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the Commission dismissed summarily as lacking merit four <br /> complaints dealing with allegations of unethical expenditures of <br /> city funds; <br /> the Council dismissed due to insufficient evidence one complaint <br /> dealing with allegations of unethical use of influence; <br /> the sixth complaint dealing with allegations of abuse of power was <br /> withdrawn by the complainant. <br /> There were no ethics complaints filed with the Commission <br /> between 1995 and 2001. (March 12 and April 23, 2002 Meetings) <br /> D. The Ethics Commission plays a valuable educational and <br /> informational role in the community. It raises awareness of the <br /> fundamental importance in our democracy of government officials <br /> and citizen advisory commission members understanding and <br /> practicing good ethics. (All Meetings) <br /> E. The Ethics Commission plays an important role in financial <br /> disclosure. Through the ethics resolution, many public officials are <br /> required to report significant financial interests each year. Such <br /> reporting helps avoid conflicts of interest and builds public trust in <br /> their public officials. (All Meetings) <br /> F. The Ethics Commission plays an important role in reviewing <br /> periodically the standards of ethical conduct with which public <br /> officials must comply. (All Meetings) <br /> G. The investigatory role of the Ethics Commission is problematic <br /> because it is a volunteer body that lacks subpoena power. <br /> However, the Task Force does not recommend granting the <br /> Commission subpoena power. (All Meetings) <br /> H. The Ethics Commission presently has the capacity to differentiate <br /> complaints made to it that are substantive from those that are <br /> political in nature. However, its ability to judiciously and fairly <br /> review all complaints it receives could be enhanced by clarification <br /> of the requirements of-the ethics code and the procedures <br /> employed to review complaints. [April 2, 2002 meeting) <br /> Recommendations <br /> In light of these findings, the Ethics Task Force makes the following <br /> recommendations: <br /> 1. That the City Council enlarge the enabling authority of the <br /> Ethics Commission to authorize the Commission to review <br /> 2 <br />