Registration measure dies

CITY HALL ? A proposal that would have required paid lobbyists to register with the city before having discussions with city officials and staff drew little council support on Tuesday, halting all talk of crafting a possible lobbyist ordinance.

Councilwoman Marsha Ramos brought the idea to the council's attention as a way to promote full disclosure in local government, allowing officials and staff to more readily identify petitioners who are paid to represent the interests of outside agencies, she said.

"Given the political climate that has permeated across this country, I would ask that you consider it in an effort to move toward open government," Ramos said. "Sure, we're a small town, and we have that small-town feel, but I believe that we have a lot of sophisticated issues that come before us and it's in our best interest to have as open a process as possible."

But the problems that lobbyist registration are intended to address are not prevalent in Burbank, Councilman Dave Golonski said.

"I appreciate you trying to prevent a problem, which is really what I think you're looking at here," Golonski said. "But I haven't seen a problem with this and I don't know if there is a problem that it would prevent."

Council members and city staff are largely aware of the interests of persons who approach them on matters of city business, Golonski said.

"I just don't think we have a problem with lobbyists running around that we're unaware of," he said.

But Ramos questioned whether it was wise to conclude that a problem does not exist simply because council members have not observed it first-hand.

"How could we know if we are aware of them or not?" she said.

Councilman Jef Vander Borght also saw little relevance for a lobbyist registration ordinance, saying he only meets with 10 to 12 people every year, half of whom are homeowners or concerned citizens and half who are attorneys or other professionals appearing about city business.

"I recognize the importance of being able to have as much transparency as possible as we conduct our business in public or at any time as a council," Vander Borght said.

"I just haven't seen in Burbank ? an opportunity to be concerned."

A previous council discussed lobbyist registration in 2003, but also opted against crafting an ordinance, City Atty. Dennis Barlow said.