04-27-2020 BPU RPT 09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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W A T E R E N E R G Y L I F E RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES • ' Board Memorandum P U B L I C U T I L I T I E S BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: APRIL 27, 2020 ITEM NO: 9 SUBJECT: RULES OF CONDUCT FOR THE APPEARANCE OR ATTENDANCE OF BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARDMEMBERS AT NON -BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES MEETINGS ISSUE: Consider whether to amend the Standing Rules of the Board of Public Utilities to provide rules of conduct for Boardmembers who appear at or attend non -Board of Public Utilities meetings and provide direction to staff to prepare any such amendments. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities consider whether to amend the Standing Rules of the Board of Public Utilities to provide rules of conduct for Boardmembers who appear at or attend non -Board of Public Utilities meetings and provide direction to staff to prepare any such amendments. BACKGROUND: The Standing Rules are silent as to the conduct of Board of Public Utilities Boardmembers (Boardmembers) who appear or attend non -Board of Public Utilities (Board) meetings. The Standing Rules, Rule 53 only provides that "The Chair or a Board designee may represent the Board on an issue before the City Council." Therefore, several Boardmembers have asked that the Board consider whether to amend the Standing Rules to provide rules of conduct at such non -Board meetings. DISCUSSION: Staff reviewed the City Council Resolution No. 23437, which sets forth the City Council's Rules of Procedure and Order of Business, to determine how the City Council regulates the conduct of its members at non -City Council meetings. The following are several pertinent sections for Board consideration: The City Council Rules, Section III, "Advocacy", provide the following: A. City Council shall represent the official policies or positions of the City Council when designated as delegates for this purpose. B. When representing their individual opinions and positions, City Council shall explicitly state they do not represent the City Council of the City, nor will they allow the inference that they do.