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ANAVI HERE.[CALL TO ORDER]
DAVE VAN DICKUS.[ROLL CALL]
HERE.CAN I HAVE A MOTION ON THE RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CITY'S LOBBYIST ORDINANCE? AND IF APPROPRIATE, PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE NEXT STEPS REGARDING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL? I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DE BENEDICTUS
[1. 23-24674 Recommendation to receive and file public input regarding proposed changes to the City’s lobbyist ordinance; and if appropriate, provide feedback to the Ad Hoc Committee on next steps regarding a recommendation to the City Council. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]
AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER AVE.AND BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, I'D JUST LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THE SURVEY THAT WE ISSUED.
UM, STAFF WAS MADE AWARE OF IT.
THEY'VE MADE US AWARE OF IT, AND WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE SURVEY RESULTS WITH, UH, AN AGAINST EYE.
BUT THAT IS ALSO WHY WE WANTED TO HAVE THIS PUBLIC HEARING, WAS TO RECEIVE FURTHER COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE.
AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM RIGHT NOW.
IF SOME PEOPLE ARE LISTENING ONLINE AND ARE SEEKING TO COME, WE'RE GOING TO STAY HERE GIVING PEOPLE PLENTY OF TIME TO COME IN AND PROVIDE COMMENT.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO ALL OF US ON THE COMMISSION.
UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT GO FORWARD FROM THIS BODY TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR ARE WELL THOUGHT OUT AND HAVE FULL INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY IN CITY GOVERNMENT.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OPEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE US WITH INPUT.
BEFORE WE GO WITH ANYTHING TO THE COUNCIL, WOULD ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION LIKE TO MAKE ANY STATEMENTS BEFORE I OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC? OKAY.
UM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION.
I'M A 28 YEAR RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH, AND I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD OF THE BELMONT SHORE RESIDENT ASSOCIATION FOR 14 YEARS, THE LAST TWO AS PRESIDENT.
LAST AUGUST, I GRADUATED FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS A FIVE MONTH INITIATIVE OFFERED BY THE CITY TO PROVIDE GRASSROOTS RESIDENTS WITH THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND RESOURCES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
I LOVE OUR CITY'S NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO SUPPORT AND REPRESENT THEIR NEIGHBORS VIA THE MANY IMPROVEMENT IN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
I'M AN ACT, I'M ACTIVE IN MY COMMUNITY BECAUSE I WANT TO BE PRESENT AND REPRESENT MY NEIGHBORS.
I WANT TO ENSURE MY FELLOW RESIDENTS ARE AWARE OF CITY AND DISTRICT EVENTS, LOCAL ISSUES, AND UNCO UPCOMING LEGISLATION.
I WANT OUR CITY TO BE THE BEST IT CAN BE.
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS APPOINTED TO THE CITY'S COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES, AGAIN, BECAUSE I WANNA HELP OUR CITY DO BETTER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND ERADICATING BARRIERS.
AS NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, WE STRUGGLE TO STAY ON TOP OF CITY PROJECTS, PROCESSES, AND LEGISLATION BECAUSE WE ARE VOLUNTEERS WORKING DURING OUR FREE TIME.
BECAUSE WE ARE VOLUNTEERS WORKING DURING OUR FREE TIME CITY OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION IS OFTEN LACKING OR MISDIRECTED.
WE HAVE TO LEARN WHO IS IN CHARGE OF WHAT DEPARTMENTS DIFFER IN THEIR REQUIREMENTS.
SOME CITY OFFICIALS DON'T RESPOND TO US, SOME PRAS DON'T COME BACK WITH RESPONSES FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, ONE YEAR IN ONE RECENT CASE.
UH, BUT WE CONTINUE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR NEIGHBORS.
EVEN WHEN THE TOPIC DOES NOT AFFECT US AS INDIVIDUALS, WE STILL WORK TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WAS CONCERNING TO LEARN THAT THE CHAIR OF VICE CHAIR AND ETHICS OFFICER MET WITH TWO NONPROFITS, BUT NOT WITH ANY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
WE ARE QUITE DIFFERENT FROM NOT NONPROFITS, AND I WONDER WHY OUR VOICES ARE NOT BEING HEARD.
