Title
Adopt a Resolution to approve the Conflict of Interest Code for the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors, as code reviewing body, adopt a Resolution to approve the Conflict of Interest Code for the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
SUMMARY:
The California Political Reform Act requires newly formed local agencies to adopt a conflict of interest code and to submit these codes to the code reviewing body for approval, upon which the codes become effective and binding. (Gov. Code §§ 87300 and 87303). Because the jurisdiction of the newly formed Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) is wholly within the County of Monterey, the Board of Supervisors is the designated code reviewing body. (Gov. Code § 82011(b).) The SVBGSA has adopted a conflict of interest code and submitted it to the Board for its approval.
DISCUSSION:
The SVBGSA was formed pursuant to a Joint Powers Agreement which went into effect on December 26, 2017. The inaugural meeting of the Initial Board of Directors was March 9, 2017. The Permanent Board of Directors was sworn in on October 12, 2017. On November 9, 2017, the Board of Directors of the SVBGSA adopted a conflict of interest code (Attachment B), by resolution (Attachment C), and directed staff to submit the conflict of interest code to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors for consideration and approval.
Pursuant to section 87303 of the Government Code, the Board of Supervisors may approve the code as submitted, revise the proposed code and approve it as revised, or return the proposed code to the agency for revision and resubmission. Because the proposed code is lawful under the Political Reform Act of 1974, it is recommended that the Board approve the proposed code as submitted. Attachment A is a proposed resolution for the Board’s consideration, approving the SVBGSA’s Conflict of Interest code as submitted.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the proposed conflict of interest code for the SVBGSA as to form.
FINANCING:
There is no fiscal impact upon the County of Monterey resulting from the Board’s approval of the SVBGSA’s Conflict of Interest Code.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Under the Political Reform Act, local agencies must adopt a conflict of interest code that identifies officials and employees who make governmental decisions, and specifies the public disclosures they must make of their financial interests depending on the position held. In reviewing and approving conflict of interest codes as required by statute, the Board of Supervisors furthers accountability and transparency in local government.
__Economic Development
X Administration
__Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Sally N. Kidalov, Assistant Clerk of the Board
Approved by: Nicholas E. Chiulos, Interim Clerk of the Board
Attachments:
A. Proposed Resolution
B. Conflict of Interest Code of the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency
C. Resolution Adopted by the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency