City Commission Workshop - Ethics Training/Roberts Rules of Order

Presentation and Discussion Re: Ethics, Public Records, and Sunshine Law -1- 04/15/26 MINUTES OF THE SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION ETHICS, PUBLIC RECORDS, AND SUNSHINE LAW WORKSHOP OF APRIL 15, 2026 PRESENT: Mayor Debbie Trice, presiding, Vice Mayor Kathy Kelley Ohlrich, Commissioners Jen Ahearn-Koch, and Kyle Scott Battie (arrived at 9:03 A.M.), and City Auditor and Clerk Shayla Griggs, Deputy City Manager Patrick “Pat” Robinson, and City Attorney Joseph Polzak OTHER: City of North Port (North Port) Commissioner Phil Stokes, and Randy Mora, Attorney, Trask Daigneault, LLP ABSENT: Commissioner Liz Alpert, and Interim City Manager Jennifer Jorgensen 9:02:12 A.M. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Trice at 9:02 A.M. 9:02:19 A.M. 1. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION RE: ETHICS, PUBLIC RECORDS AND SUNSHINE LAW (AGENDA ITEM I) 9:03:42 A.M. Randy Mora, Attorney and City Consultant, Trask Daigneault, LLP, came before the Commission and provided a brief introduction and outline of today’s discussion, as follows: Ethics two hours Public Records one hour Florida’s Sunshine Law one hour 9:06:17 A.M. Attorney Mora provided a brief overview of Florida Ethics Law and referred to a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Florida Ethics Law For Public Officers and Employees.” 9:18:35 A.M. Question posed by North Port Commissioner Stokes was addressed by Attorney Mora. 9:21:41 A.M. Question posed by Vice Mayor Ohlrich was addressed by Attorney Mora. 9:22:43 A.M. Question posed by Commissioner Ahearn-Koch was addressed by Attorney Mora. 9:23:26 A.M. Attorney Mora continued to provide a brief overview of the various slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Florida Gift Law: Four Key Questions,” “Florida Gift Law: (1) Is It A Gift?,” ““Gifts” Include, But Are Note Limited To:,” “Not Everything Is A Gift (Just Most Things),” “Indirect Gift,” “Unauthorized Compensation: Pay, gifts, or…,” and “Florida Gift Law: (2) Why are you getting this gift?”

Presentation and Discussion Re: Ethics, Public Records, and Sunshine Law -2- 04/15/26 9:34:32 A.M. Questions posed by Vice Mayor Ohlrich were addressed by Attorney Mora. 9:36:39 A.M. Attorney Mora continued further to provide a brief overview of the various slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Florida Gift Law: (3) Who is it from?” “Florida Gift Law: (4) What is its value? Reporting Requirements,” “Solicitation Of Gifts The Takeaway? Don’t,” “Curing An Improper Gift, and “Perception Matters.” City Auditor and Clerk Griggs left the Chambers at 9:39 A.M. and returned at 9:42 A.M. 9:49:23 A.M. Question posed by North Port Commissioner Stokes was addressed by Attorney Mora. 9:51:00 A.M. Attorney Mora provided a brief overview of the various slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Misuse of Public Position,” “Abuse of Public Position,” and “Opportunities Misuse/Abuse.” 10:03:29 A.M. Vice Mayor Ohlrich spoke to the topic, and Attorney Mora provided input. 10:03:49 A.M. Attorney Mora continued, provided a brief overview of conflicts related to employment, and referred to various slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Doing Business With One’s Agency,” “Conflicting Employment Or Contractual Relationship,” and “General Exemptions.” City Attorney Polzak left the Chambers at 10:10 A.M. 10:13:50 A.M. Questions posed by Vice Mayor Ohlrich were addressed by Attorney Mora. City Attorney Polzak returned to the Chambers at 10:14 A.M. 10:16:40 A.M. Attorney Mora continued further to provide a brief overview of conflicts related to employment and referred to slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Restriction On Employment Of Relatives.” 10:26:03 A.M. Attorney Mora provided a brief overview of the slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Disclosure Or Use of Information.” 10:32:31 A.M. Attorney Mora continued, provided a brief overview of Voting Conflicts, and referred to various slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Voting Requirements, “Voting Conflicts,” “What is a Voting Conflict,” “Who Benefits? Who Is Harmed?” “Voting On One’s Own Compensation, and “Navigating Potential Conflicts.”

Presentation and Discussion Re: Ethics, Public Records, and Sunshine Law -3- 04/15/26 10:55:59 A.M. Attorney Mora concluded the Florida Ethics Law presentation and referred to various slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Closing thoughts” and “Then Ask Your City Attorney!” The Commission recessed at 10:58 A.M. and reconvened at 11:09 A.M. 11:10:02 A.M. Attorney Mora provided a brief overview of the Public Records Law and referred to a PowerPoint presentation displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Florida’s Public Records Law Fla. Stat. Chapter 119.” City Auditor and Clerk Griggs returned to the Chambers at 11:10 A.M. Commissioner Battie returned to the Chambers at 11:16 A.M. 11:24:58 A.M. Questions posed by Vice Mayor Ohlrich were addressed by Attorney Mora. 11:29:45 A.M. Questions posed by Mayor Trice were addressed by Attorney Mora and Deputy City Manager Robinson. Commissioner Battie left and returned to his seat at 11:34 A.M. 11:40:46 A.M Attorney Mora continued to provide a brief overview of various slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Public Records Law: Judicial Interpretations” and “Public Records Law: The Custodian of Records.” Commissioner Battie left the Dais at 11:40 A.M. and returned at 11:45 A.M. 11:48:43 A.M. Attorney Mora continued further to provide a brief overview of various slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Public Records Law: The Custodian of Records – Custodial Inquiries,” “Public Records Law: Records Retention,” “Public Records Law: Responding to Records Requests,” “Public Records Law: Confidential & Exempt Content Asserting an Exemption,” “Public Records Law: Statute on Charging for the Pubic Service,” “Public Records Law: Best Practices in Charging for the Public Service,” “Public Records Law: Penalties & Consequences,” and “Public Records Law: Public Records Litigation.” 12:05:29 P.M. Attorney Mora concluded the Public Records Law presentation and referred to a slide displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Public Records Law: Remember… Perpetuate, Communicate, Formalize.” 12:05:48 P.M. Mayor Trice spoke to the topic, and Attorney Mora provided input. The Commission recessed at 12:07 P.M. and reconvened at 12:11 P.M.

Presentation and Discussion Re: Ethics, Public Records, and Sunshine Law -4- 04/15/26 12:11:09 P.M. Attorney Mora provided a brief overview of Florida’s Sunshine Law and referred to a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Florida’s Sunshine Law Fla. Stat. Chapter 286.” 12:17:18 P.M. Question posed by North Port Commissioner Stokes was addressed by Attorney Mora. 12:18:03 P.M. Attorney Mora continued providing a brief overview of various slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Florida’s Sunshine Law: The Essential Requirements,” “Florida’s Sunshine Law: Notice to Public,” “Florida’s Sunshine Law: Meeting Location,” and “Florida’s Sunshine Law: Meeting Minutes.” 12:30:01 P.M. City Auditor and Clerk Griggs spoke to the topic of the City Commission minutes, and Attorney Mora provided input. 12:32:01 P.M. Question posed by Vice Mayor Ohlrich was addressed by Attorney Mora and City Auditor and Clerk Griggs. 12:33:06 P.M. Attorney Mora continued further, provided a brief overview of the public’s reasonable opportunity to be heard, and referred to slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Florida’s Sunshine Law: Reasonable Opportunity to Be Heard.” 12:37:21 P.M. North Port Commissioner Stokes spoke to the topic regarding the public’s reasonable opportunity to be heard, and Attorney Mora provided input. 12:39:51 P.M. Questions posed by Commissioner Ahearn-Koch were addressed by Attorney Mora and City Auditor and Clerk Griggs, and discussion ensued regarding whether a quorum is required at Sarasota City Workshops and Commission-related meeting types. 12:46:30 P.M. Attorney Mora provided a brief overview of Quasi-Judicial Public Hearings and referred to a slide displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Florida’s Sunshine Law: Quasi-Judicial Hearings.” 12:55:30 P.M. Questions posed by Vice Mayor Ohlrich were addressed by Attorney Mora. 1:01:13 P.M. Attorney Mora continued providing a brief overview of various slides displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “Florida’s Sunshine Law: Individual Consequences of Sunshine Law Violations,” “Florida’s Sunshine Law: A Recent Case Study,” “Florida’s Sunshine Law: Striking Down Action Outside the

Presentation and Discussion Re: Ethics, Public Records, and Sunshine Law -5- 04/15/26 Sunshine,” “Florida’s Sunshine Law: Technology Is Not A Way Out & Other Pitfalls,” “Florida’s Sunshine Law: Social and Personal Relationships,” and “Florida’s Sunshine Law: Curing Violations.” 1:09:49 P.M. Attorney Mora concluded the Florida’s Sunshine Law regarding public meetings presentation and referred to a slide displayed on the Chambers monitors entitled “To Recap: Notice. Location. Minutes.” 1:10:48 P.M. 2. ADJOURN (AGENDA ITEM II) Mayor Trice adjourned the Sarasota City Commission Ethics, Public Records, and Sunshine Law Workshop of April 15, 2026, at 1:10 P.M.