MANY OF US ALSO FELT THE SURVEY WAS REMISS IN NOT EXPLAINING THE FULL SITUATION TO RESIDENTS.
MOST FOLKS DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN A NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION.
WHAT COSTS ARE INVOLVED, THE AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEER TIME NEEDED, THE LACK OF ACCESS WE HAVE TO CITY STAFF AND INFORMATION AT TIMES TO START REQUIRING THAT WE AS OVERWORKED VOLUNTEERS BEGIN RECORDING AND DOCUMENTING OUR PREP TIME.
WORKING HOURS AND INTERACTIONS WITH CITY OFFICIALS WOULD BE AN UNDUE BURDEN.
IT WOULD ALSO CREATE MORE OF A HURDLE IN RECEIVING RESPONSES FROM CITY STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE BELMONT SHORE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION'S OPERATING BUDGET IS LESS THAN $1,800 A YEAR.
HOW CAN WE BE COMPARED TO LOBBYISTS? AND IF NONPROFITS WITH $50,000 OR LESS ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO REGISTER, THEN WHY WOULD WE FINALLY, THE CURRENT REGISTRATION FEE OF $129 AND THE POTENTIAL DAILY LATE FEES OF 32 WOULD BE BURDENSOME TO OUR ORGANIZATION THAT BARELY COVERS ITS BUDGET
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WITH ITS DUES.PLEASE DO NOT NOT MAKE THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT WOULD LUMP NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS IN WITH LOBBYISTS.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY NOR THE ACCESS THAT LOBBYISTS HAVE.
I URGE YOU TO EXCLUDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS FROM THESE PROPOSED ORDINANCE CHANGES.
OH MY GOD, I DID YOU SEE THAT? I DID
THEY WERE INCLUDED IN THE SURVEY BECAUSE WE, WE DIDN'T WANT TO, WE DIDN'T WANNA HAVE ANY BIAS IN WHAT WE WERE ASKING.
SO WE THOUGHT THAT BY INCLUDING THEM, IF, IF THE RESIDENTS THOUGHT THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD EXPLORE.
AND OUR MEETING WITH THE NONPROFITS WAS AT THEIR REQUEST.
SO IF ANYONE FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH US, WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT.
ALSO, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ALLOWED TO ASK A QUESTION, BUT YOU CAN.
ARE YOU ANTICIPATING THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS MIGHT BE ADDED BACK IN? NOT AT THIS TIME.
I WANNA I WANNA GIVE YOU THAT LEVEL OF COMFORT.
YEAH, NO, WE JUST, WE WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION, BUT AT THIS TIME, NO, WE DON'T SEE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS BEING ADDED BACK IN.
MY NAME IS IAN PATTON, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND LONG TIME, UH, INVOLVED WITH THE REFORM EFFORTS IN THE CITY, INCLUDING, UH, CO-FOUNDING THE LONG BEACH REFORM COALITION.
UM, I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH, UH, THE LAST SPEAKER AND I'M, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, ORGANIZATIONS ARE EXEMPT.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS.
UM, BUT I, I WANT TO SUGGEST SOMETHING THAT I ACTUALLY STATED BEFORE WHEN THIS PLACE WAS FULL.
I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED HOW, HOW MUCH SPACE THERE IS HERE.
UM, BUT, UH, TO ME WHAT REALLY SIMPLIFIES THIS IS A LOBBYIST IS SOMEBODY WHO IS PAID TO COMMUNICATE WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OR GOVERNMENT STAFF.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND LOBBYISTS ARE, BELIEVE ME, ARE ALWAYS PAID TO DO WHAT THEY DO.
SO THAT, THAT REALLY CLARIFIES THINGS.
