Adoption of Administrative Rules 15.01, 15.02, 15.03 | December 2024

The City Auditor has adopted the following new administrative rules, which were available for public comment for thirty days:

• ARA 15.01 - Lobbying Entity Registration & Reporting
• ARA 15.02 - Regulation of Lobbying Entities: City Official Reporting
• ARA 15.03 - Regulation of Lobbying Entities: Enforcement and Civil Penalties

Summary of changes

ARA 15.01 - Lobbying Entity Registration & Reporting

• Updates and clarifies definitions of at-will staff of elected city official to align to mayor-council form of government, specifies City Director definition based on status quo and any added similar or higher-level directors, including those in office of city administrator. 
• Provides additional guidance on lobbying definition and indirect lobbying, such as through an intermediary. 
• Clarifies requirements to report indirect lobbying and examples of application.

ARA 15.02 - Regulation of Lobbying Entities: City Official Reporting

• Streamlines and organizes definitions. Updates references to new Auditor’s Office rules.
• Adds process for calendar safety exemptions for city officials required to quarterly post their calendar and the criteria for meeting the exemption, as determined by the City Attorney or designee. 

ARA 15.03 - Regulation of Lobbying Entities: Enforcement and Civil Penalties

• Adds comprehensive complaint filing information (new complaint form online, requesting confidentiality process).
• Removes cap on fees for late filings.
• Adds options for disposition of complaints (such as dismissal) from Auditor’s Office.
• Adds enforcement standards, when there is lack of evidence to the contrary, the Auditor’s office will use to determine whether the time or monetary thresholds for lobbying registration and/or reporting was reached as well as examples of these standards. Updates civil penalty language for legal accuracy and makes clearer reconsideration issuance timelines for the Auditor’s Office.  

Adoption Memo

Read the adoption memo from Chief Deputy Auditor Reed Brodersen: