Charter Reform Commission, L.A. City Council look to impose transparency rules

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The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to approve a law aimed at boosting transparency at the Charter Reform Commission, by requiring that members of that panel disclose any private talks they have with the city’s elected officials.The vote comes about two months before the commission, which began its work in July, is scheduled to finish its deliberations and deliver a list of recommendations to the council.Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who proposed the ordinance, said she has been trying since August to pass a measure requiring the disclosure of such private conversations, known as “ex parte” communications.

That effort was greeted with “nearly six months of stonewalling,” she said.“While this is an important victory for oversight and transparency, government accountability shouldn’t be this hard to secure,” she said.California Rewriting the city’s governing document might sound drab.

Yet a new citizens commission has already had a leadership battle, allegations of shady dealings and questions about its viability.The ordinance, which also applies to communications between commissioners and elected officials’ staff, is expected to go into effect in about a month.Meanwhile, the 13-member Charter Reform Commission approved its own policy a week ago requiring the disclosure of private conversations between its members and city elected officials.Some government watchdogs say the disclosures are needed to prevent council members and other city elected officials from seeking to dictate the details of the recommendations that are ultimately issued by the commission.

The volunteer citizens panel is currently looking at such ideas as increasing the size of the council and potentially changing the duties of citywide elected officials.“If the public is going to trust the outcomes of our charter reform process, it has to be transparent and credible,” Commissio...