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2026, 9:00 A.M. DISCLAIMER: THIS FILE REPRESENTS AN UNEDITED VERSION OF REALTIME CAPTIONING WHICH SHOULD NEITHER BE RELIED UPON FOR COMPLETE ACCURACY NOR USED AS A VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT. ANY PERSON WHO NEEDS A VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT OF THE PROCEEDINGS MAY NEED TO HIRE A COURT REPORTER. 09:02:11AM >>Mayor Trice: OKAY. 09:02:12AM GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. 09:02:13AM AND WELCOME TO THE APRIL 15 WORKSHOP CITY COMMISSION 09:02:19AM MEETING. 09:02:19AM THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO GIVE US OUR ANNUAL 09:02:27AM REQUIRED ETHICS TRAINING IN PERSON RATHER THAN ONLINE, WHICH 09:02:33AM WE FREQUENTLY DO. 09:02:34AM LAST YEAR, LONGBOAT KEY INVITED US TO ATTEND THEIR IN-PERSON 09:02:44AM SESSION, AND IT WAS SO USEFUL BEING ABLE -- BEING IN A SMALL 09:02:49AM GROUP AND ABLE TO ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT ARE RELEVANT 09:02:54AM TO OUR ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN SARASOTA COUNTY. 09:02:57AM AND WE HAVE INVITED COMMISSIONERS FROM OTHER CITIES IN THE 09:03:03AM COUNTY TO JOIN US, AND COMMISSIONER STOKES FROM NORTH PORT 09:03:08AM IS JOINING US TODAY. 09:03:09AM AND COMMISSIONER ALPERT COULD NOT MAKE IT TODAY, BUT I KNOW 09:03:15AM SHE WILL TAKE THE REQUIRED COURSE ONLINE LIKE WE FREQUENTLY 09:03:20AM DO. 09:03:20AM SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN THE PROGRAM OVER TO RANDY D. MORA, 09:03:25AM WHO, BY THE WAY, USUALLY RUNS THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITY'S 09:03:33AM ONLINE COURSE FOR EVERYONE IN THE STATE, AND HE DOES SUCH A 09:03:36AM GREAT JOB. 09:03:36AM SO I AM VERY GLAD THAT HE IS HERE TODAY. 09:03:38AM RANDY, YOU CAN KICK IT OFF. 09:03:41AM >>Randy D. Mora: THANK YOU, MAYOR. 09:03:42AM I PREFER TO UNDERPROMISE, OVERDELIVER. 09:03:48AM AS STATED, RANDY D. MORA, WITH THE TRASK DAIGNEAULT FIRM. 09:03:51AM OUR FIRM COLLABORATES WITH YOUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO 09:03:54AM PROVIDE SERVICES. 09:03:55AM I HAD THE JOY OF JOINING you FOLKS BEFORE ON PARLIAMENTARY 09:03:59AM PROCEDURE ON SOME OF THE OTHER BOARDS ON RELATED TOPICS. 09:04:02AM TODAY, WE GET THE VERY EXCITING, EXCITING EXPERIENCE OF 09:04:05AM GOING THROUGH THE FOUR-HOUR TRAINING, TWO HOURS ON ETHICS, 09:04:09AM ONE HOUR ON RECORDS, AND ONE HOUR ON MEETINGS. 09:04:12AM I WILL GO -- THOSE ARE CLASSROOM HOURS AND 50 MINUTES FOR 09:04:16AM EVERY HOUR. 09:04:17AM WE WILL TAKE A BREAK ONCE WE ARE THROUGH ETHICS FOR AN 09:04:21AM OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO RESET AND FOR YOU. 09:04:23AM OF COURSE, JUST AS A GROUND RULE, WHILE THIS IS MEETING YOUR 09:04:27AM BODY, AND I DEFER TO YOUR RULES, YOU ARE GROWN FOLKS. 09:04:30AM IF YOU NEED TO USE THE REST ROOM OR STAND UP, DO SO. 09:04:33AM THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS, I RARELY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO 09:04:40AM DO THIS IN INTIMATE ENVIRONMENT.

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:04:42AM I AM NAVIGATING A ROOM OF PEOPLE. 09:04:45AM WE HAVE MORE TIME AND CUSHION. 09:04:46AM IF YOU HAVE TARGETED QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW. 09:04:50AM WE ATTRIBUTE THIS TO GUIDANCE GOING FORWARD. 09:04:55AM FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PRESENTATION, I WILL BE YOUR TOUR 09:04:58AM GUIDE, AND WE ARE CRUISING AT 30,000 FEET, WHICH IS TO SAY I 09:05:01AM AM GOING THROUGH FLORIDA LAW. 09:05:02AM THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS IN SARASOTA COUNTY OR THE CITY OF 09:05:05AM SARASOTA THAT ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT OR NORTH PORT -- 09:05:09AM WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS -- THAT ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, AND I 09:05:12AM AM CRUISING WITH WHAT STATE LAW IS. 09:05:13AM OF COURSE, HAPPY TO ENGAGE WITH ANY NUANCED ISSUES. 09:05:16AM THAT'S IT. 09:05:17AM MY NAME IS RANDY D. MORA, CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF 09:05:20AM HOLMES BEACH. 09:05:21AM I REPRESENTED FOUR OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN PINELLAS COUNTY. 09:05:24AM IN ADDITION OF SERVING AS A CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE LAST 12 09:05:28AM YEARS OR SO, I WORK WITH THE FLORIDA MUNICIPAL TRUST AS 09:05:31AM PANEL COUNSEL FOR LITIGATION WHEN CITY ISSUES GOES SIDEWAYS, 09:05:35AM WHICH IS TO SAY I HAVE THE RARE BENEFIT OF NOT JUST SEEING 09:05:38AM POLICY ON THE FRONT END, BUT HOW IT RESOLVES IN THE BACK 09:05:41AM END, AND I WILL BRING THAT TO BEAR IN SOME OF OUR EXAMPLES 09:05:44AM TODAY. 09:05:44AM FINALLY, THIS IS A FAVORITE PART OF MY PRACTICE. 09:05:46AM I DO TRAVEL. 09:05:47AM AND ALSO DO MUCH MORE WEBINARS PRESENTED ON ETHICS, PUBLIC 09:05:53AM RECORDS, PUBLIC MEETINGS, TECHNOLOGY, AND HOW THEY ARE 09:05:57AM INTERSECT. 09:05:58AM IMPORTANT PART OF THE PRACTICE BECAUSE THE STRETCH IS MUCH 09:06:01AM LOWER AND NOT STARTING AT A PLACE OF CRISIS, JUST STARTING 09:06:04AM AT A PLACE OF WANTING TO DO BETTER. 09:06:06AM WITH THAT, THANK YOU. 09:06:07AM I RECOGNIZE YOU HAVE BEEN VOLUN-TOLD TO BE HERE BY THE 09:06:13AM FLORIDA LEGISLATURE, AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION 09:06:16AM ALL SAME. 09:06:17AM WITH THAT, WE WILL START WITH ETHICS. 09:06:20AM SO WHEN WE TALK OF ETHICS TODAY, I WANT TO BE VERY, VERY 09:06:24AM CLEAR WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. 09:06:26AM HIGH-MINDED MOTIONS THAT GOVERNMENT IS THE TRUST AND 09:06:29AM OFFICERS OF THE GOVERNMENT ARE TRUSTEES AND TRUST AND 09:06:32AM TRUSTEES ARE CREATED FOR BENEFIT OF PEOPLE FROM HENRY CLAY, 09:06:38AM ONE OF OUR POLITICIANS BUT FOUND THAT REPEATED IN FLORIDA 09:06:41AM CONSTITUTION. 09:06:41AM ALL OF MY PRESENTATIONS TODAY WILL START IN THE 09:06:44AM CONSTITUTION, WORK THROUGH THE STATUTE, TALK A LITTLE BIT 09:06:46AM ABOUT COMMON LAW WHICH IS WAY OF WHAT JUDGES SAY IS LAW OVER 09:06:52AM TIME AND THEN EXAMPLES. 09:06:54AM STARTING WITH OUR CONSTITUTION. 09:06:55AM THIS IS TO ME -- I DON'T CARE WHAT TOPIC YOU ARE PRESENTING, 09:06:59AM IT CAN BE VARIANCES, IT CAN BE PUBLIC MEETINGS, WHATEVER 09:07:02AM TOPIC YOU ARE PRESENTING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD START 09:07:05AM WITH THIS SLIDE. 09:07:06AM BECAUSE THIS IS THE -- THIS IS THE NORTH STAR. 09:07:10AM IF YOU ARE HERE FOR ETHICS, THIS IS A FUN PLACE.

