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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, May 17, 2010 Page 7 Motion carried by super majority. 10. Presentations a. Joint Meeting with the Ethics Commission Mayor Klausing and Councilmembers welcomed Ethics Commission Chair Me- lissa Weldon and Commissioner Margo Fjelstad; and thanked them for their ser- vice on this City Advisory Commission. Chair Weldon suggested three topics on which to focus tonight's joint discussion or on which the Commission wished to report: 1) Their charge for an annual review of the City's Ethics Resolution, and the Commission's subsequent recommendation that no changes were indicated; 2) Their charge for hearing and review of formal or informal requests, with no ethics complaints or requests received over the last year; and 3) Their charge to provide input on Ethics Training for the City; and the Com- mission's recommendation for changes in that training procedure. Chair Weldon noted that the Ethics Code called for annual "seminars" be held for all new public officials; however, she questioned what the intent was of a "semi- nar." Chair Weldon further noted that the Code required trained experts from out- side city government, as well as the Commission's input on that training. Chair Weldon noted that this training has been conducted annually in November. How- ever, Chair Weldon, on behalf of the Commission, recommended revising that annual training schedule to occur in April to facilitate those new Advisory Com- mission members coming on board in March each year, and logistically being a better time for training rather than around the holidays. Chair Weldon requested special dispensation from the City Council for the next in- person training for 2010 to be deferred until April of 2011; and requested further definition by the City Council on the intent of what a "seminar" entailed. Chair Weldon advised that all new public officials received a copy of the Ethics Code, and that they were pro- vided by the City Manager with a copy of last year's training via DVD. Chair Weldon thanked Commissioners Schmidt and Fjelstad for their work on the Commission's first ethics e-mail, noting that a monthly e -mail was planned in the future; with other options being considered to put the Code in front of public offi- cials by e -mail, by table tent or other opportunities. Chair Weldon noted that the Ethics Commission currently had an annual budget of $500, and while recognizing the City's budget constraints, opined that this was not an adequate sum to bring in an outside speaker, and requested an increase in the budget for 2011, or to forego in- person training in 2010, and apply those funds to the 2011 budget for an in- person speaker.