Politics & Government

Murrieta Commissioners Receive Ethics Training

After appointing a new chair and vice chair, Murrieta planning commissioners undergo ethics training.

After the Murrieta Planning Commission appointed its new chair and vice chair, commissioners were reminded of the ethical guidelines that govern their role as public officials.

The two commissioners with the most seniority were selected to lead the group this year. Gregory Goodman will serve as chair and Jeff Kirshberg will serve as vice chair, it was decided Wednesday.

According to a provision implemented by the Commission last year, the most senior member is to be appointed as chair, and the next senior member as vice chair.

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The provision can be overruled, but commissioners voted unanimously to select Goodman and Kirshberg.

In June, Anthony Casadonte, Raymond Seda and Ruthanne Taylor Berger .

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Kirshberg welcomed Taylor Berger's experience, as she serves as the deputy director of Western Riverside Council of Governments.

"Looks like we have a good team here, some good folks," Kirshberg said.

Goodman agreed that it was one of the newest teams, and set goals for the year.

"We have passed the biggest hurdle of passing on the General Plan; now we are going to work on improving the development code," Goodman said.

Ethics Training

Commissioners were advised to avoid conflicts of interest in their role as public officials. Ethics training is required every two years, and is conducted through the city's legal counsel.

For example, under the Brown Act, serial meetings are prohibited. Serial occurs when communication takes place among a majority of members in a non-public setting. Emails and phone conversations are included in that, commissioners learned.

If they are invited to attend parties or events, given tickets to an event or offered meals, the total value of goods from one source has to be under $420 in a 12-month period.

Upon their appointment, commissioners must file an economic interest form with the city. They were advised to abstain from voting on agenda items that they or their employer could benefit financially from, or on projects they live within 500 feet of.

Holding private get-togethers among commissioners was also discouraged.

"A lot of commissions and smaller bodies used to do a lot of that," said Christina Cameron, an attorney with Stutz, Aritano, Shinoff & Holtz, who presented the workshop. "But those things seem to be going away, because the public feels excluded."


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