Proposal:

Amend Conflict of Interest Code of the South Coast Air Quality Management District

Synopsis:

The Political Reform Act requires the AQMD to review its Conflict of Interest Code biennially and submit notice to the Board regarding its accuracy or the need to amend to reflect the addition, reclassification, renaming, or deletion of designated positions. As a result of personnel changes during the past two years, the Code must now be amended. Individuals holding designated positions are required to disclose certain investments, income, interests in real property, business entities, and business positions and also may have to disqualify themselves from making or participating in the making of governmental decisions affecting those interests.

Committee:

Not Applicable.

Recommended Action:

Amend Exhibit "A" of the District’s Conflict of Interest Code as reflected in the attached exhibit; and direct the Executive Officer to forward the amendment to the Fair Political Practices Commission for its review and approval.

James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer

Background

The District’s Conflict of Interest Code must be amended to reflect changes by deleting, renaming and adding new classification designations. Individuals holding specified positions are required to disclose certain investments, income, interest in real property, business entities, and business positions. These individuals must also comply with the conflict of interest provisions of the Political Reform Act, and thus may have to disqualify themselves from making, or participating in the making of governmental decisions affecting those interests.

As a result of changes in District positions over the past two years, the code must now be amended to reflect the deletion of the classifications of Engineering Systems Manager, Laboratory Services Manager, Operations Service Manager, Records Manager and Section Chief, the renaming of the classifications of Accounting Manager, Case Disposition Investigator, Clean Fuels Program Manager, Planning Manager, Principal Case Disposition Investigator and Senior Case Disposition Investigator to Controller, Investigator, Clean Fuels Officer, Planning & Rules Manager, Investigations Manager, Supervising Investigator respectively, and by adding the classifications of Air Quality Analysis and Compliance Supervisor, Graphic Arts Manager, Plant Engineer & Resource Planning Manager, as employees who must file the statement of Economic Interest pursuant to the code. The substantive requirements of the Conflict of Interest Code remain unchanged.

Before the District may amend its Code, the Fair Political Practices Commission requires that individuals whose positions will be subject to its requirement be afforded a written comment period or a public hearing. Accordingly, a 45-day written comment period was provided to give interested individuals an opportunity to discuss the proposed amendments to the Code.

Attachments

Conflict of Interest Code for the South Coast Air Quality Management District
Exhibit A
Exhibit B