Joint Special Council/BFPD
10/7/25 05:30 PM
City Manager Department
Matthew Summers
Policy
Doc ID: 6148
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF A CITY POLICY PROHIBITING APPOINTED COMMITTEE AND
COMMISSION MEMBERS AND THEIR AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS FROM RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE CITY.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The proposed policy would make sitting committee and commission members, as well as their affiliated organizations, ineligible to receive any form of financial assistance from the City during their term of appointment, including grants, fee waivers, in-kind contributions, and other financial support.
DISCUSSION:
Background
At the August 5, 2025 regular City Council Meeting, the Rules and Policy Committee was tasked with considering a policy under which City officials appointed to serve on City commissions and committees, as well as any organization affiliated with those officials, are ineligible to receive City financial assistance.
Rules and Policy Committee Proceedings
An initial draft of the proposed policy was developed for consideration by the Rules and Policy Committee at its August 26, 2025 Committee Meeting. In addition to expressing general opposition to the initial draft of the policy, the Committee directed staff to make several edits for clarity and to provide guidance on potential actions the Committee could take with respect to the proposed policy.
A final draft of the proposed policy - attached hereto as Attachment 1 - was presented to the Rules and Policy Committee for further discussion at its September 30, 2025 Committee Meeting. The Rules and Policy Committee remained opposed to the proposed policy and voted to return the policy to the City Council for consideration with the recommendation that the City Council not adopt the policy.
Proposed Policy Key Provisions
Prohibition: Appointed sitting members of City committees and commissions, as well as their affiliated organizations, are ineligible to receive any financial assistance, monetary contributions, in-kind support, or fee waivers from the City during their appointment term.
Covered Forms of Assistance: The restriction applies to:
• Community Promotional Funds and Community Benefit Program allocations • Grants, sponsorships, and subsidies
• In-kind support (equipment, supplies, etc.)
• Fee waivers or reductions (facility rentals, permits of all types including use, development, building, business, film, fire, alarm, parking, special event, street closure permits, etc.) Joint Special Council/BFPD
10/7/25 05:30 PM
City Manager Department
Matthew Summers
Policy
Doc ID: 6148
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
• Any other City-administered financial assistance programs Scope of Applicability: The policy applies to appointed individual committee and commission members, as well as organizations, businesses, or groups where the member has a financial interest, ownership, or governing role (including positions as owner, officer, board member, or director).
Disclosure Requirements:
• Applicants for committee or commission positions must disclose financial interests in organizations that may seek City assistance.
• Current members must immediately disclose potential conflicts if their affiliated organization seeks City assistance.
Recusal and Funding Bar: When an affiliated organization applies for City assistance, the member must recuse themselves from all related deliberations, discussions, or recommendations. The affiliated organization remains ineligible for funding throughout the member's entire appointment period.
Exceptions:
• This policy does not apply to elected officials, who are governed by other conflict of interest laws including the Political Reform Act and Government Code section 1090. • Individual members may receive low-income public assistance available on equal terms to the general public without specific Council approval (such as meals on wheels or food assistance).
Enforcement: Violations may result in disqualification of the funding request and/or removal of the member from their committee or commission by City Council action.
Attachment 1 - Proposed City Policy Regarding: Restriction Financial Assistance to Committee and Commission Members
FISCAL IMPACT:
The draft policy does not require the expenditure of any City funds and is not expected to have a financial impact on the City.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council consider whether to adopt the proposed policy.