UM, IF SOMEBODY IS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, A A A SELF-EMPLOYED LOBBYIST OR IS, UH, AN EMPLOYEE OF A CORPORATION OR A UNION OR EVEN A WEALTHY NONPROFIT, UH, IF THEY'RE PAID TO COMMUNICATE WITH OFFICIALS, THEY'RE LOBBYING AND IT'S NO BURDEN ON THEM TO HAVE TO REGISTER, DO DISCLOSURES, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
THOSE ARE ORGANIZATIONS WITH A BUDGET, WITH STAFF, THEY CAN HANDLE THAT.
SO I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO EXCLUDE AN ORGANIZATION JUST BECAUSE IT'S A NONPROFIT, BUT IF IT'S VOLUNTEERS, LIKE ALL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ARE, I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU'RE JUST A, A RESIDENT ACTING AS A VOLUNTEER, YOU HAVE A, A, A BASIC RIGHT UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, I BELIEVE, TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND YOUR STAFF AND, AND NOT BE RESTRICTED IN ANY WAY.
UM, SO IF YOU START OUT WITH, OKAY, IS THIS PERSON BEING PAID AS THE BASIC DIFFERENTIATOR, UH, THEN YOU CAN HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL CARVE OUTS.
LIKE I WOULD SAY, UH, ONE THING JUST TO BE SUPER SAFE IS YOU CAR CARVE OUT ANYBODY WHO'S A MEMBER OF THE MEDIA BECAUSE THEY'RE FREQUENTLY IN COMMUNICATION WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE NOT A LOBBYIST.
UM, ANOTHER EXCLUSION I WOULD MAKE IS SOMEBODY WHO IS RUNNING A, UM, A BUSINESS CORRIDOR ASSOCIATION LIKE AN RE AND BIXBY KNOWLES.
WE HAVE B-K-B-I-A, YOU KNOW, UH, BUT I'M NOT SURE THEY HAVE A BUSINESS CORRIDOR ASSOCIATION THERE.
OTHERS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY FREQUENT COMMUNICATION WITH THE COUNCIL OFFICE FOR THEIR AREA.
AND THEY HAVE VERY SMALL STAFFS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE PAID, USUALLY ONE OR TWO OR THREE PEOPLE AND THEY'RE IN LIKE DAILY COMMUNICATION.
SO IT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE FOR THEM TO HAVE THE EXTRA BURDEN.
BUT OTHERWISE, I DON'T REALLY SEE ANY REASON TO EXCLUDE ANYBODY WHO IS BEING PAID TO BASICALLY BE REPRESENTING INTERESTS BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT.
MY NAME IS KAREN RE SIDE AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH GRAY PANTHERS.
WE ARE A 5 0 1 C THREE NONPROFIT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND OUR SOLE MISSION IS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY ON OLDER ADULT ISSUES.
THIS ORDINANCE MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS.
I HAVE WORKED FOR NONPROFITS FOR OVER 35 YEARS AND ANYTHING THAT PROPOSES TO ADD A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON A NONPROFIT THAT TAKES AWAY MONEY FROM NONPROFITS DELIVERING THEIR
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MISSIONS, I WANT YOU TO THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE.WE ARE AN ALL VOLUNTEER NONPROFIT.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA END UP APPLYING TO US OR NOT, BUT I CERTAINLY SPEND MORE THAN 50 HOURS OVER THREE MONTHS WITH CITY LEADERS, ALSO STATE AND FEDERAL LEADERS.
I'M ALSO ON THE LA COUNTY COMMISSION ON AGING.
AND, UH, MOST OF WHAT I DO DO INVOLVES ADVOCATING FOR THE NEEDS, ESPECIALLY OF OUR LOW INCOME SENIORS THAT HAVE VERY LIMITED RESOURCES ADVOCATING FOR THEIR NEEDS.
UM, I DON'T WANNA HAVE TO REGISTER.
I DO THIS BECAUSE I'M PASSIONATE AND, UM, THERE'S NO ONE ELSE DOING THIS WORK FOR OUR SENIORS.
WE'RE GONNA BE THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION VERY SOON.
AND, UM, THEY HAVE A LOT OF UNMET NEEDS.
I COME TO CITY COUNCIL ALMOST EVERY WEEK AND DO ADVOCACY WORK.
