Clark County Commission OKs ethics policy

No hard feelings were on display Tuesday as the Clark County Commission strengthened its ethics policy, which prohibits commissioners from being paid to lobby local government bodies on any issues pending before Clark County.

That is a stark contrast to the bickering about outside employment that occurred in previous meetings.

The new policy also allows commissioners to return to their public jobs once they're done serving in office without a one-year cooling-off period.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani initially requested the policy change to stop commissioners from acting as paid consultants or lobbyists for people or businesses that deal with state and local government. The amended ethics policy now only prohibits that action before any public body in Clark County rather than the entire state, as was proposed.

"If you came from a job, you can go back to that job," Giunchigliani said. "But if you didn't come from that industry and all of a sudden an opportunity is created for you, then you have a one-year cooling-off period."

Commissioners already must adhere to state law, which also addresses that one-year period: "A public officer or employee shall not participate as an agent of government in the negotiation or execution of a contract between the government and any business entity in which the public officer or employee has a significant pecuniary interest."

The commission vote was unanimous, with Commissioner Larry Brown absent. The changes go into effect immediately.

MORE STRICT THAN OTHER POLICIES

The county's policy seems more strict than ethics policies elsewhere throughout the valley.

According to the county's amended policy, commissioners are still able to appear in front of local government bodies to discuss issues on behalf of their constituents. But they can't do so if they have been hired by someone to go before that body. That restriction now also includes a commissioner's spouse and members of a commissioner's household.

In the city of Las Vegas, there is a one-year cooling-off period for former elected officials appearing in front of the council with three exceptions: a fromer council member can represent himself for personal business such as a small house project, represent a relative or represent a nonprofit in front of the government body in which he used to serve. There is no clause addressing spouses or relatives of council members, said Jace Radke, city spokesman.

The city of North Las Vegas doesn't have a formally crafted ethics policy. Instead, the city has several policies that reflect state law in setting the standards for ethical behavior, city spokeswoman Juliet Casey said.

That information can be found in human resources policies and a core values manual for city employees and officials. The city also has a policy against nepotism, Casey added.

In Henderson, the City Council is considering changing its municipal code to further clarify who is a lobbyist and address instituting a 12-month cooling-off period for former city officials and employees lobbying in front of the board.

The council is expected to vote on the agenda item at its Dec. 20 meeting, said Kathy Blaha, city spokeswoman.

The proposal does not address spouses or relatives of council members.

It is unclear whether the city's discussion was prompted by the county's decision to change its ethics policy.

COLLINS PRAISES CHANGES

Commissioner Tom Collins said the changes to the county's policy made the agreement fair for everyone.

"It worked out fine," he said. "I'm glad it's fair and equal and strengthens our code for everybody to be treated the same."

The request for change seemed to be a reaction to Collins' lobbying for a $600 million bus contract. Collins engaged in a monthlong consulting and lobbying relationship with Veolia Transportation, a company that bid on the contract. He quit the position and was never paid, he said. Collins still runs a consulting company. The Regional Transportation Commission has since rebid the contract.

Giunchigliani stopped short of calling her actions a response to Collins' work with Veolia, but some county officials said otherwise.

Collins suggested adding public-sector employment to prohibit someone on leave from a government job from serving as a commissioner, as does, a schoolteacher, Giunchigliani.

"The whole intent of the policy is: Here's the line. You make a decision on whether you cross it or not," Giunchigliani said. "That's a judgment call. We can't legislate all of that."

Contact reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@review journal.com or 702-455-4519.