Bradbury : Conflict Rules Eased

Sparked by a dispute in Signal Hill, the state Fair Political Practices Commission on Tuesday agreed to exempt public officials in about 190 “itty-bitty cities” from some economic conflict-of-interest regulations.

The League of California Cities said only two small cities--Bradbury in the San Gabriel Valley and Ripon in the San Joaquin Valley--would be unaffected by the regulation because they elect council members by district.

Bob Kress, Bradbury city attorney, said his city “probably doesn’t care” about the regulation “because it’s a wealthy community” with large estates and no commercial development.

Tim O’Donnell, Signal Hill assistant city manager, said he is satisfied with the action because the city won “90% of what we wanted.”

At issue was a commission regulation that restricts the voting power of officials whose principal residence is near a proposed development.

Currently, officials who live between 300 and 2,500 feet from a project may vote on it, but only if neighboring property will receive the same treatment as their homes. Under rules unanimously adopted by the commission, public officials in about 42% of the state’s 453 cities will be exempted from this provision. The new regulation will relax the requirement for cities with populations of less than 25,000, where city council members are elected on an at-large basis and where the city is 10 square miles or less.

Nonetheless, if officials own homes closer than 300 feet from a development, they would in most circumstances be required to disqualify themselves from a vote.