Committee backs sending ethics‑code changes to public hearing to expand Board of Ethics

The Ordinance Committee voted June 21 to send proposed changes to the city’s code of ethics to public hearing. The amendments would expand the Board of Ethics from seven members (plus two alternates) to nine full members and add a limit so no more than three members may be registered to the same political party.

Brian Candela explained the proposal is intended to ease staffing the board for investigations and hearings and to avoid situations in which recusals force the city to recruit outside members. Lori Lills of the Board of Ethics told the committee the board has been busy in recent years and that additional full members would ease scheduling and reduce burnout.

Committee members debated the wording around party affiliation. Several members recommended avoiding naming specific parties in text and instead using a numeric cap — for example, 'no more than three members from the same political party' — to prevent gaming by minor party labels. Staff agreed to refine the language.

Staff said if the committee sends the measures to public hearing in May and the council votes with minor modifications, the ordinance could be effective roughly two weeks after final council approval. The committee voted unanimously to send sections 32‑1, 32‑3 and 32‑12 to public hearing.