SO I WANT YOU TO BE VERY CAREFUL HOW YOU DEFINE WHAT IT IS YOU'RE 'CAUSE.
UM, THERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES.
WE DON'T PAY ANYBODY TO ADVOCATE.
AND, UH, I KNOW MOST NONPROFITS STAY AWAY FROM ADVOCACY BECAUSE THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC RULES FROM THE IRS THAT DEFINED WHAT LOBBYING IS.
AND MOST NONPROFITS THAT I, I'M AWARE OF OPERATE WITHIN THOSE PARAMETERS.
I THINK THIS IS A DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS AND I SEE IT'S BECAUSE, I THINK IT'S BECAUSE A PROFESSIONAL LOBBYIST HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT HAPPY BECAUSE THE NONPROFITS ARE BANDING TOGETHER AND HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO PUSH THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE WANTED THAT WOULD HAVE A VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.
SO NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THAT.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE MOTIVATION BEHIND PEOPLE BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND THINK VERY, VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.
I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO MAKE THIS GO UP A LITTLE HIGHER.
MY NAME IS CAROLINA S I'M THE SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER AT THE NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIP.
AND THIS IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN A TOP PRIORITY FOR US, AN ISSUE OF A LOT OF CONCERN.
WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ELIMINATING THE NONPROFIT EXEMPTION FROM THE CITY'S ORDINANCE AND EXPANDING THE SCOPE TO INCLUDE ADVOCACY.
WHILE WE SUPPORT GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE EXEMPTED FROM THE CITY'S, UH, LOBBYING ORDINANCE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
ONE, AS A 5 0 1 C THREE ORGANIZATION, WE ALREADY REPORT OUR LOBBYING WORK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WE HAVE LIMITS ON LOBBYING IMPOSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AS YOU'RE LIKELY AWARE, 5 0 1 C THREE ORGANIZATIONS ARE UNIQUE IN THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE STRICT LOBBYING RESTRICTIONS PLACED UPON THEM BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE OFTEN, UH, NONPROFITS ARE OFTEN THE ONLY VOICE FOR MARGINALIZED AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES MAKING SUCH ORGANIZATIONS JUMP OVER.
YET ANOTHER HURDLE TO REGISTER AND REPORT AS LOCAL LOBBYISTS IS LIKELY TO HAVE A VERY CHILLING INF EFFECT ON THE PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC DEBATE AND COLLABORATION.
AND YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD A COUPLE OF VERY ARTICULATE EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS HAS COME AND HOW IT HELPS COMMUNITIES.
SECOND REASON, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH'S REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, BOTH THE EXISTING REQUIREMENTS AND THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
NONPROFITS DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO JUGGLE MULTIPLE AND CONFLICTING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
NONPROFITS ARE UNDERSTAFFED, OVERBURDENED, AND SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO COMPLY WITH MULTIPLE AND CONFLICTING LOBBYING REQUIREMENTS.
THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WOULD BE THAT FOR NONPROFITS WITH, UH, THAT WOULD BE THAT NONPROFITS WITHDRAW FROM LOCAL LOBBYING ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BECAUSE THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING THEIR TAX EXEMPT STATUS.
THE CITY WOULD THEREFORE NO LONGER HAVE THE BENEFIT OF, UH, THESE VOICES IN THE PUBLIC ARENA IN WHICH WE HELP LIFT THE VOICES OF DISENFRANCHISED AND MARGINALIZED RESIDENTS.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FINANCIAL INCENTIVE OR GAIN WHEN WE LOBBY AS WE ARE LOBBYING ALONGSIDE AND ON BEHALF OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
NONPROFITS ARE DISTINCT FROM SPECIAL INTEREST PAID LOBBYISTS BECAUSE OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE COMMUNITIES IN NEED NOT TO TURN A PROFIT.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR WORK INCLUDES ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING RELATED TO IMPROVING THE CITY'S LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICY SO THAT LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT RESIDENTS HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO THE CITY'S MEETINGS, VITAL DOCUMENTS AND SERVICES.
