Development News for Riverside, California

Board of Ethics Explores Charter Amendments for Increased Independence and Transparency

The Ad Hoc Committee presented recommendations for amending the City Charter to enhance the Board of Ethics' independence and transparency. Key proposals include adding the Board of Ethics to the City Charter to prevent dissolution, and shifting the appointment of ethics members from City Council to the Inspector General to reduce bias. The committee also discussed making the complaint process private until sufficient evidence is found for a hearing, and explored how the Board of Ethics could work with the Inspector General's office, which is itself in development. A proposed change suggests that if an Inspector General is not yet appointed, the City Council would retain appointment powers as a fallback. The committee cited research from other cities that have independent ethics boards structured within their city charters. They also proposed that penalties for violations might be determined by the Inspector General instead of City Council to ensure impartiality. A timeline for the Charter Review Commission was outlined, suggesting they would convene in January 2027 to consider amendments for the March 2028 election.