(a) Establishment. There shall be a City Ethics Commission that shall have the powers, duties and responsibilities set forth in this Article and elsewhere in the Charter. The commission shall have five members, each of whom shall be a part-time commissioner.
(b) Appointment. The Mayor, the City Attorney, the Controller, the President of the Council and the President Pro Tem of the Council shall each appoint one member to the commission. All appointments shall be subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the Council. A President and Vice President of the commission shall be selected by the commission and shall serve in those capacities as set forth in Section 503.
(c) Terms of Office. The members of the commission, including the president, shall serve staggered five-year terms beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30. No member who has served a complete five-year term shall be eligible for reappointment.
(d) Qualifications. Each member of the commission shall be a registered voter of the City. Neither a member of the Commission nor its Executive Director shall seek election to any City office or Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education office concerning which the commission has made a decision during the term of the commissioner or Executive Director unless the election for that office is to be held at least two years following the expiration of the term of office of the commissioner or Executive Director. During his or her tenure, neither a member of the commission nor its Executive Director shall:
(1) hold any other public office;
(2) participate in or contribute to a City election campaign;
(3) participate in or contribute to an election campaign for a member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education;
(4) participate in or contribute to a City official or member of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education running for any elective office; or
(5) employ or be employed as a person required to register as a lobbyist with the City of Los Angeles.
(e) Removal. Members of the commission may be removed by the Mayor, with the concurrence of the Council by majority vote, or by a two-thirds vote of the Council for substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office, inability to discharge the powers and duties of office or violation of this Article, after written notice of the grounds on which removal is sought and an opportunity for a reply.
(f) Vacancies. Appointments to fill vacancies on the commission shall be made within 30 days by the same appointing authority who appointed the prior holder of the position. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be for the unexpired term of the member whom the appointee succeeds. A vacancy or vacancies shall not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise the powers of the Commission.
(g) Quorum. Three members shall constitute a quorum, and the concurring vote of at least three members shall be required to take any action.
(h) Compensation; Expenses. Members of the commission shall be compensated in the same manner and at the same rate as provided by Section 501. The members of the commission shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.
SECTION HISTORY
Amended by: Subsec. (d), Charter Amendment L, approved March 6, 2007, effective April 4, 2007.