OUR WORK ALSO INCLUDES ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING RELATED TO HOUSING POLICIES TO HELP ENSURE THAT LOW INCOME RENTERS
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LIVE IN HABITABLE HOUSING AND THAT THEY DO NOT BECOME DISPLACED AND UNHOUSED.UNLIKE PAID LOBBYISTS, NON-PROFITS DO NOT ENGAGE IN LOBBYING TO MAKE MONEY FURTHER, UH, CORPORATE INTEREST OR FURTHER THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL PROFILES, BUT TO SERVE THEIR MISSIONS OF HELPING PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THE IMMEDIATE OUTCOME.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS WAITING ON ZOOM? YES, I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO OR THERE'S TWO ATTENDING THE MEETING.
I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WANNA SPEAK.
CAN WE CHECK ONE SPEAKER JUST RAISED THEIR HAND.
BRIAN COCHRAN, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE YOU AND YOUR TIME WILL START NOW.
CAN YOU JUST CONFIRM YOU CAN HEAR ME THOUGH? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
I'M JOINING YOU FROM 2000 MILES AWAY AFTER TRAVELING ALL DAY.
UH, I JUST BECAME AWARE OF THIS MEETING JUST FAIRLY RECENTLY AND UH, I'M NOT FULLY AWARE OF ALL THE CHANGES IN THE LEGISLATION THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED AND HOW THEY'VE EVOLVED.
BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE HERE WHERE IN A DESIRE TO CREATE A PLAYING FIELD THAT'S LEVEL AND TRY AND CREATE TRANSPARENCY, THERE'S SORT OF A UNINTENDED SIDE EFFECT HERE WHERE THE PENALIZATION OF NONPROFITS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE ONEROUS TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.
HAVE YOU HEARD, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE SPEAKERS SO FAR, UM, WHAT YOU WIND UP HAVING HERE THOUGH IS ESSENTIALLY EQUATING LOBBYISTS WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND LIMITED SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES AND CONVERSATIONS WITH CITY LEADERS AS IT IS.
AND I DRAW A A POINT WITH BUSINESSES ARE ESSENTIALLY ALREADY TREATED BOTH AS THE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS AND AS THE CORPORATIONS.
THEY ARE WITH VIRTUALLY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO, UH, CITY OFFICIALS ALREADY.
WE'VE JUST HEARD FROM, UH, ABOUT AN ORGAN, UH, A BUSINESS THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY, UH, IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITY ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT'S BEFORE IT.
BUT THE CITIZENS AND THE NONPROFITS IN THE SAME SPHERE DON'T GET THAT SAME KIND OF ACCESS.
WE'RE FIGHTING TO BE HEARD ON ANY FORM WHATSOEVER TO TAKE THIS AND EQUATE THOSE TWO, UH, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND, UH, NONPROFITS WOULD BE DEFINITELY ONEROUS TO ALL THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND THEY'RE NOT AT ALL CLOSE TO WHAT LOBBYISTS AND BUSINESSES ACTING ON THEIR OWN INTERESTS ARE LIKE IN THE WAY IT'S EQUATED.
I WOULD URGE THE COMMISSION TO LOOK FURTHER AT THE SPECIFIC IMPACTS ACROSS A WIDE ARRAY OF AVENUES AND SEE THIS, HOW IT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED MORE EFFECTIVELY.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING, BUT UM, THAT'S MY THOUGHTS ON THE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE ONLINE? I SEE THERE'S ONE MORE PERSON, ONE MORE ATTENDEE IF, UM, BUT HER HAND ISN'T RAISED, THERE'S ANYONE ELSE IN ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
ALL RIGHT, THEN I'D LIKE TO GIVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TIME TO COME.
I DON'T WANNA END THE MEETING EARLY, SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A RECESS FOR UNTIL SIX 30.
IS THAT DOABLE? IT'S WITHIN YOUR DISCRETION IN THE COMMISSION.
LET'S TAKE A RECESS UNTIL SIX 30 AND SEE IF ANYONE ELSE COMES.
SO WE'LL STAND IN RECESS FOR 50 MINUTES.
