Confer, Yes, but Should They Mingle? : Ethics: Critics of public officials’ conferences say there’s too much partying going on--and that lobbyists too often crash it.

It was a Who’s Who of local officials. It was also a Who’s Who of corporate sponsors and lobbyists.

That combination, attending the Independent Cities Assn. conference concluding in San Diego today, illustrates all that is wrong with such gatherings, according to a South Bay government watchdog group.

The conference, held in the four-star Rancho Bernardo Inn, drew elected officials and administrators from cities throughout Los Angeles County, including Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach and Torrance. As is customary for such meetings, the officials’ travel and lodging expenses in most cases will be fully reimbursed by the taxpayers.

The four-day gathering, intended as a forum to discuss city problems, also included lobbyists and companies that often deal with cities.

One lobbying firm registered in the city of Los Angeles, Ken Spiker and Associates, was hired by the association to organize the conference. The firm’s clients have included large businesses that deal in solid waste. Among them are BKK Corp. and Otto Industries Inc.

BKK, Otto and other companies, including Atlantic Richfield, Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas, footed the bill for conference breakfasts, luncheons, dinners or receptions. Some of the companies organized “hospitality” suites, where their representatives could schmooze with city officials.

The proceedings, which also included golf and tennis tournaments, drew fire last week from Gregory Anderson, coordinator of South Bay Common Cause.

“When lobbyists attend, it does raise suspicions that they’re looking for something in return,” Anderson said. “We support the knowledge and education elected officials receive at these conferences, but we oppose the fun and games and the lobbyists being there.”

Organizers of the Independent Cities Assn. event assert that conference sessions dispensed important information on such subjects as cutting city costs amid tight budgets. Lynwood Mayor Paul H. Richards II, president of the association, said he knew of no lobbying at the conference. He said that attendance last week was “absolutely essential” for city officials.

“Cities have been taking it on the chin from the state and federal governments,” Richards said last week. “We have had to create partnerships with each other. This conference will focus on these kinds of partnership arrangements between both public and private entities. There’s no more business-as-usual in cities.”

He said the conference is a training ground for policy-makers, noting that several prominent speakers were scheduled to appear at seminars and on panels. Among the speakers was Ted Gaebler, one of the authors of “Reinventing Government,” a book that has drawn praise from the Clinton Administration.

“Where else is the elected official gonna have the opportunity to interface with a Ted Gaebler?” Richards said. “Here, we provide a forum where they have substantial interaction with a Mr. Gaebler and other respected speakers.”

Inglewood City Councilman Curren Price Jr. said he valued the opportunity to share information.

“I see it as a chance to meet with a lot of other local officials in one place,” said Price, who was elected in June and was attending his first municipal conference. “I thought the workshops were certainly relevant.”

Lobbyists and business representatives often attend local government gatherings. But the Independent Cities Assn. conference, and a similar event sponsored annually by the Contract Cities Assn. in Palm Springs, feature more such contact than most, some South Bay city officials acknowledge.

“They’re just big parties,” said one official, who asked not to be identified. “On paper, (the conference) looks good, but the seminars are not well attended. You’ll find more people at the pools or tennis courts.”

Businesses argue that they are only trying to make contact.

“All you do is get access to people, you exchange business cards,” said Napoleon Brandford III, vice chairman of Grigsby Brandford & Co. An investment banking firm that specializes in managing municipal bonds, Grigsby Bradford sponsored a conference luncheon and a hospitality suite. “It’s cost-efficient for us to talk to everyone all at once to discuss issues. . . . It’s a great networking environment,” Brandford said.

Nevertheless, the combination of private interests and public officials makes some uncomfortable.

Said Common Cause’s Anderson: “What type of information are they going to bring back from a tennis game or a golf game? What are they going to report back to the city? ‘I got a 78 on the golf course?’ ”