Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Approving/Denying The Appeal Of Stephanie Grutman Zauder, A Lobbyist, Regarding The 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 is provided for 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.
Stephanie Grutman Zauder filed as a lobbyist with the City for the period August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021 and under Code the Lobbyist Annual Statement was due in the City Clerk's Office by 5:00 PM on August 31, 2021. This office did not receive the Lobbyist Annual Statement from Ms. Grutman Zauder by the deadline, and as required under the Code a certified letter by United States mail was sent to Ms. Grutman Zauder. In addition, emails were sent to Ms. Grutman Zauder and phone calls were made to Ms. Grutman Zauder prior to the deadline.
Ms. Grutman Zauder tried to file a new registration on November 11, 2021 for the current year; however, she was notified by phone that the prior year Lobbyist Annual Statement was delinquent and that she still need to file the Annual Lobbyist Statement for the period of August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021. Following this notification, she completed and submitted the prior year's Annual Lobbying Statement. On January 13, 2022, Ms. Grutman Zauder was notified, by email, of the $5,000.00 fine, which is $50.00 for each day late up to a maxim...
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