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WE[00:56:56]
SUPPOSED[00:56:56]
TO[00:56:56]
INITIAL[00:56:56]
SOMEWHERE.[00:56:57]
SO[00:56:57]
AT[00:56:57]
SIX 30 WE WERE TAKING A RECESS UNTIL SIX 30.I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.
I DON'T SEE ANY NEW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE AUDIENCE.
JT, YOU SAID THERE MIGHT BE ONE NEW PERSON IN THE ZOOM ROOM.
AND THEN TAYLOR, ARE WE GOOD OR DO WE NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER ROLL CALL? TAKE ANOTHER ROLL CALL PLEASE.
DO YOU MIND DOING THAT CHAIR? OKAY.
COUNCIL OR COMMISSIONER ABE? HERE.
AND, AND YOU SAID THERE WAS ANOTHER PERSON IN THE ZOOM ROOM? YES.
THERE'S ONE NEW ATTENDEE IN ZOOM.
UM, IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE.
OKAY, WE HAVE ONE PERSON RAISING THEIR HAND.
THANK YOU ANN CANTRELL, YOUR TIME BEGINS NOW.
I ASSUME YOU'RE SPEAKING ON THE, UH, ITEM ABOUT, UH, THE ONLY ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY IS THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE LOBBYIST ORDINANCE.
AND, UH, AS A MEMBER OF A NON-PRO OF SEVERAL NON-PROFITS, I OBJECT TO THIS SUGGESTION.
I THINK IT IS STIFLING FREE SPEECH BY NOT MAKING IT FREE.
AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, GIVE MY OPPOSITION TO THIS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US TONIGHT.
UM, SEEING NO ONE ELSE, WE'RE STILL NOT GONNA ADJOURN BECAUSE WE HAD SAID THIS MEETING WAS GONNA GO UNTIL NINE.
SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA WAIT ANOTHER 30 MINUTES AND SEE IF ANYONE ELSE COMES.
AND IF IT'S STILL SLOW AT THAT TIME, THEN WE'LL ADJOURN.
SO THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO BE IN RECESS FOR ANOTHER 25 MINUTES.
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OKAY.[01:26:12]
IT'S[01:26:13]
SEVEN[01:26:13]
O'CLOCK.[01:26:13]
CAN[01:26:14]
I CALL US BACK TO ORDER? YOU HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE.SO I SEE NO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE MEETING ROOM WISHING TO ADDRESS THIS.
IS THERE ANYONE ONLINE IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND NOW.
SO WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL PERSON.
LET'S SEE IF THEY ARE GOING TO RAISE THEIR HAND.
NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
SO THIS ITEM IS SCHEDULED FOR OUR MEETING ON NOVEMBER 8TH, BUT I WANT TO GIVE THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION A CHANCE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR HAVE ANY DIALOGUE THAT WE WANT TO HAVE NOW, AND THEN GIVE US ALL THE TIME TO GO BACK AND REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN PRESENTED TO US TODAY, WHAT WE'VE HEARD.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF LOOKING AT THE, THE SURVEY TAKING WITH, WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, WHAT YOU WILL OUT OF THAT SURVEY, AND THEN HAVE A DEEPER DISCUSSION AT OUR NOVEMBER 8TH MEETING.
SO IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? I HEAR SOMEBODY TAPPING, BUT I DON'T SEE THEIR NAME COMING UP.
IS THAT COMMISSIONER SHOTWELL? YEAH, I'LL TRY.
UH, JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT I WOULD, UM, LIKE FOR THE AD HOC TO CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT.
UH, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AT PREVIOUS COMMISSION MEETINGS WHERE THIS TOPIC HAS COME UP.
UM, AND ONE, AND IT CAME UP IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT ONE, I'D LIKE TO REALLY EXPLORE ANY POSSIBILITIES OF THE DUTIES, UH, REALLY TO BE PUT ON THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OR CITY OFFICIALS WHO ARE RECEIVING THE MEETINGS AS OPPOSED TO THOSE WHO ARE ACTUALLY SOLICIT OR HAVING THE MEETINGS.
