To: Board of Supervisors of County of Sonoma
Department or Agency Name(s): County Counsel
Staff Name and Phone Number: Robert Pittman, Chief Deputy County Counsel, Kristin Horrell, Deputy County Counsel, (707) 565-2421
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Conflict of Interest Code Update
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt the Resolution Approving the Amended Conflict of Interest Code for the County of Sonoma
B) Adopt the Resolution Approving the Amended Conflict of Interest Code for the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency
C) Adopt the Resolution Approving the Amended Conflict of Interest Code for the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Agency
D) Adopt the Resolution Approving the Amended Conflict of Interest Code for the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency
end
Executive Summary:
This item amends the Conflict of Interest Codes (COIC) for the County of Sonoma, the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency, the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Agency and the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency. A COIC identifies the public officials, employees and consultants who are required to file statements of economic interest (Form 700s) and which financial interests must be disclosed for each respective position. COICs provide transparency to ensure government employees are not making decisions to promote their own financial interests.
State law requires every agency to amend its COIC when a change is necessitated by changed circumstances, including the creation of new positions and relevant changes in the duties assigned to existing positions. Permit Sonoma has identified changes that need to be made to their designated employee list and corresponding disclosure categories and therefore the County’s COIC must be updated. Additionally, state law was recently amended to require the board of directors and executive director of groundwater sustainability agencies (GSA) to file their Form 700s with the FPPC and therefore the GSA COICs must be updated to reflect this change.
Discussion:
This item amends the Conflict of Interest Codes (“COIC”) for the County of Sonoma, the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency, the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Agency, and the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
State law requires that each local agency adopt a COIC identifying (1) those positions in which officers or employees make or participate in making governmental decisions that affect government spending (“designated employees”), and (2) the types of personal interests which could be affected by those decisions (“disclosure categories”). Designated employees file Form 700s based on the disclosure categories specified.
State law requires every agency amend its conflict of interest code when change is necessitated by changed circumstances, including the creation of new positions and relevant changes in the duties assigned to existing positions or changes in state law.
Permit Sonoma has identified two positions that need to be added to their designated employee list and one position whose title has changed. Additionally, the disclosure category of the position whose title is being changed must also be updated. Accordingly, the County’s COIC must be updated.
Senate Bill 1156, which added California Government Code 87200.5 to the Political Reform Act, requires members of the board of directors and the executive of a groundwater sustainability agency (GSA) to file statements of economic interests with the Fair Political Practices Commission using the Commission’s online system, as opposed to the GSAs each designating the filing officer for those respective positions. Accordingly, the GSA COICs must be updated.
Any changes to a COIC must be approved by both the local agency and the code reviewing body for the amended COIC to be effective. Because the jurisdiction of each GSA is wholly with the County of Sonoma, the Board of Supervisors is the appropriate code reviewing body. The respective Board of Directors for each of the GSAs have already approved these changes and request the Board approve the changes.
Adoption of the attached resolutions will amend the COICs for the County of Sonoma and each of the GSAs.
Strategic Plan:
NA
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
July 22, 2025 - County of Sonoma most recently amended its conflict of interest code
July 10, 2018 - Approval of the Petaluma Valley GSA, Santa Rosa Plain GSA and Sonoma Valley GSA
Fiscal Summary
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FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
Resolution Approving the Amended COIC for the County of Sonoma
Resolution Approving the Amended COIC for the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency
Resolution Approving the Amended COIC for the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability
Resolution Approving the Amended COIC for the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.