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:07:15AM IF DRC, ANOTHER FUN ROOM. 09:07:17AM >> WE WERE TRYING. 09:07:18AM [LAUGHTER] 09:07:21AM >>Randy D. Mora: SO MUCH EXCITEMENT FOR ETHICS TODAY. 09:07:24AM APPRECIATE THE ENTHUSIASM. 09:07:26AM PUBLIC OFFICE IS THE PUBLIC TRUST AND PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE 09:07:29AM RIGHT TO SUSTAIN AND SECURE THAT TRUST AGAINST ABUSE. 09:07:31AM LET'S BREAK THAT DOWN. 09:07:33AM WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU DO NOT HOLD YOUR OFFICE FOR YOUR 09:07:36AM BENEFIT. 09:07:37AM YES, BEING A COMMISSIONER, MAYOR OR VICE MAYOR MAY GIVE YOU 09:07:41AM A WARM FUZZY FEELING IN YOUR HEART, MAY HELP YOUR EGO, IT 09:07:45AM MAY GIVE YOU AN EXCUSE NOT TO BE HOME ON A TUESDAY NIGHT, 09:07:48AM WHATEVER THE REASON IS, THAT'S GREAT, BUT THE BENEFIT IS 09:07:51AM TRULY FOR THAT OF THE PUBLIC, AND THAT PUBLIC IS BROAD. 09:07:53AM NOT THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU. 09:07:55AM THAT IS NOT EVERYBODY WHO OWNS PROPERT,Y OR EVERYBODY WITHOUT 09:07:59AM A CRIMINAL CONVICTION, OR EVERYBODY WHO IS A FLORIDIAN. 09:08:02AM IT IS EVERYBODY. 09:08:03AM YOU HOLD YOUR OFFICE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL YOUR RESIDENTS, 09:08:07AM VISITORS, GUESTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND INVESTORS IN YOUR 09:08:10AM COMMUNITY. 09:08:10AM AND YOUR CHALLENGE WHICH IS -- THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR JOB 09:08:15AM -- BALANCING ALL THE INTEREST TO SERVE THE PUBLIC TRUST. 09:08:19AM MYSELF, WE GET THE LUXURY OF KNOWING THAT IS A HARD DECISION. 09:08:24AM YOU HAVE TO MAKE ONE. 09:08:25AM GO AHEAD. 09:08:25AM WE SIT AND SAY, IT DEPENDS. 09:08:28AM BUT ULTIMATELY YOU, FOLKS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AND BALANCE THAT 09:08:31AM TRUST. 09:08:31AM AND THEN OUR SYSTEM IS SET UP SO THAT WE SECURE AND SUSTAIN 09:08:36AM THAT TRUST AGAINST ABUSE. 09:08:37AM AND THE WAY WE DO THAT PRINCIPALLY IS THROUGH CHAPTER 112 OF 09:08:42AM THE FLORIDA STATUTES, WHICH IS THE ETHICS CODE. 09:08:44AM AND IN THE ETHICS CODE, WE -- THE LAW IS NOTHING IF NOT 09:08:48AM REDUNDANT. 09:08:49AM SAYS WE HOLD YOUR OFFICE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND 09:08:52AM THE RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT IS THE 09:08:55AM FOREMOST CONCERN. 09:08:55AM SO AS WE NAVIGATE THAT, WE CONTINUE TO SAYS IT DECLARED TO 09:09:00AM BE THE POLICY THAT NO OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF A CITY 09:09:03AM GOVERNMENT SHALL HAVE ANY INTEREST, FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE, 09:09:05AM WHICH IS IN SUBSTANTIAL CONFLICT WITH THE PROPER DISCHARGE 09:09:08AM OF HIS OR HER DUTIES. 09:09:10AM SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE ARE CONCERNED PRINCIPALLY -- 09:09:15AM YOUR FOREMOST CONCERN MUST BE YOUR PUBLIC DUTIES. 09:09:19AM A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, NOT A VOTING CONFLICT, BUT A 09:09:22AM CONFLICT OF INTEREST AT A CORE ETHICAL LEVEL IS ANY 09:09:25AM SITUATION WITH REGARD TO PRIVATE INTEREST LEADS TO A PUBLIC 09:09:30AM DUTY OR INTEREST. 09:09:31AM THIS IS TO SAY IF YOU FIND YOURSELF MAKING A DECISION AND 09:09:35AM BASED PRINCIPALLY ON WHAT IS GOOD FOR NUMBER ONE, YOU ARE 09:09:38AM PROBABLY DOING THE CALCULUS WRONG. 09:09:40AM THERE ARE TIMES -- LISTEN, I SYMPATHIZE WITH YOU FOLKS AS

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:09:44AM ELECTED OFFICIALS BECAUSE OFTENTIMES YOU ARE UP HERE. 09:09:47AM WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO -- TRY TO, YOU KNOW, SAY, HEY, ARE YOU 09:09:50AM CONSIDERING THE PUBLIC TRUST? 09:09:52AM WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT HERE? 09:09:53AM THIS IS ALL ABOUT YOU. 09:09:54AM IT IS EASY TO FORGET YOU LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES YOU ARE 09:09:57AM GOVERNING. 09:09:58AM YOU ALSO WILL BENEFIT OR ALSO WILL GO THROUGH. 09:10:02AM EVERYBODY WHO DOES THIS NEEDS A BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT, AND I 09:10:10AM AM A BUSINESS OWNER OR RAISE PROPERTY VALUES IN THE CITY. 09:10:12AM I LIVE IN THE CITY TOO, I KNOW. 09:10:14AM I WILL HAVE TO DO ALL OF THIS AS WELL. 09:10:16AM SO IT'S -- IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY IF YOU ARE PART OF IT, IT 09:10:22AM IS A PROBLEM. 09:10:23AM IF YOU WERE NUMBER ONE, IF YOUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS, I DON'T 09:10:25AM LIKE T-SHIRT SHOPS ON BEACHES. 09:10:28AM I FEEL LIKE THERE IS ENOUGH OF THEM, AND I AM NEVER GOING TO 09:10:30AM APPROVE SOMETHING OF T-SHIRTS SHOPS ON BEACHES. 09:10:34AM THAT IS NOT WHAT YOUR CHARGE IS ESPECIALLY IN A 09:10:38AM QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARING. 09:10:39AM THAT IS WHAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT. 09:10:41AM THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AT BASE LEVEL. 09:10:43AM NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ETHICS CONCERNS, I WANT -- I JUST 09:10:49AM WANT TO CHECK MY FLOW HERE FOR A MOMENT ON MY SLIDES. 09:10:53AM BUT THE -- I WANT TO START WITH THE SOURCES OF OUR ETHICS 09:10:56AM CODE. 09:10:56AM BECAUSE I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 09:10:59AM AND WHAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT. 09:11:00AM FOR PURPOSES OF TODAY, ETHICS IS A RULE BOOK WRITTEN IN 09:11:05AM TALLAHASSEE. 09:11:06AM I AM NOT TEACHING YOU -- AM I QUALIFIED TO TEACH YOU ABOUT 09:11:12AM SOCRATES, ARISTOTLE, A SHAMAN CRYSTAL SELLER WILL TELL YOU 09:11:21AM ABOUT ETHICS. 09:11:22AM THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS ABOUT. 09:11:23AM A RULE BOOK IN TALLAHASSEE, THAT'S WHY YOU GET A LAWYER TO 09:11:27AM TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT. 09:11:28AM AT TIMES, THINGS ARE NOT IN COMPLETE ALIGNMENT WHERE YOU 09:11:31AM THINK THE WORLD SHOULD WORK. 09:11:32AM AS MY THERAPIST ONCE SAID, YOU SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT THE 09:11:37AM WORLD. 09:11:37AM THE WAY IT WORKS, YOU CAN ADAPT, AND YOU CAN'T REJECT. 09:11:40AM SO FOR PURPOSES OF TODAY, WE ARE TALK ABOUT THE LAW. 09:11:44AM AND SO OUR SOURCES OF ETHICS ARE THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, OF 09:11:48AM COURSE. 09:11:48AM HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO ETHICS? 09:11:50AM YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF PRESS, FREEDOM OF 09:11:54AM ASSEMBLY YOU HAVE TO BALANCE AS WE NAVIGATE OUR ROLE IN 09:11:55AM PUBLIC GOVERNMENT, THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION AS WELL. 09:12:02AM I AM FAMOUS WITHIN MY FAMILY, MEANING MY KIDS ROLL THEIR 09:12:05AM EYES WHEN THEY HEAR THE PHRASE "TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE," 09:12:10AM WHICH IS TO SAY TALKING OF 112 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES WHERE 09:12:15AM THE ETHICS CODE IS EMBEDDED. 09:12:18AM GOOD NEWS IS OF YOU ARE GOOD AT THE VIOLATIONS, YOU MAY 09:12:21AM ALSO BE COMMITTING CRIMES.

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:12:22AM SO WE HAVE STATUTORY LAW. 09:12:23AM WHEN WE LOOK AT CHAPTER 800 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES, CHAPTER 09:12:27AM 800 IS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT JUST HUGE FANS OF OUR 09:12:31AM LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM, CHAPTER 800 IS WHERE THE CRIMES ARE. 09:12:35AM YOU GET BRIBERY, FRAUD, AND THOSE THINGS. 09:12:37AM YOU CAN COMMIT AN ETHICS VIOLATION THAT IS ALSO AGREEMENT. 09:12:40AM IF YOU WERE REAL HERE, REALLY GOOD AT IT, APEX LEVEL, YOU 09:12:44AM MAY GRADUATE TO FEDERAL CRIME AND SERVICES FRAUD AND OTHER 09:12:48AM KIND OF REGULATIONS GOVERNING OUR BEHAVIOR. 09:12:50AM AND FINALLY, YOU START TO WORK DOWN TO AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. 09:12:54AM WHAT DOES THE CITY CHARTER SAY YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO. 09:12:57AM SOME COMMUNITIES -- NOT THIS ONE -- HAVE THEIR OWN ETHICS 09:13:01AM BOARD AND HAVE THEIR OWN RULES. 09:13:02AM FRIENDS AT SOUTHEAST, SOME HAVE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, 09:13:07AM ETHICS BOARD, AND ETHIC RULES THAT ARE MORE STRICT THAN THE 09:13:10AM STATE REQUIREMENTS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. 09:13:11AM IF YOU HAVE PEERS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND LIVED AND SERVED 09:13:15AM IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT. 09:13:17AM BUT THOSE ARE ALL THE SOURCES, AUTOMATICALY NOT DOING WWJD 09:13:21AM AND JIMINY CRICKET. 09:13:23AM ANOTHER PRESENTATION. 09:13:23AM I AM A LAWYER. 09:13:24AM NOT QUALIFIED FOR THOSE THINGS. 09:13:26AM BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE ETHICS RULES, HOW WILL THAT GET 09:13:33AM ENFORCED? 09:13:33AM IF WE DON'T HAVE A LOCAL BOARD, HOW IS THAT HANDLED? 09:13:37AM IT IS RULED BY THE FLORIDA COMMISSION ON ETHICS. 09:13:39AM IT'S A NINE-MEMBER BODY, OSTENSIVE -- I SAY THAT BECAUSE THEY 09:13:46AM ARE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. 09:13:48AM THEIR CHARGE IS TO HAVE BIPARTISAN APPOINTMENTS. 09:13:51AM THEY HAVE TWO PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES, ISSUE ADVISORIES AND 09:13:56AM INVESTIGATE ETHICS COMPLAINTS AND REFERRALS. 09:13:58AM I WANT TO PAUSE THERE. 09:14:00AM COMMISSION ON ETHICS DOES TWO THINGS, ISSUE ADVISORY OPINIONS 09:14:03AM AND ETHICS REFERRALS. 09:14:11AM I WANT TO START WITH THE LESSER ONE, WHICH IS ADVISORY CONDITIONS. 09:14:17AM WITH SUFFICIENT INFORMATION, A REQUEST ISSUED AN ADVISORY 09:14:21AM OPINION TO A COMMUNITY AND ITS OFFICERS. 09:14:23AM IF YOU SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, AS WE LOOK AT HAVING NONAD VALOREM 09:14:27AM REVENUE, WE ARE ASKING TRANSFERRING ALL YOU HAVE OF OUR ASSETS 09:14:32AM INTO BITCOIN AND OTHER CRYPTOCURRENCY. 09:14:35AM WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO SET UP A BALANCE, BUT OUT CITY MANAGER 09:14:38AM HAS ONE. 09:14:38AM HOW DO WE DO THE CITY MANAGER'S WALLET, AND CAN WE DO THAT. 09:14:45AM THAT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT IS OUR CONCERN IN DOING 09:14:49AM THAT, AND THEY WILL TAKE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU GIVE THEM 09:14:52AM AND BASE IT ON WHAT YOU GAVE ME, ANALYSIS UNDER CHAPTER 112. 09:14:57AM GETTING AN ADVISORY OPINION HAVE TWO LUXURIES WE RARELY, 09:15:01AM RARELY HAVE IN CITY GOVERNMENT. 09:15:02AM FIRST IS TIME, AND THE SECOND IS HARDER FORESIGHT. 09:15:08AM NOT ONLY TIME TO HAVE THE ADVISORY OPINION, BUT FORESIGHT TO 09:15:11AM THIS IS AN ISSUE, TO SAY PAY ATTENTION. 09:15:14AM MAYBE YOU WILL GET SET UP FOR AN ADVISORY OPINION BECAUSE 09:15:17AM YOU WILL BE SENSITIZED TO THE ISSUE.

