Council may postpone auditor/ERC ordinance

Council Members Bill Spelman and Mike Martinez had a discussion during Tuesday’s work session indicating that the Council may postpone action on an ordinance that would change the powers and duties of the city auditor and the Ethics Review Commission. Spelman, who sponsored the resolution that initiated the code amendments, said that there are “still some pieces to be worked out,” though he believes the final ordinance will be ready for Thursday’s Council meeting. Martinez said that the “local employee union” — likely the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — has asked that the item be postponed until the Dec. 11 meeting if the ordinance is not amended by Wednesday or Thursday morning, so that the group can review it. Spelman agreed that, in that case, the item should be postponed. This is in the wake of the city auditor conducting an investigation based on an anonymous complaint and issuing a report accusing Zero Waste Advisory Commissioner Daniela Ochoa Gonzalez of a conflict of interest violation. Gonzalez lost her job due to the investigation and report, which Council disavowed.