HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-29; City Council; Resolution 2025-102Exhibit 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-102
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A CITY OF CARLSBAD BOARDS, COMMISSIONS
AND COMMITTEES CODE OF ETHICS & PUBLIC SERVICE VALUES
WHEREAS, on July 16, 2024, the City Council directed staff to return with an item relating to the
City Council Code of Ethics & Public Service Values being applicable to all boards and commissions; and
WHEREAS, in keeping with the City Council Code of Ethics & Public Service Values most recently
adopted by the City Council on Aug. 20, 2024, staff has drafted a Boards, Commissions and Committees
Code of Ethics & Public Service Values that will be applicable to all members of the city’s boards,
commissions and committees; and
WHEREAS, all board, commission and committee members will be asked to sign the Code
following adoption of the resolution and the Code will then be made available on the city’s website.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1.That the above recitations are true and correct.
2.The proposed action to establish a Boards, Commissions and Committees Code of Ethics
& Public Service Values is exempt from environmental review under California
Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(5) as it can be
seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed action may have a significant
effect on the environment.
3.That the City of Carlsbad Boards, Commissions and Committees Code of Ethics & Public
Service Values (Attachment A) is approved.
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City
of Carlsbad on the 29th day of April, 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
______________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
______________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
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City of Carlsbad
Boards, Commissions and Committees Code of Ethics &
Public Service Values
Preamble
The City of Carlsbad’s boards, commissions and committees serve as a mechanism for public
engagement that helps promote transparency and allows appointed community representatives to
provide public service to its residents.
The effective operation of the City of Carlsbad’s board, commissions and committees requires that
appointed members have the trust and respect of the community they serve. Accordingly, the City
Council of the City of Carlsbad has adopted this Code to be applicable to all Boards, Commissions and
Committees. As part of their service to the City of Carlsbad, all individual board, commission and
committee members agree to practice the values described in this code in their day-to-day service to the
City of Carlsbad.
The City Council further directs that this code be distributed to individual board, commission and
committee members for signature and once signed, posted on the city website.
Upon being appointed to serve on a city board, commission or committee, all members are expected to
abide by this Code of Ethics & Public Service Values.
Code of Ethics & Public Service Values
By our conduct, we create an environment in which we adhere to and pledge to uphold the following
values:
Value: Respect
1. As a leader of the community, I model civility. In practice, this means that:
• I treat my fellow appointees, staff and the public politely, professionally and with an
appreciation for our common humanity, even when we disagree on what is best for the
community.
• When I explain my disagreement with a colleague, I do so in a way that focuses on the merits
of an issue and recognizes that reasonable people of differing interests and/or good
intentions can disagree on what is best for our community.
• When my perspective doesn’t prevail, in discussing the outcome in the community, I frame
my colleagues’ differing positions in the spirit of moving onward from the decision and in the
same way I would want my colleagues to frame my own differing positions.
• I contribute to a culture and practice of active acknowledgement by recognizing colleagues
and persons who model values-based decision-making under challenging circumstances.
Attachment A
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Boards, Commissions and Committees Code of Ethics &
Public Service Values
April 29, 2025
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2. I invite and respect public input to inform my sense of what is in the community’s best interests
and incorporate it in the decision-making process to ensure meaningful public engagement. In
practice, this means that:
• I am attentive and engaged in meetings.
• I welcome diverse perspectives and consider them in my decision-making.
• I act in ways that help people feel valued when they participate in our city’s decision-making
processes.
• I gather public input and information to make the best decision with a spirit of curiosity and
inquiry.
• I strive to make people feel heard, by listening carefully, sharing what I think I have heard,
asking clarifying questions, and seeking to understand the interests underlying their
positions.
3. My actions reflect the belief that as a board, commission or committee member that we and
city staff and others who serve the agency are on the same team in service to the community,
even though we have different roles. In practice, this means that:
• I act on the understanding that staff’s role is to provide objective information and analysis to
inform the decision-making process within the resources that they have available, even if this
information and analysis do not support the decision I believe is best.
• I ask questions to authentically deepen my understanding of staff analysis and its factual
underpinnings, as well as inform the public; I argue the merits of decisions with my fellow
board, commission or committee members.
• I act on the understanding that I am part of a group decision-making process and that
direction from the board, commission or committee is a collective action.
Value: Responsibility
1. I model and promote clear communication. In practice, this means that:
• I support defining important words, terms, and context, avoiding jargon (including use of
acronyms) and using examples.
