The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to begin the process of establishing an Independent Ethics Commission, a proposal that is also included in a package of proposed county government changes expected to go before voters in November.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger said previously that establishing an Ethics Commission is something the board can do right away, without waiting for a public vote in November, and she vowed to bring a motion to begin the process. That motion, co-authored by Horvath, was approved the board Tuesday in a 5-0 vote, 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.
The motion instructs County Counsel to report back to the board in 30 days on the creation of the proposed commission, which would contain five members who will be tasked with overseeing conduct of county officials, financial disclosures and lobbying, along with regularly reviewing the County Code.
The matter is expected to return to the board on Sept. 10.
Meanwhile, on a separate 3-2 vote, the board gave initial approval to an ordinance that would put the proposed package of county government changes on the Nov. 5 ballot. Those changes would expand the board from its current five members to nine in 2030, transition the CEO position from an appointed to an elected position by 2028, and establish 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.
The package will also still include the establishment of an Ethics Commission, despite the board already moving forward on that effort. Board Chair Lindsey Horvath said if the public votes in favor of the Ethics Commission charter amendment in November, it would codify it into the Charter and ensure it “cannot be undone.”
Barger and Supervisor Holly Mitchell voted against the ordinance calling for the charter election. They had suggested removing the proposal to make the CEO an elected position, saying that job should remain fully non-partisan and be given to someone with the proper qualifications. But the other board members declined to remove that item from the package of proposed changes.
The ordinance will return to the board next week for a final vote.