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:15:21AM YOU CAN'T SAY ON A TUESDAY, OUR MEETING IS THURSDAY. 09:15:24AM COMMISSIONER ON ETHICS AND GET AN ADVISORY. 09:15:27AM IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. 09:15:28AM WE HAVE A STAFF OF 25 PEOPLE HANDLING ALL ISSUES AND 09:15:32AM COMPLAINTS. 09:15:32AM NEED TIME TO GET A MEANINGFUL ANSWER. 09:15:34AM SO THAT IS HOW THAT WORKS. 09:15:36AM THE SECOND PART IS INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS AND REFERRALS. 09:15:41AM COMPLAINTS AND REFERRALS. 09:15:42AM INTERESTING TO SOME, ON THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS, YOU DO NOT 09:15:46AM HAVE THE ABILITY TO INITIATE ITS OWN INVESTIGATIONS. 09:15:49AM IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE NINE ESTEEMED PEOPLE IN THE STATE 09:15:52AM APPOINTED TO THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS AND OPEN THE TENNESSEE 09:15:56AM DEMOCRATIC AND "MIAMI HERALD," COMMISSIONER MORA OF SUNSHINE 09:16:03AM BEACH ALLEGED TO TAKE BRIBE OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OR 09:16:06AM SOMETHING. 09:16:06AM YOU CAN'T SAY, WELL, I WILL GET MY STAFF ON THIS TODAY. 09:16:09AM UNLESS SOMEBODY WITH AUTHORITY CAN GET A REFERRAL, GOVERNOR, 09:16:13AM FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENTS, STATE ATTORNEY, 09:16:15AM LOCAL ETHICS BOARD, IF YOU HAVE ONE. 09:16:17AM UNLESS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE REFER THEM WHERE SOMEBODY MAKES A 09:16:20AM COMPLAINT, THEN NOTHING HAPPENS AT THE ETHICS LEVEL. 09:16:24AM SO THERE ARE SITUATIONS IN COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE SAY, 09:16:27AM WELL, EVERYBODY KNEW -- EVERYBODY KNEW ABOUT THE STREETS WE 09:16:29AM WERE TALKING ABOUT. 09:16:30AM EVERYBODY KNEW THIS HAPPENED, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. 09:16:33AM DID ANYBODY MAKE A COMPLAINT OR REFERRAL? 09:16:36AM MAYBE NOT. 09:16:37AM OTHER PART OF THIS IS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN IN 09:16:40AM PUBLIC SERVICE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. 09:16:42AM IF YOU ARE SAYING, WHY DO I HAVE TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR? 09:16:46AM SOMETIMES THE LAW CHANGES. 09:16:47AM LAST TWO YEARS, THE LAW CHANGED. 09:16:49AM IF YOU SAT THROUGH A VERSION OF THIS PRESENTATION FOUR OR 09:16:51AM FIVE YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU WHO CAN MAKE A COMPLAINT? 09:16:55AM ORDINARILY, IT WOULD BE GENERALLY TWO PEOPLE. 09:16:57AM YOUR ADVERSARY AND ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS OUT FROM AN ELECTION 09:17:01AM SEASON OR SOMEBODY WHO REGULARLY COMES TO THE MICROPHONE AND 09:17:05AM TELLS YOU HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT YOU. 09:17:06AM THOSE WERE TWO ORDINARY SOURCES. 09:17:08AM BUT WE WILL SAY ANY PERSON CAN MAKE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT. 09:17:11AM THAT HAS CHANGED. 09:17:12AM NOW IN ORDER FOR AN ETHICS COMPLAINT REVIEWED FOR PROBABLE 09:17:18AM CAUSE, THAT COMPLAINT NEEDS TO COME FROM SOMEONE WITH 09:17:22AM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ALLEGED VIOLATION. 09:17:24AM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE MEANS, YOU ARE NOT BASING IT ON SOMETHING 09:17:27AM YOU READ ON NEXT DOOR OR, HEY, COMMISSION ON ETHICS, THESE 09:17:34AM STREETS BE TALKING OR HEY, COMMISSION ON ETHICS, I WAS 09:17:38AM READING THE PAPER AND SAYS. 09:17:39AM YOU NEED PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE VIOLATION AND THE 09:17:41AM COMMISSION STARTS TO FILTER AND SAY THIS IS MERITORIOUS. 09:17:44AM IF NOT, THE COMPLAINT IS COMING FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS NO 09:17:48AM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF ALLEGATIONS. 09:17:49AM AND SO THAT IS A MEANINGFUL CHANGE THAT THE COMMISSION ON

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:17:53AM ETHICS THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THAT WAS DONE BY -- I SAY THE 09:17:57AM RULE BOOK WAS WRITTEN IN TALLAHASSEE. 09:17:59AM THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED BY LAW. 09:18:01AM JUST RIGHT NOW IN THIS SESSION, ANOTHER LAW WAS PROPOSED. 09:18:04AM IT HAS BEEN PASSED BUT DON'T BELIEVE SIGNED BY GOVERNOR YET 09:18:09AM TO REQUIRE CHANGES TO THIS ETHICS TRAINING TO INCLUDE 09:18:12AM ADDITIONAL CONTENT. 09:18:13AM WE WILL LOOK TO SEE HOW THAT GOES. 09:18:15AM IF IT DOES, YOU WILL GET TO DO AN EXCITING NEW FACT NEXT 09:18:19AM TIME. 09:18:19AM THAT HAS HOW ALL OF THIS WORKS. 09:18:22AM THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. 09:18:23AM THIS IS THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR DISCUSSION ON ETHICS. 09:18:25AM SO BEFORE I GET TO THE SUBSTANTIVE TOP ACTION, I WANT TO 09:18:29AM CHECK IF ANY OF YOU HAVE CONCERNS, QUESTIONS. 09:18:31AM YES, SIR? 09:18:35AM >> I SAW ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE THE COMMISSION -- AM I 09:18:37AM CORRECT, COMMISSION CAN'T INITIATE FILING AN ETHICS 09:18:44AM COMPLAINT? 09:18:46AM >>Randy D. Mora: THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS CANNOT INITIATE 09:18:49AM IT. 09:18:49AM IT CAN COME FROM ANOTHER PERSON. 09:18:50AM GOOD QUESTION, AND I WILL REFRAME WHAT I THINK YOU ARE 09:18:53AM ASKING. 09:18:53AM CAN MY CITY COMMISSION MAKE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT? 09:18:56AM I WOULD SUGGEST IT COMES FROM A PERSON. 09:18:58AM IF SOMEBODY ON THE COMMISSION FEELS SO STRONGLY OR THE SPIRIT 09:19:01AM MOVES THEM, THEN THEY SHOULD DO SO. 09:19:03AM I HAVE A BIT OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITHIN -- WITH 09:19:07AM CLIENTS WE REPRESENTED, THEY -- THE COMMISSION HAS FIVE 09:19:10AM MEMBERS, AND FOUR OF THEM DON'T LIKE ONE PERSON. 09:19:13AM AND ONE PERSON IS ALLEGED TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING. 09:19:16AM AND THEY SAY, CITY ATTORNEY, I WANT YOU TO FILE AN ETHICS 09:19:18AM COMPLAINT AGAINST NUMBER FIVE. 09:19:22AM WAIT A SECOND, YOU ARE ALL MY CLIENTS, AND BEFORE THE 09:19:25AM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENT, ANY PERSON CAN MAKE IT. 09:19:27AM WHY AM I THE PERSON, IF ONE OF YOU SEEMS TO HAVE ALL THIS 09:19:31AM INFORMATION AND NO ONE FEELS STRONGLY. 09:19:33AM I AM NOT SAYING A BODY COULD NEVER, BUT I THINK A PERSON. 09:19:38AM I DON'T KNOW HOW A PERSON IS BROADLY DEFINED TO SAY THE ENTITY 09:19:41AM THAT IS THE CITY COMMISSION IS FILING THE COMPLAINT. 09:19:43AM THAT LEADS ME TO ISSUE ADVISORY OPINIONS. 09:19:46AM IN THE EVENT A COMMISSION OR MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION 09:19:51AM FEELS THAT A PARTICULAR MEMBER OF THAT COMMISSION IS 09:19:54AM BEHAVING IN A WAY THAT POTENTIALLY RUNS AFOUL OF THE ETHICS 09:20:02AM BOARD. 09:20:02AM IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THAT BOARD, THAT COMMISSION, TO GO AHEAD 09:20:08AM AND REQUEST THE ETHICS BOARD ISSUE AN ADVISORY OPINION? 09:20:16AM >>Randy D. Mora: SO THE QUESTION RESTATING FOR PURPOSES OF 09:20:18AM THE RECORD, IF YOU WILL, THE QUESTION FRAMED IS, IF A 09:20:21AM COMMISSION HAS CONCERNS OF A MEMBER AND NOT TRYING TO MAKE A 09:20:24AM COMPLAINT BUT SEEKING ADVISORY OPINIONS, CAN THE COMMISSION 09:20:27AM ASK FOR AN ADVISORY OPINION, AND I WOULD SAY GENERALLY 09:20:31AM SPEAKING, YES.