• I ask questions to test any inferences and assumptions I may be inclined to make based on
what I am hearing people say; I support others doing likewise.
• I am direct and transparent in explaining my reasoning, interests, goals and intentions to help
others understand what I am saying and why. I contribute to an interpersonal environment
that supports such transparency and forthrightness from others to help move conversations
forward with the goals of finding common ground and maximizing the public’s best interests.
• I verify (fact check) statements reportedly made by a colleague directly with that colleague.
• I make myself available for one-on-one conversations about the values in this code.
• I am transparent and publicly disclose relevant information.
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Boards, Commissions and Committees Code of Ethics &
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2. I work collaboratively to improve our community’s quality of life and promote the public’s best
interests. In practice, this means that:
• I gain value from diverse perspectives and consider them in my decision-making.
• I recognize that I am an agent for the democratic process, not the owner of authority.
• I seek information from community members and my colleagues about what qualities an
acceptable solution might have to a problem (their interests), in addition to hearing what
their positions are.
3. I consider the larger picture in my decision-making and actions. In practice, this means that:
• I consider the short-, medium-, and long-term effects of my decisions and actions.
• I strive to foster effective relationships with state, regional and other public agencies and
their officials.
4. I am accountable for my actions and words. In practice, this means that:
• I am prepared to make unpopular decisions when my sense of the public’s best interests
requires it.
• I take responsibility for my actions, even when it is uncomfortable to do so. This includes
apologizing when I realize that my behavior has fallen short of the aspirational standards in
this code.
• As part of my commitment to growth and learning, I am open to constructive feedback from
my colleagues and others—ideally first expressed on a human-to-human (one-on-one)
basis—when they think I may have acted in a way that falls short of my goal of the values-
based decision-making and the behaviors described in this code.
Values: Compassion and Fairness
1. I am empathetic and care about the needs of the public, my colleagues and staff. In practice, this
means that:
• When interacting with others, I put myself in others’ shoes, understanding that people have
different lived experiences.
• My actions reflect an awareness that people respond to both verbal (including tone of voice)
and non-verbal cues; I also recognize that some people, including me, can interpret verbal
and non-verbal cues differently, depending on the attributes of the source.
• I use active listening techniques (repeating back, follow-up questions, taking notes as
appropriate, and other verbal and non-verbal cues) to demonstrate that I am hearing and
listening to what people are saying.
• I carefully consider all colleague’s and public’s perspectives and input when making decisions.
• I value the personal experiences that contribute to my colleagues’ and the public’s views on a
given matter.
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• I initiate one-on-one conversations with those who have different positions on issues to
better understand those positions; I look for opportunities to identify shared values and
interests.
• I view the opportunity to provide feedback to my colleagues relating to values-based
decision-making—ideally first on a human-to-human (one-on-one) basis—as opportunities
for mutual understanding, growth and learning.
• I understand that everyone makes mistakes and, in the spirit of collegiality, I accept apologies
when they are offered. I set aside grudges that may be tempting to hold.
• I look for opportunities to celebrate generative, positive examples of the application of this
code.
2. I embrace our community’s and city team’s diversity. In practice, this means that:
• I consider the diversity, equity and inclusion implications of policy decisions I make.
• I participate in regular educational activities to enhance my insights into a wide variety of
diversity, equity and inclusion issues.
3. I promote fair and consistent processes. In practice, this means that:
• I honor the law’s and the public’s expectation that city policies will be applied consistently.
• I am impartial in my decision-making and do not favor those who either have helped me (or
are in a position to do so) and disfavor those who have not (or are not).
• I make it a practice to communicate equitably with members of the community, irrespective
of their influence, power or campaign donations.
• I make a conscious effort to avoid favoritism or bias (including unintended bias) in my
actions and decisions.
Value: Integrity
1. I am truthful with my colleagues, the public and others. In practice, this means that:
• I carefully consider any promise I make and then I keep it; I make only promises I believe
are realistic.
• I treat information I receive with a spirit of inquiry and presumed positive intent; I fact-
check information as necessary with colleagues, staff and others.
• I honor commitments I and my agency make.
• I credit others’ contributions to moving our community’s interests forward.
• I explain the official positions of the city to the best of my ability when I am authorized to
do so. I am clear in stating my own views that these views may or may not represent the
city’s position.
2. My actions are consistent with my words. In practice, this means that:
• I follow through on the commitments I make.
