Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Approving/Denying The Appeal Of Jodi Davidson, A Lobbyist, Regarding A Fine For Lack Of Timely Submittal Of Lobbyist Annual Statement.
Strategic Plan Focus
Financial Management & Administration
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval/denial of the attached Resolution.
Explanation:
The City's lobbyist registration process under Code Section 30.15. Lobbyists are required to register annually with the City Clerk before they can engage in any lobbying.
The lobbyist is required under Code Section 30.15 (B)(2) to submit to the City Clerk's Office a signed statement under oath, disclosing all lobbying expenditures, contingency fees, and the sources from which funds for making such expenditures and paying such contingency fees has come, which shall be filed no later than August 31st of each year.
Jodi Davidson filed as a lobbyist with the City for the period August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020 and under Code the Lobbyist Annual Statement was due in the City Clerk's Office by 5:00 PM on August 31, 2020. This office did not receive the Lobbyist Annual Statement from Ms. Davidson by the deadline, and as required under the Code a certified letter by United States mail was sent to Ms. Davidson, which was returned. In addition, emails sent to Ms. Davidson and phone calls made to Ms. Davidson prior to the deadline were returned or not forwarded.
Ms. Davidson tried to file a new registration on November 17, 2020 for the current year; however, she was notified, by phone, that the prior year Lobbyist Annual Statement was delinquent and she need to file the Annual Lobbyist Statement for the period of August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2020 which she did. On November 23, 2020 Ms. Davidson was notified, by email, of the $4,000.00 fine, which is $50.00 for each day late up to a maximum of $5,000.00.
The Code allows for the lobbyist to file an appeal or dispute a fine, based upon unusual circumstances surroundi...
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