Article 3. Registration of Lobbyists
2.09.060 Registration with the Open Government Commission.
A. No person shall act as local governmental lobbyist before registering as a local governmental lobbyist with the Open Government Commission, through the office of the City Clerk.
B. At the time of registering, the local governmental lobbyist shall file with the City Clerk, in writing:
1. His or her name, business address, e-mail address, and business telephone number.
2. The name, business address, and business telephone number of each client for whom the local governmental lobbyist attempts or receives compensation to influence any proposed or pending governmental action of the City.
3. The name, business address, and business telephone number of the local governmental lobbyist’s employer, firm or business affiliation.
C. The local governmental lobbyist shall reregister annually during the month of January and at that time shall resubmit the required information.
D. Local governmental lobbyists shall amend any information submitted to the Open Government Commission through registration and quarterly disclosures within five business days of the changed circumstances that require correction or updating of such information.
E. Within ten business days of initial registration, and each annual registration, each local governmental lobbyist shall pay a non-refundable fee of $500.
F. Failure to pay the annual fee shall invalidate a local governmental lobbyist’s registration with the Open Government Commission. The Open Government Commission is also authorized to establish additional processes for the termination of a local governmental lobbyist’s registration.
G. The City Clerk shall waive all registration fees for any employee, officer or director of a tax-exempt organization presenting proof of the organization’s tax-exempt status under 26 U.S.C. Sections 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) so long as they are acting in that capacity. Proof of an organization’s tax-exempt status shall include an Internal Revenue Service determination letter or other documentation deemed sufficient by the City Clerk.
H. The City Clerk shall deposit all fees collected pursuant to this Section in the General Fund of the City of Berkeley.
I. A local governmental lobbyist’s registration and fee are not transferrable to any other local governmental lobbyist. (Ord. 7749-NS, 2021; Ord. 7629-NS § 1 (part), 2018)