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3. The public official must have an economic interest that may be financially affected by the <br /> governmental decision. <br /> A public official has an economic interest in any business entity from which they have received <br /> income aggregating$500 or more within 12 months prior to the time when the relevant governmental <br /> decision is made. (Regulation 18700.1(a)(2).) <br /> 4. The economic interest of the public official must be directly or indirectly involved in the <br /> decision,or there must be a nexus between the public official's duties owed to the source of <br /> income and the official's public agency. <br /> A nexus exists between the public official's duties owed to the source of income and the official's <br /> public agency if the public official receives or is promised the income to achieve a goal or purpose that <br /> would be achieved,defeated, aided,or hindered by the decision. (Regulation 18702.3(b).) <br /> 5. It must be decided what materiality standard applies to the economic interest of the public <br /> official. <br /> Any reasonably foreseeable financial effect on a business entity that is a source of income to a <br /> public official is deemed material if the public official receives or is promised the income to achieve a <br /> goal or purpose that would be achieved,defeated, aided,or hindered by the decision. (Regulation <br /> 18702.3(b).) <br /> 6. Finally,it must have been reasonably foreseeable,at the time the governmental decision was <br /> made,that the decision would have a material financial effect on the economic interest of the <br /> official. <br /> If the financial effect can be recognized as a realistic possibility and more than hypothetical or <br /> theoretical,it is reasonably foreseeable. (Regulation 18701(a),(b).)A material financial effect on an <br /> economic interest is reasonably foreseeable if it is substantially likely that one or more of the materiality <br /> standards applicable to the economic interest will be met as a result of the governmental decision. <br /> II. Application of the Law to the Facts <br /> I. Ms. Phan was a Public Official. <br /> At all times relevant to this matter,Ms. Phan was a member of the Santa Ana City Council, and <br /> was thus a public official under the Act. <br /> 2. Ms. Phan made a Governmental Decision. <br /> On November 16,2021,Ms. Phan,in her official capacity as a member of the City Council,not <br /> only voted on the HOO,but lead the discussion. When Ms. Phan voted on the matter,she made a <br /> governmental decision. <br /> 3. Ms. Phan had an Economic Interest. <br /> During the 12 months before November 16,2021,Ms.Phan received over$10,000 of income <br /> from the law firm of Rutan&Tucker(the "Firm").Ms. Phan's 2021 Form 700 shows over$100,000 from <br /> the Firm,where she remains employed as of the date of this letter. She therefore had an economic interest <br /> in the Firm on November 16,2021. <br /> 4. There was a Nexus between Ms. Phan's Duties owed to the Finn and to the Council. <br /> 2 <br />