Oakland City Council to Vote on Ethics Rules Tonight

The Oakland City Council is expected tonight to finalize its vote to reform the city’s ethics rules, city officials said. At today’s 5:30 p.m. meeting, the Council will decide on the proposed Government Ethics Act, which would establish rules about gifts to public officials that are stricter than state law, restrict the ability of former city employees to lobby on behalf of city contractors and make other changes.

The legislation would also incorporate existing state and local laws, including those on nepotism and laws prohibiting councilmembers from interfering with administrative affairs. Oakland established a Public Ethics Commission in 1996. Since then, the commission has had minimal staffing, but last month city voters passed Measure CC to increase the authority, independence and staff resources of the commission.

The Government Ethics Act is a companion to Measure CC. With Councilman Larry Reid absent, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the law on Nov. 18 and tonight’s action is a second vote that would make the act a law.

By Bay City News

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