City of Gainesville - File #: 070688

• File #: 070688
• Version: 5
• Name: LOBBYIST REGISTRATION (B)
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 7/14/2008
• In control: City Commission
• Final action: 7/28/2008
• Title: LOBBYIST REGISTRATION (B) Ordinance No. 0-08-12 An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, relating to registration of lobbyists; creating and adding a new Chapter 29, City of Gainesville Lobbyist Registration Act, creating and adding a new section 29-1, Intent and purpose; creating and adding a new section 29-2, Definitions; creating and adding a new section 29-3, Registration of lobbyists required; registration statements; creating and adding a new section 29-4, Exceptions; creating and adding a new section 29-5, Penalties; providing directions to the codifier; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an effective date.

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
7/28/2008	5	City Commission	Adopted on Final Reading, as amended (Ordinance)	Pass
7/14/2008	4	City Commission	Adopted on First Reading (Ordinance)	Pass
6/23/2008	2	City Commission	Approved as Recommended	Pass
6/10/2008	1	Audit, Finance and Legislative Committee	Recommended for Approval, as shown above
11/29/2007	0	Audit, Finance and Legislative Committee	Approved as shown above (See Motion)

title

LOBBYIST REGISTRATION (B)

Ordinance No. 0-08-12

An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, relating to registration of lobbyists; creating and adding a new Chapter 29, City of Gainesville Lobbyist Registration Act, creating and adding a new section 29-1, Intent and purpose; creating and adding a new section 29-2, Definitions; creating and adding a new section 29-3, Registration of lobbyists required; registration statements; creating and adding a new section 29-4, Exceptions; creating and adding a new section 29-5, Penalties; providing directions to the codifier; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an effective date.

recommendation

The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance as amended.

explanation

AUDIT, FINANCE, AND LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT

            On June 11, 2007, the City Commission referred the issue of lobbyist registration to the Charter Officers for further development and a recommendation back to the Audit, Finance and Legislative Committee.

      The Charter Officers appointed staff to research and present information regarding various lobbyist registration options utilized within other Florida local government agencies.  The Charter Officers then presented several options to the Audit, Finance and Legislative Committee at their November 29, 2007 and June 10, 2008 meetings regarding.  Based on the information presented, a recommendation was made by the Committee to the City Commission to authorize the City Attorney to draft an ordinance for City Commission consideration addressing the key issues discussed in Committee.  

      At its meeting of June 23, 2008, the City Commission authorized the City Attorney to draft and the Clerk of the Commission to advertise an ordinance establishing lobbyist registration requirements.

CITY ATTORNEY MEMORANDUM

      This ordinance creates the Lobbyist Registration Act and sets forth requirements for lobbyists who engage in efforts to influence City Commissioners or Board members of the CRA on matters within Commission or CRA jurisdiction.  Prior to engaging in lobbying, each lobbyist will be required to file with the Clerk of the Commission a registration statement which contains general identification information as to the lobbyist and their client(s). The ordinance contains definitions, registration requirements, exemptions and enforcement provisions.  To allow adequate time for those affected persons to comply with the requirements of this Ordinance, the Ordinance has a delayed effective date of November 1, 2008.

      The City Attorney's Office has amended the Ordinance to clarify that references to the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) are references to Board members of the CRA.  These were the only changes made to the ordinance.