Agenda Packet_2022-05-03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lobbyist Registration Assessment Page 4 Major Observations from Interviews and Document Review Major observations from the interviews and review of agenda items and video segments are provided below. • The City Council strives to be transparent to the public and supports efforts to bring further transparency to government decision-making. • A survey of similarly sized cities with lobbyist registration requirements and a comparison of the regulations imposed would be a useful starting point for discussions about the possible adoption of a lobbyist law in Santa Ana. • If the Mayor and City Council decide to move forward in developing a lobbyist law, a clear definition of"lobbyist" is critical, and an emphasis should be placed on people, businesses and other entities that are paid to engage decision-makers in a manner to sway a position on an item. The definition should not discourage or interfere with the rights of residents, community groups and other stakeholders to express their views to individual Council members or at public meetings. • Penalties should be commensurate with the violations, and alternative penalty options should be considered including infractions or fines as a first offense. Peer Agency Research Management Partners also researched the definition of lobbyist and the requirements set for lobbyists in the following jurisdictions: • Anaheim, • Bakersfield, • Los Angeles, • Long Beach, • Riverside, • San Diego, • Santa Monica, and • Stockton. We determined that Bakersfield, Riverside and Stockton have not adopted regulations requiring registration by lobbyists. The requirements for Anaheim, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego, and Santa Monica are shown in Table 1 below. For each of these jurisdictions,we researched the following: • The definition of"lobbyist," including any exclusions; • Reporting requirements, such as the frequency of disclosures, registration fees, and other prohibited activities; and • Fines or other penalties for failing to follow the ordinance. City Council 9 - 4 5/3/2022