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:20:32AM DON'T WORK FOR THIS -- FOR THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS -- AND 09:20:35AM CANDIDLY WHEN I TEACH ON THIS, DON'T REGULARLY MAKE 09:20:41AM SUBMISSIONS TO THEM. 09:20:42AM I WILL HAVE TO CHECK WHAT BOXES THEY REQUIRE. 09:20:45AM BUT CITIES REQUEST -- AND USUALLY IT COME FROM THE CITY 09:20:47AM ATTORNEY, BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS TO BE IN DOUBT OF WHAT 09:20:50AM THE RESULT IS. 09:20:51AM CAN'T JUST -- ALSO, THEY DON'T USE IT AS A WAY TO VET A 09:20:55AM COMPLAINT. 09:20:55AM HEY, I WANT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. 09:20:57AM BEFORE I MAKE A COMPLAINT, WILL THIS BE A REALLY GOOD ONE? 09:21:01AM HAS TO BE AN ACTUAL DOUBT OF I AM NOT SURE HOW THE LAW WILL 09:21:05AM WORK ON THIS. 09:21:06AM I AM AWARE OF THIS GUIDANCE; HOWEVER, IN THIS SITUATION, I 09:21:10AM KNOW THERE IS REQUIREMENTS AGAINST EMPLOYING RELATIVES. 09:21:13AM WHAT HAPPENS IF IT'S THE MAYOR'S OR VICE MAYOR'S COUSIN? 09:21:17AM CAN WE DO THAT? 09:21:18AM I DON'T KNOW. 09:21:19AM THAT SORT OF THINGS HAPPENS OFTEN IN THE FORM OF ETHICS 09:21:23AM COMPLAINTS. 09:21:23AM IF YOU ARE USING -- OR ADVISORY OPINIONS. 09:21:25AM IF YOU ARE USING AN ADVISORY OPINION AS STEP ONE IN A 09:21:28AM POTENTIAL COMPLAINT, I HAVE A FEELING THE COMMISSION ON 09:21:30AM ETHICS WILL SAY THIS IS NOT WHAT THIS IS. 09:21:33AM THAT IS HOW I WOULD FRAME THAT. 09:21:35AM >> APPRECIATE THIS THAT, THANKS. 09:21:37AM >> YES, MA'AM. 09:21:41AM OF COURSE, MANY MATTERS COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION 09:21:43AM AND SOME OF THEM WE HAVE A PERSONAL OPINION ON AND OTHERS WE 09:21:46AM DO NOT. 09:21:47AM WE, OF COURSE, TRY TO SET ASIDE OUR PERSONAL LIKES AND 09:21:53AM DISLIKES IN FAVOR OF THE GREATER GOOD. 09:21:58AM AND BASED ON INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PUT ON THE RECORD; 09:22:04AM HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING, DOESN'T THERE HAVE TO BE A 09:22:11AM FINANCIAL BENEFIT COMPONENT? 09:22:14AM >>Randy D. Mora: SO YOUR QUESTION IS TOWARD VOTING CONFLICT. 09:22:18AM WANT TO PUT A PIN ON THAT. 09:22:20AM IT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION AND ONE THAT A SUBSTANTIAL 09:22:25AM PORTION OF THE END OF THE PRESENTATION FOCUSES ON. 09:22:29AM I WOULD RATHER GET THAT IN SUBSTANCE WHEN WE GET THAT. 09:22:32AM BUT IT IS DIFFERENT THAN ETHICAL CONFLICTS GENERALLY. 09:22:35AM YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH, BUT I WANT TO ADD NUANCE TO THAT 09:22:39AM AS WE GET DOWN THERE. 09:22:39AM >>Vice Mayor Kel

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] SARASOTA CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2026, 9:00 A.M. DISCLAIMER: THIS FILE REPRESENTS AN UNEDITED VERSION OF REALTIME CAPTIONING WHICH SHOULD NEITHER BE RELIED UPON FOR COMPLETE ACCURACY NOR USED AS A VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT. ANY PERSON WHO NEEDS A VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT OF THE PROCEEDINGS MAY NEED TO HIRE A COURT REPORTER. 09:02:11AM >>Mayor Trice: OKAY. 09:02:12AM GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. 09:02:13AM AND WELCOME TO THE APRIL 15 WORKSHOP CITY COMMISSION 09:02:19AM MEETING. 09:02:19AM THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO GIVE US OUR ANNUAL 09:02:27AM REQUIRED ETHICS TRAINING IN PERSON RATHER THAN ONLINE, WHICH 09:02:33AM WE FREQUENTLY DO. 09:02:34AM LAST YEAR, LONGBOAT KEY INVITED US TO ATTEND THEIR IN-PERSON 09:02:44AM SESSION, AND IT WAS SO USEFUL BEING ABLE -- BEING IN A SMALL 09:02:49AM GROUP AND ABLE TO ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT ARE RELEVANT 09:02:54AM TO OUR ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN SARASOTA COUNTY. 09:02:57AM AND WE HAVE INVITED COMMISSIONERS FROM OTHER CITIES IN THE 09:03:03AM COUNTY TO JOIN US, AND COMMISSIONER STOKES FROM NORTH PORT 09:03:08AM IS JOINING US TODAY. 09:03:09AM AND COMMISSIONER ALPERT COULD NOT MAKE IT TODAY, BUT I KNOW 09:03:15AM SHE WILL TAKE THE REQUIRED COURSE ONLINE LIKE WE FREQUENTLY 09:03:20AM DO. 09:03:20AM SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN THE PROGRAM OVER TO RANDY D. MORA, 09:03:25AM WHO, BY THE WAY, USUALLY RUNS THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITY'S 09:03:33AM ONLINE COURSE FOR EVERYONE IN THE STATE, AND HE DOES SUCH A 09:03:36AM GREAT JOB. 09:03:36AM SO I AM VERY GLAD THAT HE IS HERE TODAY. 09:03:38AM RANDY, YOU CAN KICK IT OFF. 09:03:41AM >>Randy D. Mora: THANK YOU, MAYOR. 09:03:42AM I PREFER TO UNDERPROMISE, OVERDELIVER. 09:03:48AM AS STATED, RANDY D. MORA, WITH THE TRASK DAIGNEAULT FIRM. 09:03:51AM OUR FIRM COLLABORATES WITH YOUR CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO 09:03:54AM PROVIDE SERVICES. 09:03:55AM I HAD THE JOY OF JOINING you FOLKS BEFORE ON PARLIAMENTARY 09:03:59AM PROCEDURE ON SOME OF THE OTHER BOARDS ON RELATED TOPICS. 09:04:02AM TODAY, WE GET THE VERY EXCITING, EXCITING EXPERIENCE OF 09:04:05AM GOING THROUGH THE FOUR-HOUR TRAINING, TWO HOURS ON ETHICS, 09:04:09AM ONE HOUR ON RECORDS, AND ONE HOUR ON MEETINGS. 09:04:12AM I WILL GO -- THOSE ARE CLASSROOM HOURS AND 50 MINUTES FOR 09:04:16AM EVERY HOUR. 09:04:17AM WE WILL TAKE A BREAK ONCE WE ARE THROUGH ETHICS FOR AN 09:04:21AM OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO RESET AND FOR YOU. 09:04:23AM OF COURSE, JUST AS A GROUND RULE, WHILE THIS IS MEETING YOUR 09:04:27AM BODY, AND I DEFER TO YOUR RULES, YOU ARE GROWN FOLKS. 09:04:30AM IF YOU NEED TO USE THE REST ROOM OR STAND UP, DO SO. 09:04:33AM THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS, I RARELY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO 09:04:40AM DO THIS IN INTIMATE ENVIRONMENT.

