HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2017-07RESOLUTION NO. 2017 - 07
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE
DISTRIBUTION POLICY OF TICKETS AND/OR PASSES TO
CONFORM WITH SECTION 18944.1 OF TITLE 2,
CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, AS AMENDED BY
THE FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICES COMMISSION.
WHEREAS, the Fair Political Practices Commission ("FPPC") regulates complimentary
tickets or passes distributed to government officials and employees by their agency; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Palm Desert ("City") previously adopted
Resolution No. 09-17 adopting a policy regarding the distribution and use of tickets donated to the
City; and
WHEREAS, the FPPC amended Section 18944.1 of Title 2, California Code of Regulations
("Regulation 18944.1"), which amendment became operative on February 13, 2016, that sets forth the
circumstances under which the City's distribution of certain tickets and passes to a public official
would need to be disclosed by the City and not trigger a disclosure requirement on a public official's
Statement of Economic Interests, Form 700; and
WHEREAS, tickets and/or passes subject to Regulation 18944.1 are defined as an admission
to a facility, event, show or performance for an entertainment, amusement, recreational, or similar
purpose; and
WHEREAS, Regulation 18944.1 provides that tickets or passes that are distributed by the City
to public officials in accordance with a duly adopted policy are not gifts to the public officials; and
WHEREAS, the FPPC recognizes the discretion of the legislative or governing body of an
agency to determine whether the City's distribution of tickets and/or passes to City officials serves a
legitimate public purpose of the City, provided that the determination is consistent with state law; and
WHEREAS, from time to time, the City may receive complimentary or discounted tickets or
passes from outside sources or, receive tickets or passes pursuant to the City's co-sponsorship of an
event, or pursuant to the terms of a contract for use of public property, or may purchase tickets or
passes for both public and private events for distribution to City officials; and
WHEREAS, the distribution to and use of such tickets and passes by officials frequently serve
legitimate governmental and/or public purposes; and
WHEREAS, based on such practice and the amended regulations, the City Council desires to
update its policy regarding the distribution of tickets and/or passes pursuant to Regulation 18944.1;
and
WHEREAS, the proposed City of Palm Desert Distribution Policy of Tickets and/or Passes
incorporates the recent revisions to the applicable regulations by the FPPC, as well as updates the
policy to ensure that the policy established a fair and equitable process for the distribution to City
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RESOLUTION NO. 2017 - 07
officials of complementary tickets and passes received by the City to a facility, event, show or
performance for entertainment, amusement, recreational or similar purposes, in compliance with the
requirements of FPPC Regulations.
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Palm Desert, California hereby finds and
resolves as follows:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct.
Section 2. Resolution No. 09-17 adopted on March 26, 2009 is hereby repealed in its
entirety.
Section 3. The City Council hereby approves and adopts the amended City of Palm Desert
Distribution Policy of Tickets and/or Passes adopted in accordance with Section 18944.1, Title 2,
California Code of Regulations, attached hereto as Exhibit "A," and incorporated herein by reference.
Section 4. City Manager is directed to implement this policy.
Section 5. The Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
Section 6. The City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of January, 2017.
AYES: KELLY, NESTANDE, WEBER, and HARNIK
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: JONATHAN
ABSTAIN: NONE
JAN C. HARNIK, MAYOR
ATTEST:
C�iL L
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RAC 79 D. IffXSSEN, MTY CLERk
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA
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RESOLUTION NO. 2017-07
EXHIBIT'A'
CITY OF PALM DESERT DISTRIBUTION POLICY OF TICKETS AND/OR PASSES
Section 1. Purpose. The policy's purpose is to ensure that all tickets and/or passes
provided to the City are distributed in furtherance of governmental and/or public purposes as
required under amended Section 18944.1 of Title 2, California Code of Regulations ("Regulation
18944. 1 ").
In addition, the purpose of this policy is to enSUre that tickets distributed by tile C11v
iii-idet- and this policy are disclosed on Form 802 and posted to the City's k\:cbsite Nvithin fortv-
five days of distribution, as reqtiired by Regulation 18944. 1.
Section 2. Application. This policy applies to tickets that provide admission to a
facility, event, show or performance for an entertainment, amusement, recreational or similar
purpose, and are either:
a. gratuitously provided to the City by an outside source;
b. acquired by the City by purchase;
C. acquired by the City as consideration pursuant to the terms of a contract for the
use of a City venue; or
d. acquired and distributed by the City in any other manner.
