Stockton City Council takes first steps toward new ethics rules in wake of grand jury report

THE STOCKTON CITY COUNCIL may be inching toward new ethics rules following a San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury report in June that said some of its members were “complicit in the deterioration of camaraderie, trust, respect, and ethical governing.”

The Council’s Legislation and Environmental Committee met July 17 and asked staff to bring back sample policy language for updating the city’s ethics creed, last reviewed in 1986, and adopting disclosure requirements for campaign consultants. The latter was one of the recommendations of the grand jury, which took issue with the proximity of 209 Times founder and political consultant Motecuzoma Sanchez to city government.