A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..
Tonight
A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
The Redwood City Council is slated to review its conflict of interest policy after a vote to appoint three applicants to the Planning Commission spawned questions as to whether a shared employer between Councilman Jeff Gee and one of the applicants presented a conflict of interest.
Before the council cast their votes at its Monday meeting, Gee asked City Attorney Veronica Ramirez to state whether there were any potential conflicts of interest between him and the applicant pool in response to comments the city received on the issue. Both Gee and Planning Commissioner Connie Guerrero work for Swinerton Builders.
Ramirez confirmed that the Political Reform Act prohibits councilmembers from participating in decisions where they have a financial conflict of interest, and said in this case, she did not find a conflict of interest.
“The potential applicants don’t serve as a source of income to Councilmember Gee and don’t have any other disqualifying financial interest therefore there is no conflict at issue,” she said.
Councilwoman Shelly Masur asked if the council could revisit its conflict of interest policy for future votes.
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“I’d like to request that we take a look at our conflict of interest policies for our boards, commissions and committees,” she said.
Gee voiced support for Masur’s request, adding that having board members or commissioners from the same employer is a phenomenon he has encountered in some of the other agencies with which he is involved.
“I would echo Councilmember Masur’s ask of the council to take a look at this and to spell out whatever we want to do as a council ahead of time for the applicant pool,” he said. “As the council or whatever committee looks at it, there’s a whole wide spectrum of issues to take a look at.”
Of the nine who applied for the three Planning Commission seats set to expire June 30, incumbents Guerrero and Ernie Schmidt as well as Muhammad Safdari were appointed by the council.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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