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:04:42AM I AM NAVIGATING A ROOM OF PEOPLE. 09:04:45AM WE HAVE MORE TIME AND CUSHION. 09:04:46AM IF YOU HAVE TARGETED QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW. 09:04:50AM WE ATTRIBUTE THIS TO GUIDANCE GOING FORWARD. 09:04:55AM FOR PURPOSES OF THIS PRESENTATION, I WILL BE YOUR TOUR 09:04:58AM GUIDE, AND WE ARE CRUISING AT 30,000 FEET, WHICH IS TO SAY I 09:05:01AM AM GOING THROUGH FLORIDA LAW. 09:05:02AM THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS IN SARASOTA COUNTY OR THE CITY OF 09:05:05AM SARASOTA THAT ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT OR NORTH PORT -- 09:05:09AM WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS -- THAT ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, AND I 09:05:12AM AM CRUISING WITH WHAT STATE LAW IS. 09:05:13AM OF COURSE, HAPPY TO ENGAGE WITH ANY NUANCED ISSUES. 09:05:16AM THAT'S IT. 09:05:17AM MY NAME IS RANDY D. MORA, CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF 09:05:20AM HOLMES BEACH. 09:05:21AM I REPRESENTED FOUR OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN PINELLAS COUNTY. 09:05:24AM IN ADDITION OF SERVING AS A CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE LAST 12 09:05:28AM YEARS OR SO, I WORK WITH THE FLORIDA MUNICIPAL TRUST AS 09:05:31AM PANEL COUNSEL FOR LITIGATION WHEN CITY ISSUES GOES SIDEWAYS, 09:05:35AM WHICH IS TO SAY I HAVE THE RARE BENEFIT OF NOT JUST SEEING 09:05:38AM POLICY ON THE FRONT END, BUT HOW IT RESOLVES IN THE BACK 09:05:41AM END, AND I WILL BRING THAT TO BEAR IN SOME OF OUR EXAMPLES 09:05:44AM TODAY. 09:05:44AM FINALLY, THIS IS A FAVORITE PART OF MY PRACTICE. 09:05:46AM I DO TRAVEL. 09:05:47AM AND ALSO DO MUCH MORE WEBINARS PRESENTED ON ETHICS, PUBLIC 09:05:53AM RECORDS, PUBLIC MEETINGS, TECHNOLOGY, AND HOW THEY ARE 09:05:57AM INTERSECT. 09:05:58AM IMPORTANT PART OF THE PRACTICE BECAUSE THE STRETCH IS MUCH 09:06:01AM LOWER AND NOT STARTING AT A PLACE OF CRISIS, JUST STARTING 09:06:04AM AT A PLACE OF WANTING TO DO BETTER. 09:06:06AM WITH THAT, THANK YOU. 09:06:07AM I RECOGNIZE YOU HAVE BEEN VOLUN-TOLD TO BE HERE BY THE 09:06:13AM FLORIDA LEGISLATURE, AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION 09:06:16AM ALL SAME. 09:06:17AM WITH THAT, WE WILL START WITH ETHICS. 09:06:20AM SO WHEN WE TALK OF ETHICS TODAY, I WANT TO BE VERY, VERY 09:06:24AM CLEAR WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. 09:06:26AM HIGH-MINDED MOTIONS THAT GOVERNMENT IS THE TRUST AND 09:06:29AM OFFICERS OF THE GOVERNMENT ARE TRUSTEES AND TRUST AND 09:06:32AM TRUSTEES ARE CREATED FOR BENEFIT OF PEOPLE FROM HENRY CLAY, 09:06:38AM ONE OF OUR POLITICIANS BUT FOUND THAT REPEATED IN FLORIDA 09:06:41AM CONSTITUTION. 09:06:41AM ALL OF MY PRESENTATIONS TODAY WILL START IN THE 09:06:44AM CONSTITUTION, WORK THROUGH THE STATUTE, TALK A LITTLE BIT 09:06:46AM ABOUT COMMON LAW WHICH IS WAY OF WHAT JUDGES SAY IS LAW OVER 09:06:52AM TIME AND THEN EXAMPLES. 09:06:54AM STARTING WITH OUR CONSTITUTION. 09:06:55AM THIS IS TO ME -- I DON'T CARE WHAT TOPIC YOU ARE PRESENTING, 09:06:59AM IT CAN BE VARIANCES, IT CAN BE PUBLIC MEETINGS, WHATEVER 09:07:02AM TOPIC YOU ARE PRESENTING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD START 09:07:05AM WITH THIS SLIDE. 09:07:06AM BECAUSE THIS IS THE -- THIS IS THE NORTH STAR. 09:07:10AM IF YOU ARE HERE FOR ETHICS, THIS IS A FUN PLACE.

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:07:15AM IF DRC, ANOTHER FUN ROOM. 09:07:17AM >> WE WERE TRYING. 09:07:18AM [LAUGHTER] 09:07:21AM >>Randy D. Mora: SO MUCH EXCITEMENT FOR ETHICS TODAY. 09:07:24AM APPRECIATE THE ENTHUSIASM. 09:07:26AM PUBLIC OFFICE IS THE PUBLIC TRUST AND PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE 09:07:29AM RIGHT TO SUSTAIN AND SECURE THAT TRUST AGAINST ABUSE. 09:07:31AM LET'S BREAK THAT DOWN. 09:07:33AM WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU DO NOT HOLD YOUR OFFICE FOR YOUR 09:07:36AM BENEFIT. 09:07:37AM YES, BEING A COMMISSIONER, MAYOR OR VICE MAYOR MAY GIVE YOU 09:07:41AM A WARM FUZZY FEELING IN YOUR HEART, MAY HELP YOUR EGO, IT 09:07:45AM MAY GIVE YOU AN EXCUSE NOT TO BE HOME ON A TUESDAY NIGHT, 09:07:48AM WHATEVER THE REASON IS, THAT'S GREAT, BUT THE BENEFIT IS 09:07:51AM TRULY FOR THAT OF THE PUBLIC, AND THAT PUBLIC IS BROAD. 09:07:53AM NOT THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU. 09:07:55AM THAT IS NOT EVERYBODY WHO OWNS PROPERT,Y OR EVERYBODY WITHOUT 09:07:59AM A CRIMINAL CONVICTION, OR EVERYBODY WHO IS A FLORIDIAN. 09:08:02AM IT IS EVERYBODY. 09:08:03AM YOU HOLD YOUR OFFICE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL YOUR RESIDENTS, 09:08:07AM VISITORS, GUESTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND INVESTORS IN YOUR 09:08:10AM COMMUNITY. 09:08:10AM AND YOUR CHALLENGE WHICH IS -- THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR JOB 09:08:15AM -- BALANCING ALL THE INTEREST TO SERVE THE PUBLIC TRUST. 09:08:19AM MYSELF, WE GET THE LUXURY OF KNOWING THAT IS A HARD DECISION. 09:08:24AM YOU HAVE TO MAKE ONE. 09:08:25AM GO AHEAD. 09:08:25AM WE SIT AND SAY, IT DEPENDS. 09:08:28AM BUT ULTIMATELY YOU, FOLKS HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AND BALANCE THAT 09:08:31AM TRUST. 09:08:31AM AND THEN OUR SYSTEM IS SET UP SO THAT WE SECURE AND SUSTAIN 09:08:36AM THAT TRUST AGAINST ABUSE. 09:08:37AM AND THE WAY WE DO THAT PRINCIPALLY IS THROUGH CHAPTER 112 OF 09:08:42AM THE FLORIDA STATUTES, WHICH IS THE ETHICS CODE. 09:08:44AM AND IN THE ETHICS CODE, WE -- THE LAW IS NOTHING IF NOT 09:08:48AM REDUNDANT. 09:08:49AM SAYS WE HOLD YOUR OFFICE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND 09:08:52AM THE RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT IS THE 09:08:55AM FOREMOST CONCERN. 09:08:55AM SO AS WE NAVIGATE THAT, WE CONTINUE TO SAYS IT DECLARED TO 09:09:00AM BE THE POLICY THAT NO OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF A CITY 09:09:03AM GOVERNMENT SHALL HAVE ANY INTEREST, FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE, 09:09:05AM WHICH IS IN SUBSTANTIAL CONFLICT WITH THE PROPER DISCHARGE 09:09:08AM OF HIS OR HER DUTIES. 09:09:10AM SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE ARE CONCERNED PRINCIPALLY -- 09:09:15AM YOUR FOREMOST CONCERN MUST BE YOUR PUBLIC DUTIES. 09:09:19AM A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, NOT A VOTING CONFLICT, BUT A 09:09:22AM CONFLICT OF INTEREST AT A CORE ETHICAL LEVEL IS ANY 09:09:25AM SITUATION WITH REGARD TO PRIVATE INTEREST LEADS TO A PUBLIC 09:09:30AM DUTY OR INTEREST. 09:09:31AM THIS IS TO SAY IF YOU FIND YOURSELF MAKING A DECISION AND 09:09:35AM BASED PRINCIPALLY ON WHAT IS GOOD FOR NUMBER ONE, YOU ARE 09:09:38AM PROBABLY DOING THE CALCULUS WRONG. 09:09:40AM THERE ARE TIMES -- LISTEN, I SYMPATHIZE WITH YOU FOLKS AS

