REPORT TO GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS COMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Title
Presentation by Outside Consultant of the Review of and Recommendations Regarding Existing City's Ethics Policies and Solicitation of Committee Input on Appropriate Next Steps
Report
BACKGROUND
In June 2023, the Governance and Ethics Committee discussed the City's ethics program and referred the matter to the full Council. In July 2023, the City Council heard the item and directed staff to: Conduct a special meeting with the City Council to include AB1234 Ethics annual training with the City Attorney. The AB 1234 training took place on October 26, 2023, and another session is being scheduled for early 2025. The Council also directed staff to explore hiring a consultant for the review of existing City Ethics documents. LCW has been retained to review existing City Ethics documents after a Request for proposal process was completed to solicit qualified firms to review current behavioral standards and existing ethics documents per the City Council direction. Documents identified for review include the City Code of Ethics and Values (Attachment 1), Behavioral Standards for Councilmembers (Attachment 2), the City Council Admonition and Censure Policy (Council Policy 047) (Attachment 3), and the City's "revolving door" ordinance (Attachment 4).
The City received three proposals and selected Liebert Cassidy Whitmore (LCW), a law firm with a 40+ year history providing employment law services to public sector clients. LCW's background in the evaluation of ethical conflicts and the provision of ethics training made them a strong candidate to conduct this work in the City of Santa Clara.
LCW is working on this project, and Morin I. Jacob, the San Francisco Office's Managing Partner, is the lead. Ms. Jacob has an extensive employment law advice and counsel practice wherein she works with clients to develop solutions to challenges and legal issues designed to help prevent litigation. She also advises public agenci...
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