(Sept. 23, 2004) -- As previously reported by LBReport.com (link below), some members of the LB City Council have indicated they may revisit an issue that first arose in April 2003 when the Council (on a split vote) declined to require members of the governing board of the Long Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (LBCVB) to file public financial disclosure forms. Two Councilmembers whose votes effectively exempted LBCVB's boardmembers from the financial disclosure requirement have since been replaced by voters

The LBCVB is a non-government body but receives roughly 3/4 of its operating budget from LB public money: nearly $4 million annually from LB's hotel room tax ("transient occupancy tax"). The City Council includes that allocation in City Hall's annual budget (approved by Council on Sept. 7) and then takes a separate vote on implementing the allocation via an annual contract with the LBCVB, which historically comes up in October.

So, who sets policy for the LBCVB and decides, in effect, how nearly $4 million in public money is spent annually? The LBCVB doesn't list its governing board members on its web site, so LBReport.com requested the information and LBCVB provided a list of its 2004-05 governing boardmembers promptly on request. (We made the same request in 2003 and promptly received a 2003-04 list which we posted at that time.)

Such information would be routinely disclosed if, as LB activist Bry Myown contends citing a Fair Political Practices Commission ruling and some case law, LBCVB should already be subject to the CA Brown (open meetings) Act, the CA Public Records (freedom of information) law and its boardmembers to financial disclosure requirements. LB's City Attorney office disagrees with Ms. Myown's interpretation...but says the Council does have the authority to require the LBCVB governing board to file financial disclosure forms when the LBCVB's contract comes up for renewal.

Following its 2003 Council encounter, the LBCVB opened its board meetings to the public...but without legally enforceable Brown Act protections (publicly agendizing items 72 hours in advance, public participation, no private meetings to decide issues in advance, etc.)

In the public interest, LBReport.com posts a list of LBCVB's 2004-05 governing boardmembers below as released to us by LBCVB. Its officers (including CEO/President Steve Goodling) and executive committee are also boardmembers, but not all boardmembers are officers. The LBCVB is currently nominating/electing/confirming several boardmembers, as indicated below.

Related coverage:

Council May Require Convention & Visitors Bureau Boardmembers To File Public Financial Disclosure Forms