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:09:44AM ELECTED OFFICIALS BECAUSE OFTENTIMES YOU ARE UP HERE. 09:09:47AM WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO -- TRY TO, YOU KNOW, SAY, HEY, ARE YOU 09:09:50AM CONSIDERING THE PUBLIC TRUST? 09:09:52AM WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT HERE? 09:09:53AM THIS IS ALL ABOUT YOU. 09:09:54AM IT IS EASY TO FORGET YOU LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES YOU ARE 09:09:57AM GOVERNING. 09:09:58AM YOU ALSO WILL BENEFIT OR ALSO WILL GO THROUGH. 09:10:02AM EVERYBODY WHO DOES THIS NEEDS A BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT, AND I 09:10:10AM AM A BUSINESS OWNER OR RAISE PROPERTY VALUES IN THE CITY. 09:10:12AM I LIVE IN THE CITY TOO, I KNOW. 09:10:14AM I WILL HAVE TO DO ALL OF THIS AS WELL. 09:10:16AM SO IT'S -- IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY IF YOU ARE PART OF IT, IT 09:10:22AM IS A PROBLEM. 09:10:23AM IF YOU WERE NUMBER ONE, IF YOUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS, I DON'T 09:10:25AM LIKE T-SHIRT SHOPS ON BEACHES. 09:10:28AM I FEEL LIKE THERE IS ENOUGH OF THEM, AND I AM NEVER GOING TO 09:10:30AM APPROVE SOMETHING OF T-SHIRTS SHOPS ON BEACHES. 09:10:34AM THAT IS NOT WHAT YOUR CHARGE IS ESPECIALLY IN A 09:10:38AM QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARING. 09:10:39AM THAT IS WHAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT. 09:10:41AM THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AT BASE LEVEL. 09:10:43AM NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ETHICS CONCERNS, I WANT -- I JUST 09:10:49AM WANT TO CHECK MY FLOW HERE FOR A MOMENT ON MY SLIDES. 09:10:53AM BUT THE -- I WANT TO START WITH THE SOURCES OF OUR ETHICS 09:10:56AM CODE. 09:10:56AM BECAUSE I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT 09:10:59AM AND WHAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT. 09:11:00AM FOR PURPOSES OF TODAY, ETHICS IS A RULE BOOK WRITTEN IN 09:11:05AM TALLAHASSEE. 09:11:06AM I AM NOT TEACHING YOU -- AM I QUALIFIED TO TEACH YOU ABOUT 09:11:12AM SOCRATES, ARISTOTLE, A SHAMAN CRYSTAL SELLER WILL TELL YOU 09:11:21AM ABOUT ETHICS. 09:11:22AM THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS ABOUT. 09:11:23AM A RULE BOOK IN TALLAHASSEE, THAT'S WHY YOU GET A LAWYER TO 09:11:27AM TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT. 09:11:28AM AT TIMES, THINGS ARE NOT IN COMPLETE ALIGNMENT WHERE YOU 09:11:31AM THINK THE WORLD SHOULD WORK. 09:11:32AM AS MY THERAPIST ONCE SAID, YOU SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT THE 09:11:37AM WORLD. 09:11:37AM THE WAY IT WORKS, YOU CAN ADAPT, AND YOU CAN'T REJECT. 09:11:40AM SO FOR PURPOSES OF TODAY, WE ARE TALK ABOUT THE LAW. 09:11:44AM AND SO OUR SOURCES OF ETHICS ARE THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, OF 09:11:48AM COURSE. 09:11:48AM HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO ETHICS? 09:11:50AM YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF PRESS, FREEDOM OF 09:11:54AM ASSEMBLY YOU HAVE TO BALANCE AS WE NAVIGATE OUR ROLE IN 09:11:55AM PUBLIC GOVERNMENT, THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION AS WELL. 09:12:02AM I AM FAMOUS WITHIN MY FAMILY, MEANING MY KIDS ROLL THEIR 09:12:05AM EYES WHEN THEY HEAR THE PHRASE "TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE," 09:12:10AM WHICH IS TO SAY TALKING OF 112 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES WHERE 09:12:15AM THE ETHICS CODE IS EMBEDDED. 09:12:18AM GOOD NEWS IS OF YOU ARE GOOD AT THE VIOLATIONS, YOU MAY 09:12:21AM ALSO BE COMMITTING CRIMES.

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:12:22AM SO WE HAVE STATUTORY LAW. 09:12:23AM WHEN WE LOOK AT CHAPTER 800 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES, CHAPTER 09:12:27AM 800 IS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT JUST HUGE FANS OF OUR 09:12:31AM LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM, CHAPTER 800 IS WHERE THE CRIMES ARE. 09:12:35AM YOU GET BRIBERY, FRAUD, AND THOSE THINGS. 09:12:37AM YOU CAN COMMIT AN ETHICS VIOLATION THAT IS ALSO AGREEMENT. 09:12:40AM IF YOU WERE REAL HERE, REALLY GOOD AT IT, APEX LEVEL, YOU 09:12:44AM MAY GRADUATE TO FEDERAL CRIME AND SERVICES FRAUD AND OTHER 09:12:48AM KIND OF REGULATIONS GOVERNING OUR BEHAVIOR. 09:12:50AM AND FINALLY, YOU START TO WORK DOWN TO AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. 09:12:54AM WHAT DOES THE CITY CHARTER SAY YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO. 09:12:57AM SOME COMMUNITIES -- NOT THIS ONE -- HAVE THEIR OWN ETHICS 09:13:01AM BOARD AND HAVE THEIR OWN RULES. 09:13:02AM FRIENDS AT SOUTHEAST, SOME HAVE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, 09:13:07AM ETHICS BOARD, AND ETHIC RULES THAT ARE MORE STRICT THAN THE 09:13:10AM STATE REQUIREMENTS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. 09:13:11AM IF YOU HAVE PEERS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND LIVED AND SERVED 09:13:15AM IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT. 09:13:17AM BUT THOSE ARE ALL THE SOURCES, AUTOMATICALY NOT DOING WWJD 09:13:21AM AND JIMINY CRICKET. 09:13:23AM ANOTHER PRESENTATION. 09:13:23AM I AM A LAWYER. 09:13:24AM NOT QUALIFIED FOR THOSE THINGS. 09:13:26AM BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE ETHICS RULES, HOW WILL THAT GET 09:13:33AM ENFORCED? 09:13:33AM IF WE DON'T HAVE A LOCAL BOARD, HOW IS THAT HANDLED? 09:13:37AM IT IS RULED BY THE FLORIDA COMMISSION ON ETHICS. 09:13:39AM IT'S A NINE-MEMBER BODY, OSTENSIVE -- I SAY THAT BECAUSE THEY 09:13:46AM ARE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. 09:13:48AM THEIR CHARGE IS TO HAVE BIPARTISAN APPOINTMENTS. 09:13:51AM THEY HAVE TWO PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES, ISSUE ADVISORIES AND 09:13:56AM INVESTIGATE ETHICS COMPLAINTS AND REFERRALS. 09:13:58AM I WANT TO PAUSE THERE. 09:14:00AM COMMISSION ON ETHICS DOES TWO THINGS, ISSUE ADVISORY OPINIONS 09:14:03AM AND ETHICS REFERRALS. 09:14:11AM I WANT TO START WITH THE LESSER ONE, WHICH IS ADVISORY CONDITIONS. 09:14:17AM WITH SUFFICIENT INFORMATION, A REQUEST ISSUED AN ADVISORY 09:14:21AM OPINION TO A COMMUNITY AND ITS OFFICERS. 09:14:23AM IF YOU SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, AS WE LOOK AT HAVING NONAD VALOREM 09:14:27AM REVENUE, WE ARE ASKING TRANSFERRING ALL YOU HAVE OF OUR ASSETS 09:14:32AM INTO BITCOIN AND OTHER CRYPTOCURRENCY. 09:14:35AM WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO SET UP A BALANCE, BUT OUT CITY MANAGER 09:14:38AM HAS ONE. 09:14:38AM HOW DO WE DO THE CITY MANAGER'S WALLET, AND CAN WE DO THAT. 09:14:45AM THAT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT IS OUR CONCERN IN DOING 09:14:49AM THAT, AND THEY WILL TAKE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU GIVE THEM 09:14:52AM AND BASE IT ON WHAT YOU GAVE ME, ANALYSIS UNDER CHAPTER 112. 09:14:57AM GETTING AN ADVISORY OPINION HAVE TWO LUXURIES WE RARELY, 09:15:01AM RARELY HAVE IN CITY GOVERNMENT. 09:15:02AM FIRST IS TIME, AND THE SECOND IS HARDER FORESIGHT. 09:15:08AM NOT ONLY TIME TO HAVE THE ADVISORY OPINION, BUT FORESIGHT TO 09:15:11AM THIS IS AN ISSUE, TO SAY PAY ATTENTION. 09:15:14AM MAYBE YOU WILL GET SET UP FOR AN ADVISORY OPINION BECAUSE 09:15:17AM YOU WILL BE SENSITIZED TO THE ISSUE.

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:15:21AM YOU CAN'T SAY ON A TUESDAY, OUR MEETING IS THURSDAY. 09:15:24AM COMMISSIONER ON ETHICS AND GET AN ADVISORY. 09:15:27AM IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. 09:15:28AM WE HAVE A STAFF OF 25 PEOPLE HANDLING ALL ISSUES AND 09:15:32AM COMPLAINTS. 09:15:32AM NEED TIME TO GET A MEANINGFUL ANSWER. 09:15:34AM SO THAT IS HOW THAT WORKS. 09:15:36AM THE SECOND PART IS INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS AND REFERRALS. 09:15:41AM COMPLAINTS AND REFERRALS. 09:15:42AM INTERESTING TO SOME, ON THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS, YOU DO NOT 09:15:46AM HAVE THE ABILITY TO INITIATE ITS OWN INVESTIGATIONS. 09:15:49AM IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE NINE ESTEEMED PEOPLE IN THE STATE 09:15:52AM APPOINTED TO THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS AND OPEN THE TENNESSEE 09:15:56AM DEMOCRATIC AND "MIAMI HERALD," COMMISSIONER MORA OF SUNSHINE 09:16:03AM BEACH ALLEGED TO TAKE BRIBE OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OR 09:16:06AM SOMETHING. 09:16:06AM YOU CAN'T SAY, WELL, I WILL GET MY STAFF ON THIS TODAY. 09:16:09AM UNLESS SOMEBODY WITH AUTHORITY CAN GET A REFERRAL, GOVERNOR, 09:16:13AM FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENTS, STATE ATTORNEY, 09:16:15AM LOCAL ETHICS BOARD, IF YOU HAVE ONE. 09:16:17AM UNLESS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE REFER THEM WHERE SOMEBODY MAKES A 09:16:20AM COMPLAINT, THEN NOTHING HAPPENS AT THE ETHICS LEVEL. 09:16:24AM SO THERE ARE SITUATIONS IN COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE SAY, 09:16:27AM WELL, EVERYBODY KNEW -- EVERYBODY KNEW ABOUT THE STREETS WE 09:16:29AM WERE TALKING ABOUT. 09:16:30AM EVERYBODY KNEW THIS HAPPENED, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. 09:16:33AM DID ANYBODY MAKE A COMPLAINT OR REFERRAL? 09:16:36AM MAYBE NOT. 09:16:37AM OTHER PART OF THIS IS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN IN 09:16:40AM PUBLIC SERVICE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. 09:16:42AM IF YOU ARE SAYING, WHY DO I HAVE TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR? 09:16:46AM SOMETIMES THE LAW CHANGES. 09:16:47AM LAST TWO YEARS, THE LAW CHANGED. 09:16:49AM IF YOU SAT THROUGH A VERSION OF THIS PRESENTATION FOUR OR 09:16:51AM FIVE YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU WHO CAN MAKE A COMPLAINT? 09:16:55AM ORDINARILY, IT WOULD BE GENERALLY TWO PEOPLE. 09:16:57AM YOUR ADVERSARY AND ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS OUT FROM AN ELECTION 09:17:01AM SEASON OR SOMEBODY WHO REGULARLY COMES TO THE MICROPHONE AND 09:17:05AM TELLS YOU HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT YOU. 09:17:06AM THOSE WERE TWO ORDINARY SOURCES. 09:17:08AM BUT WE WILL SAY ANY PERSON CAN MAKE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT. 09:17:11AM THAT HAS CHANGED. 09:17:12AM NOW IN ORDER FOR AN ETHICS COMPLAINT REVIEWED FOR PROBABLE 09:17:18AM CAUSE, THAT COMPLAINT NEEDS TO COME FROM SOMEONE WITH 09:17:22AM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE ALLEGED VIOLATION. 09:17:24AM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE MEANS, YOU ARE NOT BASING IT ON SOMETHING 09:17:27AM YOU READ ON NEXT DOOR OR, HEY, COMMISSION ON ETHICS, THESE 09:17:34AM STREETS BE TALKING OR HEY, COMMISSION ON ETHICS, I WAS 09:17:38AM READING THE PAPER AND SAYS. 09:17:39AM YOU NEED PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE VIOLATION AND THE 09:17:41AM COMMISSION STARTS TO FILTER AND SAY THIS IS MERITORIOUS. 09:17:44AM IF NOT, THE COMPLAINT IS COMING FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS NO 09:17:48AM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF ALLEGATIONS. 09:17:49AM AND SO THAT IS A MEANINGFUL CHANGE THAT THE COMMISSION ON