AND SO DOING, I'D LIKE TO ALSO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE DOING SO IT'S, IT'S PROVIDING ADEQUATE TIME FOR OTHERS TO HAVE NOTICE AND BE ABLE TO DO, UH, ALSO GET IN IF THEY SEE A PARTICULAR, UH, MEETING HAPPENING.
THE SECOND AREA THAT I'M GONNA STUDY MORE IS I JUST REALLY WANT TO THINK THROUGH THE, I HAVE SOME VERY HIGH LEVEL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS HAVING PARTICIPATED WITH NONPROFITS, BUT THE 5 0 1 C THREE EXEMPTIONS, UH, AND REALLY HOW THAT PLAYS IN HERE IN TERMS OF THEM NOT ACTUALLY BEING, UH, PLAYING A LOBBYING OR ADVOCACY ROLE.
I MEAN, SO I WILL BE, BE EXPLORING THAT JUST IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THE AD HOC ALREADY HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WISH TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? OKAY.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE AD HOC IS GOING TO HAVE NEW DRAFT READY FOR OUR DISCUSSION IN NOVEMBER.
SO PLEASE REALLY THINK ABOUT THINGS THAT YOU WANT THE AD HOC TO, TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AS IT GETS TOGETHER TO REALLY START LOOKING AT THIS.
UNFORTUNATELY, OUR CALENDARS DON'T MESH OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS FOR US TO GET TOGETHER BEFORE OUR NOVEMBER 8TH MEETING.
AND THEN, BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC MEETING, JUST BEFORE WE CLOSE, I WANT TO MAKE A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE AN OPENING ON THE COMMISSION AND THAT WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS AND THE APPLICATION PERIOD CLOSES ON MONDAY.
SO IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED, THEY CAN GO ONLINE TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION WEBSITE AND FILE AN
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APPLICATION THERE SEEING IF NO ONE ELSE HAS JOINED US ON ZOOM OR THE COMMISSIONER NORWAY WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.UH, JUST TO CLARIFY, UM, WHEN YOU STARTED SPEAKING AGAIN, YOU SAID THIS ITEM, THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE LOBBYIST ORDINANCE WILL BE COMING BACK ON NOVEMBER 8TH.
SO I, WHEN, WHEN WE SET THE AGENDA FOR THE NOVEMBER 8TH MEETING, WE HAD NO IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT COME TO THIS MEETING AND IF WE WOULD OR WOULDN'T HAVE TIME TO HAVE ANY DISCUSSION AMONGST OURSELVES TO KIND OF TRY AND GIVE GUIDANCE OF WHERE WE WERE THINKING TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE AND, YOU KNOW, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT EVERYTHING.
I FIGURED I'D REALLY RATHER EVERYONE STILL COME BACK AT THE NOVEMBER 8TH MEETING TO REALLY HAVE A MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION AND THEN THE AD HOC CAN GO BACK.
THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
'CAUSE I WASN'T SURE, YOU SAID NOVEMBER 8TH AND THEN YOU MENTIONED DECEMBER.
THAT IS MY, MY TIRED BRAIN FROM HAVING BEEN UP SINCE THREE O'CLOCK THIS MORNING.
SO ROBUST CONVERSATION, DISCUSSION NOVEMBER ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S COME FORWARD.
EIGHTH AND THEN HOPEFULLY DECEMBER WITH THE MORE SOLID PROPOSED CHANGES ALMOST TO A FINAL.
ANYTHING ELSE? SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WHO TOOK THE TIME OUT TO COME AND TALK TO US TODAY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE A VOTE ON THIS? OH, THAT'S RIGHT.
COULD YOU CALL THE QUESTION PLEASE? OH, YOU KNOW, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE LOST OUR MOVERS.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHO WAS THE MOTION OR SECONDER? OH, I SEE IT UP THERE.
COMMISSIONER SHOT WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR YOU.
OH WAIT, I CAN DO A VOICE VOTE FOR YOU IF YOU'D LIKE.
AND WE'LL STAND ADJOURNED EVERYONE.
HAVE A GOOD EVENING AND A FUN AND SAFE HALLOWEEN.