Preconsidered Res. No. 1168

Resolution adding a rule to the Rules of the Council in relation to prohibiting use of City funds for the purchase of certain advertisements.

By Council Members Reyna and Gentile

                     Section 1.  The Rules of the Council are amended by adding a new rule, 2.65 to read as follows:

2.65 Prohibition against using funds from operating expenses for certain advertisements   a. No city funds appropriated to the Council (“Council funds”) shall be used by a Council Member for the purchase of advertisements in an organization’s journal or bulletin in print or other form; provided, however, that for purposes of this rule, a publication of an organization that is published at least quarterly and is distributed beyond the membership of the organization to the general public shall not be deemed a journal or bulletin.

b.  No Council funds shall be used by a Council Member for the purchase of any advertisement published or broadcast in any print, radio or television or other electronic media that (i) does not solely consist of informational or educational content relating to a governmental function or a government-sponsored event or (ii) contains any seasonal or holiday greeting or message or any congratulatory or commemorative message or (iii) contains a Council Member’s likeness, picture or voice.

c.  The Council shall only approve the purchase of advertisements that comply with the provisions of this rule and such payment shall only be made after a copy of such advertisement (or a detailed description of any such advertisement if not in print form) is provided to the Speaker’s designee together with the invoice for such purchase.

§2.  This rule shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that this rule shall not apply to advertisements for which an agreement has been entered into or for which payment has been made, prior to the effective date.