The Board of Supervisors Tuesday will consider establishing an Independent Ethics Commission, a proposal that was initially included in a package of county government changes expected to go before voters in November.
On July 9, at the urging of Supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey Horvath, the board instructed its attorneys to draft an ordinance outlining a series of changes to the county charter that are expected to go before voters in November, including an expansion of the board to nine members and making the CEO an elected position. That package also included establishing an Office of Ethics Compliance led by an Ethics Compliance Officer in 2026.
But Supervisor Kathryn Barger said during that meeting that establishing an Ethics Commission was something the board could do right away, without need of a public vote, and she vowed to bring a motion to begin the process.
That motion, co-authored by Horvath, will go before the board Tuesday, calling on the county to set up an Ethics Commission to “oversee ethics, financial disclosures, lobbying, and campaign finance laws.”
“Ethics reform is not just about compliance with rules and laws, but about instilling a culture of integrity and responsibility within government to the benefit of the constituents it serves,” the motion reads.
“It sets the tone for how organizations govern and how elected and appointed leaders behave, ensuring a more ethical future, based on established principles and a deep-rooted sense of integrity.”
If approved, the County Counsel will be asked to report back to the board in 30 days on the creation of the proposed commission, which would contain five members — subject matter experts appointed by neutral authorities. The members will be tasked with overseeing conduct of county officials, financial disclosures and lobbying, along with regularly reviewing the County Code.
A final proposal to establish the Ethics Commission is expected to be presented to the Board on Sept. 10, 2024.
The board on Tuesday is also expected to give initial approval of the actual ordinance containing the other proposed charter changes, which require voter approval and would be placed on the Nov. 5 ballot.
If approved Tuesday, the ordinance will come back to the board for a final vote to officially add the item to the ballot.
Charter amendments included in the ordinance include expanding the board from its current five members to nine in 2030, transitioning the CEO position to an elected official by 2028, and establishing a Governance Reform Task Force and Charter Review Commission.
The changes also includes establishment of two new positions — a director of Budget and Management, and a County Legislative Analyst — by 2028.