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Commission asks staff to redraft lobbyist-appointment ordinance; will consider advisory-board carve-outs and application timing
Summary
Commissioners debated a draft ordinance May 6 to limit lobbyists’ appointments to city advisory boards, asked staff to incorporate changes and to return with a revised ordinance that clarifies exemptions and the timing of any cooling-off period.
The commission reviewed a draft ordinance May 6 that would restrict lobbyists from serving in appointed positions on some city boards and committees.
Discussion focused on scope and timing: several commissioners and speakers argued for a front-end restriction—preventing registered lobbyists from being appointed at all—rather than only forbidding lobbying activity while serving. Others raised First Amendment concerns about restricting petitioning rights. Commissioners debated whether to exclude non-advisory entities (examples discussed: Downtown Development Authority, Performing Arts Center Authority and the Housing Authority) because those boards operate under different legal frameworks or have independent spending/implementation authority.
Staff noted Broward County has similar language but without carve-outs; commissioners asked staff to prepare a revised draft incorporating several changes discussed on the dais: (1) prohibit appointment of currently registered lobbyists to advisory boards (with a limited cooling-off period if needed); (2) prohibit lobbying while serving on covered advisory boards; (3) remove the two-year post-service lobbying prohibition from the draft; and (4) clarify exemptions and any grandfathering for special categories (such as design professionals or honorary civic appointees). The commission asked that the ordinance be brought back for consideration at an evening meeting with final recommended language.
