TUSTIN : Interest Disclosure Requirement Passes

Board members of the Tustin Community Foundation must disclose their financial interests within the city as required by the city’s conflict-of-interest codes, the City Council decided this week.

The nonprofit foundation was created last year to help raise money for youth, recreational and cultural programs of the city.

The seven-member board of directors includes Councilmen Charles E. Puckett and Jeffrey Thomas. The board directors are Cheryl Bell, James Farley, Terry Riggins, Richard Scherr and Margarete Thompson.

Chief Deputy City Clerk Valerie Whitman said that every year, the city routinely adds or eliminates positions that require financial interest disclosure. Employees in the list are also required to file the statements upon assuming and leaving their positions.

The redevelopment program manager was added to the list, while the job of director of community administrative services, which was eliminated, was deleted from the list.

Managerial positions in the community services, community development, engineering and public works, finance, legislation, personnel, police and water departments are also required to disclose financial interests in the city and within two miles of the city, Whitman said.

Financial interests include real estate properties, rental income, “anything that could possibly pose a conflict of interest,” she said.

On a case-by-case basis, consultants working for the city are also required to disclose financial interests, Whitman said.

Council members, the city manager, financial directors and planning commissioners are also required by state laws to disclose financial interests.