Section 3. Scope. This policy applies to all elected and appointed City Officials, as
well as all designated City employees.
Section 4. Definitions. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, words and ten-ns
used in this policy shall have the same meaning as that ascribed to such words and terms in the
Political Reform Act of 1974 (Government Code section 81000 et seq., as the same may from
time to time be amended) and the Fair Political Practices Commission ("FPPC") Regulations
(Title 2, California Code of Regulations, section 18110 et seq., as the same may from time to
time be amended).
a. "City" means the City of Palm Desert, California.
b. "City Official" means every member, officer, employee or consultant of the City,
as defined by Government Code section 82048 and Regulation 18701. Such term shall include,
without limitation, any City board, commission, or committee member or other appointed
official or employee required to file an annual Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700).
C. "Immediate family" means the City Official's spouse and dependent children.
d. "Policy" means this Policy for the Distribution of Tickets and/or Passes.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2017-07
e. "Ticket" shall mean and refer to a "ticket or pass" as those terms are defined in
Regulation 18946 and referenced in Regulation 18944. 1, both Regulations as being amended
from time to time, but which currently define "ticket or "pass" as anything that provides
admission or access to a facility, event, show or performance for an entertainment, amusement,
recreational or similar purpose.
Section 5. General Provisions.
a. The use of complimentary tickets is a privilege extended by the City and not the
right of any person to which the privilege may from time to time be extended.
b. Tickets distributed to a City Official pursuant to this Policy shall not be
transferred to any other person, except to members of such City Official's immediate family
solely for their personal use or to no more than one guest solely for their attendance at the event.
C. No person who receives a ticket pursuant to this Policy shall resell or receive
compensation for the value of such ticket.
d. The City Manager shall have the authority, in his or her sole discretion, to
establish procedures for the distribution of tickets in accordance with this Policy. All requests for
tickets which fall within the scope of this Policy shall be made in accordance with the procedures
established by the City Manager.
e. The City Manager or his/her designee shall be the "Head" for purposes of
implementing the provisions of this policy and completing and posting the Form 802. In such
case, where the City Manager desires to obtain a ticket, the City Council authorizes the City
Manager to exercise the City's sole discretion in determining whether the City Manager's use or
behest of tickets is in accordance with the terrns of this policy.
f. No ticket gratuitously provided to the City by an outside source and distributed to,
or at the behest of, a City Official pursuant to this policy shall be earmarked by the original
source for provision to a particular City Official.
9. A ticket provided to a City Official and one guest of the official at which the
official performs a ceremonial role, as defined in Regulation 18942.3, on behalf of the City must
be disclosed on Form 802 as set forth below. Any additional effort by the City to either limit or
expand permissible ceremonial roles will require that the revised policy be forwarded to the
FPPC. '
h. The value of any ticket shall be the face value of the ticket.
Section 6. Public Purpose for Which Tickets May be Distributed. Subject to the
provisions of this Policy, the City shall only provide a ticket and/or pass to a City Official, or at
the behest of a City Official, under one of the following public and governmental purposes:
a. If the distribution is to a City Official, the City Official reimburses the City for the
face value of the ticket(s).
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RESOLUTION NO. 2017-07
b. If the distribution is to a City Official, the City Official treats the ticket(s) as
income consistent with applicable federal and state income tax laws and the City complies with
the reporting requirements of Section 7, below.
C. If the distribution is to a City Official, or is at the behest of a City Official, such
distribution must accomplish a governmental and/or public purpose. The following is a list of
governmental and/or public purposes the City may accomplish through the distribution of tickets.
The list is illustrative rather than exhaustive:
1) Facilitating the performance of a ceremonial role or function by a City Official on
behalf of the City at an event.
2) Promotion of intergovernmental relations and/or cooperation and coordination of
resources with other governmental agencies, including, but not limited to,
attendance at an event with or by elected or appointed public officials from other
jurisdictions, their staff members and their guests.
3) Promotion of local and regional businesses, economic development and tourism
activities within the City, including conventions and conferences.
4) Promotion of City -controlled or sponsored events, activities, or programs.
5) Promotion of community programs and resources available to City residents,
including nonprofit organizations and youth programs.
