adams, Commissioner Figueroa, Kahle, Keel, Materne, Preddy, Pumfrey and Sharkey. Vice Chair Low and Commissioners Casto, and McGiverin were absent. 5. Approve the minutes of the Ethics Review Commission Regular meeting on January 22, 2025. Commissioner Keel’s motion to approve the minutes was approved on an 8-0 vote of all members present. Commissioner Figueroa seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Secretary Stanton Adams, Commissioner Figueroa, Kahle, Keel, Materne, Preddy, Pumfrey and Sharkey. Vice Chair Low and Commissioners Casto, and McGiverin were absent. 6. Approve the minutes of the Ethics Review Commission Special meeting on February 6, 2025. Commissioner Keel’s motion to approve the minutes was approved on an 8-0 vote of all members present. Commissioner Preddy seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Secretary Stanton Adams, Commissioner Figueroa, Kahle, Keel, Materne, Preddy, Pumfrey and Sharkey. Vice Chair Low and Commissioners Casto, and McGiverin were absent. PRELIMINARY HEARING 2 7. A complaint filed by Adam Haynes against Mike Siegel raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance), Section 2-2-13 (Candidates’ Contribution Limits), Section 2-2-21 (Additional Information Required on All Campaign Finance Reports Filed with The City), and City Charter, Article III, Section 8 (Limits on Campaign Contributions and Expenditures). Parties attending: Complainant, Adam Haynes. Respondent was not present for the preliminary hearing. Complainant provided presentation to the Commission, the Commission asked questions of the complainant. Outside Counsel, Alan Bojorquez was present to advise the Commission. Caroline Webster, Assistant City Attorney and Executive Liaison for the Commission was present to advise the Commission on procedural matters. Commissioner Pumfrey’s motion that the Commission find that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation may have occurred and will move to a final hearing was approved on an 8-0 vote of all members present. Commissioner Keel seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Secretary Stanton-Adams and Commissioners Figueroa, Kahle, Keel, Materne, Preddy, Pumfrey, Sharkey. Vice-Chair Low and Commissioners Casto and McGiverin were absent. 8. A complaint filed by Adam Haynes against Zachary Jon Scott Faddis raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance), Section 2-2-3 (Conformity with Texas Election Code), Section 2-2-21 (Additional Information Required on All Campaign Finance Reports Filed with The City), Section 2-2-23 (Political Committees), Section 2- 2-26 (Filing of Campaign Finance Report Data), Section 2-2-31 (Definitions), Section 2- 2-32 (Reporting of Direct Campaign Expenditures), and Section 2-2-33 (Disclosure Statement Required). Parties attending: Complainant, Adam Haynes; and Respondent, Zachary Jon Scott Faddis were present in person. Both parties provided presentation to the Commission, and the Commission asked questions of both parties. Outside Counsel, Alan Bojorquez was present to advise the Commission. Caroline Webster, Assistant City Attorney and Executive Liaison for the Commission was present to advise the Commission on procedural matters. Commissioner Materne’s motion that the Commission find that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation may have occurred and will move to a final hearing was approved on an 8-0 vote of all members present. Commissioner Keel seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Secretary Stanton-Adams and Commissioners Figueroa, Kahle, Keel, Materne, Preddy, Pumfrey, Sharkey. Vice-Chair Low and Commissioners Casto and McGiverin were absent. 9. A complaint filed by Jack Chrismon against Carmen Llanes Pulido raising claimed violations of City Code Chapter 2-2 (Campaign Finance), Section 2-2-3(B) (Conformity with Texas Election Code). Acting Chair, Secretary Stanton-Adams, granted respondents postponement request. 3 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Officer elections • Discussion on Commission authority to bring forth complaints: Review of relevant bylaws and open discussion on whether the ERC wants to initiate this practice in future meetings • Review of the transition timeline for exiting and incoming commissioners ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Kahle’s motion to adjourn the meeting was approved unanimously by all members present. Commissioner Materne seconded the motion. The Commission adjourned the meeting at 9:16 p.m. The preceding amended minutes were approved on an 6-0-3 vote of all members present at the April 23, 2025 Regular Commission meeting on Commissioner Kahle’s motion and Commissioner Materne’s second. Commissioners King, Low and McGiverin abstained; and Commissioners Casto and Figueroa were absent. 4