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Boards, Commissions and Committees Code of Ethics &
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•Building and maintaining trust is an ongoing process. I act in ways that promote the public’s
trust in both 1) the city as an expression of community democratic processes and 2) my
own role as a member of the city’s boards, commissions or committees.
3.I comply with both the letter and the spirit of the laws that are designed to promote public trust
and confidence in our agency’s decision-making. In practice, this means that:
•I demonstrate, by my actions and my words, that I am a guardian of the public’s trust and
confidence in the city, its board, commission and committee members and staff.
•I use public resources for public purposes, not for private benefit.
•I decline and do not seek gifts, favors, and other special treatment.
•I make decisions based on my sense of the public’s best interests. In so doing, I am mindful
of the nonpartisan nature of city, county, school and judicial offices provided for in
California’s Constitution.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations
I am aware of and abide by all relevant laws and regulations. I pledge to follow and maintain
compliance with:
•The Brown Act
•The Public Records Act
•Workplace Harassment Prevention Training
•AB1234 Ethics Training
Conflict of Interest
I must disclose and avoid any situations where personal interest and bias could conflict with our
duties as a member of any of the city’s boards, commissions or committees, whether they be real
or perceived. I pledge to file all required FPPC Form 700 filings in a timely fashion, to include:
•Assuming Office Statement when first appointed
•Annual Form 700 Office Statement
•Leaving Office Statement when appointed term ends
The City Council directs that this code be:
•Distributed to individual board, commission and committee members for signature
•Provided to newly appointed members upon the administration of the Oath of Office
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Agricultural Conversion Mitigation Fee Citizens’ Advisory Committee Signatures:
Chair Alkire
Date
Committee Member Brisbois
Date
Committee Member Householder
Date
Committee Member Lichten
Date
Committee Member Merz Date
Committee Member O’Neill
Date
Committee Member Wu Date
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Arts Commission Signatures:
Chair Chung Date
Commission Member Breyer Date
Commission Member Carrillo Date
Commission Member Clark Date
Commission Member Ferone Date
Commission Member George Date
Commission Member Nassiri Date
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Beach Preservation Commission Signatures:
Chair Stark
Date
Commission Member Corrigan
Date
Commission Member Evans
Date
Commission Member Ferguson
Date
Commission Member Norall Date
Commission Member Rothman
Date
Commission Member Woolsey Date
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Community-Police Engagement Commission Signatures:
Chair Zepeda
Date
Commission Member Gish
Date
Commission Member Connolly
Date
Commission Member Frazee
Date
Commission Member Novak Date
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Boards, Commissions and Committees Code of Ethics &
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April 29, 2025
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Historic Preservation Commission Signatures:
Chair Majer
Date
Commission Member Diaz
Date
Commission Member Jacobs
Date
Commission Member May
Date
Commission Member Schreibman Date
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Boards, Commissions and Committees Code of Ethics &
Public Service Values
April 29, 2025
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Housing Commission Signatures:
Chair Chang
Date
Commission Member Berger
Date
Commission Member Horton
Date
Commission Member Collins
Date
Commission Member Ydigoras Date
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Boards, Commissions and Committees Code of Ethics &
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Library Board of Trustees Commission Signatures:
Chair Sheffler
Date
Trustee Member Laufer
Date
Trustee Member McBride
Date
Trustee Member Moran
Date
Trustee Member Waidelich Date
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Boards, Commissions and Committees Code of Ethics &
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April 29, 2025
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Parks & Recreation Commission Signatures:
Chair Winston
Date
Commission Member Allemann
Date
Commission Member Gisbert
Date
Commission Member Knight
Date
Commission Member Rasines Date
Commission Member Revell
Date
Commission Member Sander Date
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Planning Commission Signatures:
Chair Meenes
Date
Commission Member Burrows
Date
Commission Member Hubinger
Date
Commission Member Foster
Date
Commission Member Lafferty Date
Commission Member Merz
Date
Commission Member Stine Date
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Senior Commission Signatures:
Chair Rangus
Date
Commission Member Fitz-Patrick
Date
Commission Member Ross
Date
Commission Member Schouwe
Date
Commission Member Dillon Date
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Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission Signatures:
Chair Coelho
Date
Commission Member Nicholes
Date
Commission Member Schuck
Date
Commission Member Kohl
Date
Commission Member Newlands Date
Commission Member Penseyres
Date
Commission Member Proulx Date
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