REPORT TO GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Report and Request for Direction on Proposed Amendments to SCSC Chapter 2.155 ("Regulation of Lobbying Activities") and SCSC Chapter 2.160 ("Calendars of Certain City Officials") to Better Align the Requirements
Report
BACKGROUND
At the March 29, 2021 Governance and Ethics Committee (Committee) meeting, the Committee voted to review the Santa Clara City Code Chapter 2.155 enacted by Ordinance No. 1949 entitled "Regulation of Lobbying Activities" (Lobbyist Ordinance) (Attachment 1) and Chapter 2.160 enacted by Ordinance No. 1950 entitled "Calendars of Certain City Officials" (Calendaring Ordinance) (Attachment 2), to the June 7, 2021 meeting.
At the June 7, 2021 Governance and Ethics Committee meeting, the former City Attorney presented on the Lobbyist Ordinance and Calendaring Ordinance with a verbal report from City Clerk Hosam Haggag. The Committee approved recommendations, included in the next section, to bring forth to the full City Council for consideration.
Due to staff transitions, this item was postponed for further action and discussion. The item was referred to return to the Governance and Ethics Committee Workplan for 2023. The item was deferred to return to Governance and Ethics Committee in early 2024.
DISCUSSION
In December 2015, the City adopted the following:
* Chapter 2.155, entitled "Regulations of Lobbyist Activities", to ensure that there are adequate and effective disclosure of information about efforts to lobby City Government. Lobbyists are required to register with the City and provide semi-annual reports on the lobbying activities that take place. These semi-annual reports require general description of the legislative or administrative action(s) that the lobbyist was retained to influence, and the outcome sought.
* Chapter 2.160, entitled "Calendars of Certain City Officials", to make the calendars of certain City officials open to the public to provide greater transparency ...
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