City Manager

Ethics Commission

• Meetings
• Commissioners
• Commission Staff
• Resources
  
• External Communications Disclosure Log

The Ethics Commission is responsible for the impartial and effective administration of the provisions of the City's Charter related to campaign financing, lobbying, conflicts of interest, and governmental ethics. Established through Measure CCC, the Commission serves as an advisory body and does not have the authority to conduct investigations.

Mission Statement

The Ethics Commission strives to advance public trust and confidence in the City’s government through education and the development of policies and processes that promote each of the City’s values of Accountability, Equity, Impartiality, Diversity, Transparency, and Integrity.

About the Commission

On November 6, 2018, Long Beach voters approved Measure CCC - City of Long Beach Ethics Commission. Measure CCC amended the City Charter to create a Commission of Long Beach residents to monitor, administer, and implement government ethics in the City.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support and Guidance: Providing support to agencies and public officials in administering the provisions of the Charter and other relevant laws, specifically in areas of campaign finance, conflicts of interest, and government ethics.
• Policy Recommendations: Offering recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on campaign finance reform, lobbying, governmental ethics, and conflicts of interest. This includes reporting on the effectiveness of these laws.
• Conflict of Interest Codes: Assisting departments in the development of their conflict of interest codes as required by state law.
• Educational Advocacy: Enhancing understanding of the Charter, City ordinances, and the roles of public officials and institutions, alongside the City electoral process.
• Ethics Training Program: Developing and implementing educational programs for newly elected/appointed officials, candidates, campaign treasurers, and lobbyists, emphasizing the importance of ethics to public confidence in municipal government.

                                                           
Meetings

The Ethics Commission Regular Meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of month, at 3:00 p.m. The agendas and minutes are available on the City's Meetings website. Community members are welcomed to attend the meetings and address the Commission.

                                                           
Commissioners

The Commission is comprised of seven Commissioners. Two Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor who have represented local civic organization(s) with a demonstrated history of involvement in local governance. Two Commissioners are appointed by the City Auditor who have a background in public policy or public law, governmental ethics or open government matters, campaign finance, auditing of compliance with ethics laws, protection of whistleblowers, or technology as it relates to open government. The final three Commissioners are appointed by the Commission, following a public recruitment and application process, by the affirmative vote of at least three members of the Commission.

Barbara Pollack Chair	Johnathan 'Chief' Coleman Vice Chair
Raul Añorve Commissioner	Lani De Benedictis Commissioner
Margo Morales Commissioner	J. P. Shotwell Commissioner
Susan Wise Commissioner

Term of Office

The term for Commissioners will be four (4) years. No Commissioners will serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms.

The first four (4) Commissioners appointed by the Mayor and City Auditor will serve an initial two (2) year term and will be eligible for re-appointment to one additional four (4) year term.

Vacancies

Appointments to fill vacancies on the Commission will be made within sixty (60) days of the position becoming vacant. The vacancy will be appointed by the same method and procedure utilized for the initial Commissioner appointment either by the Mayor, City Auditor or Commission.

                                                          
Commission Staff 

Heather Van Wijk Ethics Officer

Jorge Godinez Assistant to the City Manager

For questions or comments, please contact Heather Van Wijk, Ethics Officer, by phone at (562) 570-7443 or email at heather.vanwijk@longbeach.gov.

Per Article 11.2 of the Ethics Commission's bylaws, Commissioners and Commission staff are required to disclose and report in writing, any substantive information relevant to a matter within decision making authority of the Commission. Please know that your communication (written or oral) with any Commissioner or Commission staff outside of a public meeting may result in a public disclosure.                                    

Resources

• Ethics Helpline

  To File a Report:
  Submit a Report Online
  Submit a Report by Phone: 1-833-467-5397

  • Available 24/7
  • Secure and confidential
  • Remain anonymous

  Ethics is one of the fundamental building blocks of the work we do as public servants. The City of Long Beach is committed to the highest standards of ethical workplace conduct and depends on employees and the public to report violations of the City's Code of Conduct and Ethics so that appropriate action can be taken and the situation remedied.

  The 'most ethical' choice is not always clear to us. Our Ethics Helpline is one tool the City offers for reporting concerns and asking questions. The Ethics Helpline is secure, confidential to the exent of the law, and if you choose, anonymous.
  
  The City's Ethics Officer will review all concerns and will take appropriate action. There must be a sufficient basis to conduct an investigation.
  
  Similar to the City Auditor's office, every case will be analyzed and receive one of the following courses of action:
  
  1. Conduct an investigation 
  2. Refer to a City department
  3. Refer to an outside agency with jurisdiction
  4. Not actionable

• Ethics Commission Documents

  • Ethics Commission Capstone Team Education Program Report
  • Code of Conduct and Ethics
  • Vendor Code of Conduct
  • Action Plan
  • Bylaws (Amended 10/12/2022

• Ethics Commission Annual Reports

  • 2023 Annual Report
  • 2022 Annual Report
  • 2021 Annual Report
  • 2020 Annual Report

• City of Long Beach Resources

  • City of Long Beach Disclosure Reports & Ethics Portal
  • City Employee Ethics Survey and Ethics Program Performance Audit
  • City Attorney's Office Ethics Fact Sheets
  • Management Response and Action Plan to Ethics Program Performance Audit
  • City Charter Article XXIV - Ethics Commission
  • Long Beach Ethics Guide
  • Ethics Commission Implementation Memo
  • Fraud, Waste & Abuse Hotline
  • Long Beach Boards & Commission Handbook
  • Long Beach Campaign Ethics Guide
  • Campaign Reform Act (LBMC Chapter 2.01)
  • Campaign Finance Portal

• State of California Resources

  • Fair Political Practices Commission
  • AB1234 - Local Agency Ethics Training