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CITY ATTORNEY <br />Sonia R. Carvalho <br />CITY MANAGER <br />Alvaro Nuñez <br />CITY CLERK <br />Jennifer L. Hall <br />20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA - P.O. BOX 1988, M-31 - SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702 <br />TELEPHONE (714) 647-6900 - FAX (714) 647-6954 - www.santa-ana.org <br />Councilmember-Requested Item Report <br />DATE <br />November 19, 2024 <br />TOPIC <br />Proposal for Policy on Prohibiting Contracts with City Officials and Immediate Family <br />Members <br /> <br />COUNCILMEMBER-REQUESTED ITEM TITLE <br />Discuss and Consider Directing the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk to <br />Prepare an Ordinance Prohibiting Contracts with City Officials and their Immediate <br />Family Members <br /> <br />DISCUSSION <br />I am writing to propose a policy, to be prepared by staff as an ordinance for City Council <br />consideration, that expressly prohibits the City of Santa Ana from awarding any <br />agreement or contract to any City official, including councilmembers and members of <br />boards and commissions, as well as to members of their immediate family. This policy <br />recommendation is grounded in California Government Code Section 1090 and the <br />California Political Reform Act, which aim to prevent conflicts of interest in public <br />contracting. The proposed policy would also reinforce the ethical principles outlined in <br />the City of Santa Ana's Code of Ethics and Conduct. <br />The City of Santa Ana is dedicated to promoting transparency, fairness, and ethical <br />practices in its contracting processes. While the City already adheres to a high standard <br />of ethics, additional safeguards are necessary to prevent any potential conflicts of <br />interest that may arise from City officials or their immediate family members being <br />financially interested in City contracts. <br />Relevant Legal Framework <br />The proposed policy to prohibit City officials and their immediate family members from <br />engaging in contracts with the City is grounded in well-established legal frameworks <br />aimed at ensuring ethical governance and preventing conflicts of interest. These laws <br />provide a robust foundation for maintaining transparency, fairness, and accountability in <br />public contracting processes. The following is an overview of the key legal provisions <br />that support this policy.