[bouldercouncilhotline] Hotline: Registering Paid Lobbyists Who Are Hired to Influence Legislation

[cmosupport at bouldercolorado.gov]

Sender: Cowles, Macon

A system of registration could be implemented in the Charter or by Ordinance. As I recently emailed the Camera reporter, many cities across the country require lobbyists to register, including Denver. Denver's ordinance is very accessible, short, and easy to read. It is available here: http://www.denvergov.org/Portals/703/documents/RecordsRecording/LobbyistRegistration/DRMC_LobbyistRegistration_2010-04-08.pdf

Essential features of the Denver Ordinance:

1.  Lobbying includes any attempt to influence legislation or covered officials to take any act or refrain from acting on legislative matters. Lobbyists are people who are paid to perform lobbying, and only paid Lobbyists are required to register.
2.  Lobbyists can register or terminate their status as lobbyists easily.
3.  Lobbyists must self identify and file financial reports showing the amount of money they have spent lobbying. 
4.  Lobbyists must also state in the financial reports the income, listed by client, derived from lobbying covered officials.
5. Covered officials include City Council members, the Mayor and high level managers--in Denver this includes the District Attorney, the Manager of Public Works, important Division Heads such as the Manager of Planning and Community Development.
6.  Records are kept current and are accessible to the public.

Thanks.

Macon Cowles
Boulder City Councilor