HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/5/2017 Item 12, Pease
Christian, Kevin
To:Gallagher, Carrie
Subject:RE: Agenda Item 12 - Pease Recusal
From: Pease, Andy
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2017 2:52:01 PM
To: Gallagher, Carrie
Cc: Lichtig, Katie; Dietrick, Christine; Goodwin, Heather; Ansolabehere, Jon
Subject: Agenda Item 12 - Pease Recusal
To the Residents of San Luis Obispo,
I wanted to take a moment to let you all know I will be recusing myself from Item 12 San Luis Ranch entitlements due to
a potential conflict of interest from my previous work with the project architect RRM Design Group. As a green building
consultant, I worked with RRM over a year ago on an unrelated project and received final payment on that very small
contract from that firm on August 2, 2016. FPPC requires a 12-month period between receipt of any payment over $500
from any party deemed significantly involved with the project and ability for the elected official to participate in the item
without a conflict of interest. Although I have not worked on the San Luis Ranch project, or with the developer, after
consultation with our City Attorney and the FPPC, I will not be participating on this item in order to comply with FPPC
regulations. After August 2, 2017, the 12-month period will have concluded and I will be able to participate without this
particular potential conflict of interest.
Although I appreciate the intent of conflict-of-interest regulations, I am saddened and frustrated by these limitations
that seem so far reaching, especially in our small-town environment. We have been in ongoing communication with the
FPPC and may suggest modifications to current regulations, perhaps emphasizing transparency, rather than statutory
recusal in cases where the appointed or elected official has a relatively small and remote connection to the item at
hand, as is the case here.
In the meantime, as San Luis Ranch entitlements are considered, I have confidence in the professionalism of our city
staff, the conscientious participation of our citizens, and the wisdom of my colleagues on Council.
Sincerely,
Andy Pease
Andy Pease
Council Member
City of San Luis Obispo
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218
E apease@slocity.org
slocity.org
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