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:17:53AM ETHICS THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THAT WAS DONE BY -- I SAY THE 09:17:57AM RULE BOOK WAS WRITTEN IN TALLAHASSEE. 09:17:59AM THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED BY LAW. 09:18:01AM JUST RIGHT NOW IN THIS SESSION, ANOTHER LAW WAS PROPOSED. 09:18:04AM IT HAS BEEN PASSED BUT DON'T BELIEVE SIGNED BY GOVERNOR YET 09:18:09AM TO REQUIRE CHANGES TO THIS ETHICS TRAINING TO INCLUDE 09:18:12AM ADDITIONAL CONTENT. 09:18:13AM WE WILL LOOK TO SEE HOW THAT GOES. 09:18:15AM IF IT DOES, YOU WILL GET TO DO AN EXCITING NEW FACT NEXT 09:18:19AM TIME. 09:18:19AM THAT HAS HOW ALL OF THIS WORKS. 09:18:22AM THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. 09:18:23AM THIS IS THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR DISCUSSION ON ETHICS. 09:18:25AM SO BEFORE I GET TO THE SUBSTANTIVE TOP ACTION, I WANT TO 09:18:29AM CHECK IF ANY OF YOU HAVE CONCERNS, QUESTIONS. 09:18:31AM YES, SIR? 09:18:35AM >> I SAW ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE THE COMMISSION -- AM I 09:18:37AM CORRECT, COMMISSION CAN'T INITIATE FILING AN ETHICS 09:18:44AM COMPLAINT? 09:18:46AM >>Randy D. Mora: THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS CANNOT INITIATE 09:18:49AM IT. 09:18:49AM IT CAN COME FROM ANOTHER PERSON. 09:18:50AM GOOD QUESTION, AND I WILL REFRAME WHAT I THINK YOU ARE 09:18:53AM ASKING. 09:18:53AM CAN MY CITY COMMISSION MAKE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT? 09:18:56AM I WOULD SUGGEST IT COMES FROM A PERSON. 09:18:58AM IF SOMEBODY ON THE COMMISSION FEELS SO STRONGLY OR THE SPIRIT 09:19:01AM MOVES THEM, THEN THEY SHOULD DO SO. 09:19:03AM I HAVE A BIT OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITHIN -- WITH 09:19:07AM CLIENTS WE REPRESENTED, THEY -- THE COMMISSION HAS FIVE 09:19:10AM MEMBERS, AND FOUR OF THEM DON'T LIKE ONE PERSON. 09:19:13AM AND ONE PERSON IS ALLEGED TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING. 09:19:16AM AND THEY SAY, CITY ATTORNEY, I WANT YOU TO FILE AN ETHICS 09:19:18AM COMPLAINT AGAINST NUMBER FIVE. 09:19:22AM WAIT A SECOND, YOU ARE ALL MY CLIENTS, AND BEFORE THE 09:19:25AM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENT, ANY PERSON CAN MAKE IT. 09:19:27AM WHY AM I THE PERSON, IF ONE OF YOU SEEMS TO HAVE ALL THIS 09:19:31AM INFORMATION AND NO ONE FEELS STRONGLY. 09:19:33AM I AM NOT SAYING A BODY COULD NEVER, BUT I THINK A PERSON. 09:19:38AM I DON'T KNOW HOW A PERSON IS BROADLY DEFINED TO SAY THE ENTITY 09:19:41AM THAT IS THE CITY COMMISSION IS FILING THE COMPLAINT. 09:19:43AM THAT LEADS ME TO ISSUE ADVISORY OPINIONS. 09:19:46AM IN THE EVENT A COMMISSION OR MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION 09:19:51AM FEELS THAT A PARTICULAR MEMBER OF THAT COMMISSION IS 09:19:54AM BEHAVING IN A WAY THAT POTENTIALLY RUNS AFOUL OF THE ETHICS 09:20:02AM BOARD. 09:20:02AM IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THAT BOARD, THAT COMMISSION, TO GO AHEAD 09:20:08AM AND REQUEST THE ETHICS BOARD ISSUE AN ADVISORY OPINION? 09:20:16AM >>Randy D. Mora: SO THE QUESTION RESTATING FOR PURPOSES OF 09:20:18AM THE RECORD, IF YOU WILL, THE QUESTION FRAMED IS, IF A 09:20:21AM COMMISSION HAS CONCERNS OF A MEMBER AND NOT TRYING TO MAKE A 09:20:24AM COMPLAINT BUT SEEKING ADVISORY OPINIONS, CAN THE COMMISSION 09:20:27AM ASK FOR AN ADVISORY OPINION, AND I WOULD SAY GENERALLY 09:20:31AM SPEAKING, YES.

file:///C/Users/JJohnson/Desktop/26-04-15-CommissionWorkshop.txt[4/17/2026 8:43:12 AM] 09:20:32AM DON'T WORK FOR THIS -- FOR THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS -- AND 09:20:35AM CANDIDLY WHEN I TEACH ON THIS, DON'T REGULARLY MAKE 09:20:41AM SUBMISSIONS TO THEM. 09:20:42AM I WILL HAVE TO CHECK WHAT BOXES THEY REQUIRE. 09:20:45AM BUT CITIES REQUEST -- AND USUALLY IT COME FROM THE CITY 09:20:47AM ATTORNEY, BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS TO BE IN DOUBT OF WHAT 09:20:50AM THE RESULT IS. 09:20:51AM CAN'T JUST -- ALSO, THEY DON'T USE IT AS A WAY TO VET A 09:20:55AM COMPLAINT. 09:20:55AM HEY, I WANT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. 09:20:57AM BEFORE I MAKE A COMPLAINT, WILL THIS BE A REALLY GOOD ONE? 09:21:01AM HAS TO BE AN ACTUAL DOUBT OF I AM NOT SURE HOW THE LAW WILL 09:21:05AM WORK ON THIS. 09:21:06AM I AM AWARE OF THIS GUIDANCE; HOWEVER, IN THIS SITUATION, I 09:21:10AM KNOW THERE IS REQUIREMENTS AGAINST EMPLOYING RELATIVES. 09:21:13AM WHAT HAPPENS IF IT'S THE MAYOR'S OR VICE MAYOR'S COUSIN? 09:21:17AM CAN WE DO THAT? 09:21:18AM I DON'T KNOW. 09:21:19AM THAT SORT OF THINGS HAPPENS OFTEN IN THE FORM OF ETHICS 09:21:23AM COMPLAINTS. 09:21:23AM IF YOU ARE USING -- OR ADVISORY OPINIONS. 09:21:25AM IF YOU ARE USING AN ADVISORY OPINION AS STEP ONE IN A 09:21:28AM POTENTIAL COMPLAINT, I HAVE A FEELING THE COMMISSION ON 09:21:30AM ETHICS WILL SAY THIS IS NOT WHAT THIS IS. 09:21:33AM THAT IS HOW I WOULD FRAME THAT. 09:21:35AM >> APPRECIATE THIS THAT, THANKS. 09:21:37AM >> YES, MA'AM. 09:21:41AM OF COURSE, MANY MATTERS COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION 09:21:43AM AND SOME OF THEM WE HAVE A PERSONAL OPINION ON AND OTHERS WE 09:21:46AM DO NOT. 09:21:47AM WE, OF COURSE, TRY TO SET ASIDE OUR PERSONAL LIKES AND 09:21:53AM DISLIKES IN FAVOR OF THE GREATER GOOD. 09:21:58AM AND BASED ON INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PUT ON THE RECORD; 09:22:04AM HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING, DOESN'T THERE HAVE TO BE A 09:22:11AM FINANCIAL BENEFIT COMPONENT? 09:22:14AM >>Randy D. Mora: SO YOUR QUESTION IS TOWARD VOTING CONFLICT. 09:22:18AM WANT TO PUT A PIN ON THAT. 09:22:20AM IT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION AND ONE THAT A SUBSTANTIAL 09:22:25AM PORTION OF THE END OF THE PRESENTATION FOCUSES ON. 09:22:29AM I WOULD RATHER GET THAT IN SUBSTANCE WHEN WE GET THAT. 09:22:32AM BUT IT IS DIFFERENT THAN ETHICAL CONFLICTS GENERALLY. 09:22:35AM YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH, BUT I WANT TO ADD NUANCE TO THAT 09:22:39AM AS WE GET DOWN THERE. 09:22:39AM >>Vice Mayor Kel