Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026 The Ethics Review Commission convened in a Special Called meeting on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Austin City Hall, Boards & Commissions Room #1101, at 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Pumfrey called the Ethics Review Commission Meeting to order at 6:09 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance In-Person: Chair Ross Pumfrey, Vice-Chair Brittany Sharkey and Commissioners Jefferey Campbell, Luis Figueroa, Patrick Keel, and Brian McGiverin. Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Michael Lawson. Commissioners Absent: Commissioners William King, Haksoon Andrea Low, Wallace Lundgren and Cynthia Soliz. Staff in Attendance: Victoria Hayslett, Executive Liaison & Assistant City Attorney; Lizette Benitez, Staff Liaison; and Mia Warner, Strategic Communications Consultant. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No one signed up to speak during public communication. BRIEFINGS 1. Briefing from League of Women Voters-Austin Area (LWV-AA) regarding City Council Candidate Forum planning. LWV-AA President, Carol Eckelkamp and LWV-AA Chair, Pam Bixby were present to brief the Commission on how their organization operates and how they notify the public of their resources to educate and empower voters for the upcoming candidate forum events. 2. Briefing from staff regarding City Council Candidate Forum planning, including schedule and locations. [Mia Warner, Strategic Communications Consultant, Austin Communications and Engagement] City Strategic Communications Consultant, Mia Warner was present to brief the Commission on the upcoming candidate forum events schedule and locations. 1 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. 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 Kimberly Hawkins against Paige Ellis raising claimed violations of City Charter, Article III, Section 8 (Limits on Campaign Contributions and Expenditures). Alan Bojorquez, Outside Counsel for the Commission, was present to advise the Commission. Victoria Hayslett, Assistant City Attorney and Executive Liaison for the Commission, was present to advise the commission on procedural questions. PRELIMINARY HEARING 4. A complaint filed by Kimberly Hawkins against Paige Ellis raising claimed violations of City Charter, Article III, Section 8 (Limits on Campaign Contributions and Expenditures). Commissioner McGiverin’s motion to find that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of City Charter, Article III, Section 8 (Limits on Campaign Contributions and Expenditures) occurred and move to a final hearing failed on a 2-4-1 vote of all members present. Commissioner Lawson seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Commissioners McGiverin and Lawson. Voting against: Vice-Chair Sharkey and Commissioners Campbell, Figueroa and Keel. Commissioners King, Low, Lundgren, and Soliz were absent; Chair Pumfrey recused. Commissioner McGiverin left the meeting at the conclusion of the preliminary hearing and was absent for the remainder of the items on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 5. Approve the minutes of the Ethics Review Commission Regular Called meeting on April 22, 2026. Commissioner Keel’s motion to approve the minutes was seconded by Vice-Chair Sharkey. The minutes were approved on a 6-0-0 vote of all members present. Voting in favor: Chair Pumfrey, Vice-Chair Sharkey and Commissioners Campbell, Figueroa, Keel and Lawson. Commissioners King, Low, Lundgren, McGiverin and Soliz were absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Conduct the annual election of officers (Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary). Vice-Chair Sharkey’s motion to nominate Chair Pumfrey to continue as Chair of the Commission was seconded by Commissioner Keel. The motion passed on a 6-0-0 vote of all members present. Voting in favor: Chair Pumfrey, Vice-Chair Sharkey and Commissioners Campbell, Figueroa, Keel and Lawson. Commissioners King, Low, Lundgren, McGiverin and Soliz were absent. Commissioner Figueroa’s motion to nominate Vice-Chair Sharkey to continue as Vice-Chair of the Commission was seconded by Commissioner Keel. The motion passed on a 6-0-0 vote of all members present. Voting in favor: Chair Pumfrey, Vice-Chair Sharkey and Commissioners 2 Campbell, Figueroa, Keel and Lawson. Commissioners King, Low, Lundgren, McGiverin and Soliz were absent. Commissioner Keel’s motion to nominate Commissioner Campbell as Secretary of the Commission was seconded by Vice-Chair Sharkey. The motion passed on a 6-0-0 vote of all members present. Voting in favor: Chair Pumfrey, Vice-Chair Sharkey and Commissioners Campbell, Figueroa, Keel and Lawson. Commissioners King, Low, Lundgren, McGiverin and Soliz were absent. 7. Review the need for the Working Group to Review and Revise ERC Rules and Regulations (Commissioners Sharkey and Figueroa). Vice-Chair Sharkey’s motion to disband the Working Group to Review ERC Rules and Regulations was seconded by Commissioner Keel. The motion passed on a 6-0-0 vote of all members present. Voting in favor: Chair Pumfrey, Vice-Chair Sharkey and Commissioners Campbell, Figueroa, Keel and Lawson. Commissioners King, Low, Lundgren, McGiverin and Soliz were absent. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 8. Update from the Working Group to Review ERC Complaints Process (Commissioners Figueroa, Lawson, Low, McGiverin and Soliz). Commissioner Figueora’s motion to postpone this item for the next regular meeting was seconded by Commissioner Keel. The motion passed on a 6-0-0 vote of all members present. Voting in favor: Chair Pumfrey, Vice-Chair Sharkey and Commissioners Campbell, Figueroa, Keel and Lawson. Commissioners King, Low, Lundgren, McGiverin and Soliz were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Update from the Working Group to Review ERC Complaints Process (Commissioners Figueroa, Lawson, Low, McGiverin and Soliz). ADJOURNMENT Chair Pumfrey adjourned the meeting at 7:33 p.m. without objection. The preceding amended minutes were approved on an 8-0-0 vote of all members present at the July 9, 2026 Regular Commission meeting on Vice-Chair Sharkey’s motion and Commissioner Figueroa’s second. Commissioners Campbell, Keel and McGiverin were absent. 3