6) Marketing promotions highlighting the achievements of local residents and
businesses.
7) Promotion and marketing of private facilities available for City resident use,
including charitable and nonprofit facilities.
8) Promotion of public facilities available for City resident use.
9) Promotion of City growth and development, including economic development and
job creation opportunities.
10) Promotion of specific City community events provided by or sponsored by the
City.
11) Promotion of any City owned sites such as parks, soccer fields, Desert Willow
Golf Resort.
12) Exchange programs with foreign officials and dignitaries.
13) Promotion of City recognition, visibility, and/or profile on a local, state, national
or worldwide scale.
14) Promotion of open government by public official appearances, participation
and/or availability at business or community events.
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15) Sponsorship agreements involving private events where the City specifically
seeks to enhance the City's reputation both locally and regionally by serving as
hosts or sponsors providing the necessary opportunities to meet and greet visitors,
dignitaries, and residents.
16) All written contracts where the City as a form of consideration has required that a
certain number of tickets or suites be made available for City use.
17) Employment retention programs.
18) Special outreach programs for veterans, teachers, emergency services, medical
personnel and other civil service occupations.
19) Charitable 501 (c)(3) fundraisers for the purpose of networking with other
community and civic leaders.
20) Promotion of and participation in intergovernmental relations and activities.
21) Promoting, supporting and/or showing appreciation for programs or services
rendered by charitable and non-profit organizations benefiting City service area
residents.
0.-
22) Increasing public exposure to, and awareness of, the various recreational, cultural,
and educational venues and facilities available to the public within the City.
23) Attracting or rewarding volunteer public service.
24) Encouraging or rewarding significant academic, athletic, or public service
achievements by residents or businesses of the City service area.
25) Attracting and retaining highly qualified employees in the City service.
26) Recognizing or rewarding meritorious service by a City employee.
27) Promoting enhanced City employee performance or morale.
28) Spouses of City Officials in order to accompany him or her to any of the events
listed above.
29) Any purpose similar to above included in any City contract.
d. If the distribution is to an organization outside of the City, such distribution is
done pursuant to a public purpose outlined in Section 6c.
e. Subject to the provisions of this policy, tickets obtained by the City pursuant to
terms of a contract for use of public property because the City controls the event, or, by purchase
at fair market value, may be distributed to City Officials. Any distribution must accomplish a
governmental and/or public purpose in accordance with Section 6c above.
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f. Any ticket obtained pursuant to Section 6e which is distributed to a City Official,
other than an elected official or member of the governing body of the City, for the official's
personal use, to support general employee morale, retention, or to reward public service is also
deemed to serve a public purpose. Such ticket distribution shall be disclosed pursuant to Section
7. For purposes of this subsection, "personal use" is defined as use by the official, his or her
family, or no more than one guest.
9. Any City Official, any member of the City Official's immediate family, or guest
of the City Official may return any unused ticket to the City for redistribution pursuant to this
Policy.
h. The provisions of this policy apply only to benefits the City Official receives that
are provided to all members of the public with the same class of ticket.
Section 7. Disclosure Requirements
a. This policy shall be posted on the City's website in a prominent manner. The City
shall, within 30 days of adoption or amendment, send to the FPPC by email a website link that
displays the policy.
b. Tickets distributed by the City to any City Official which the City Official treats
as income pursuant to Section 6b above, or, which are distributed for one or more public
purposes described in Section 6c above, must be recorded on Form 802 or, on such alternative
form(s) as may from time to time be designated by the FPPC. This forrn must be maintained as a
public record, be subject to inspection and copying as required under Government Code section
81008(a). Within 45 days the City must post these forms on its website and email a website link
to the FPPC that displays the Form.
C. Tickets distributed by the City for which the City receives reimbursement from
the City Official as provided under Section 6a above shall not be subject to the disclosure
provisions of Section 7b.
d. For tickets distributed pursuant to this policy, the City may post the name of the
department or other unit of the City and the number of tickets provided to the department or
other unit in lieu of posting the name of the individual employee(s) as otherwise required.
e. Tickets distributed to an organization outside of the City pursuant to Section 6d,
shall be disclosed in accordance with Section 7b above, but, may be done by posting the name,
address, description of the organization, and the number of tickets or passes provided to the
organization in lieu of posting the names of each individual from the organization as otherwise
required.
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