DEPARTMENT: City Attorney’s Office
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Martha G. Sepeda, Acting City Attorney
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
An Ordinance waiving provisions of the City’s Ethics Code related to Mayor Ivy Taylor’s previous interest in SAHA-administered Housing and Urban Development Housing Choice Voucher Program contracts.
SUMMARY:
This action by the City Council retroactively waives prohibitions regarding conflicts of interest and prohibited interests in contracts in the City Ethics Code as these applied to the Mayor for several contracts between the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA), Housing Choice Voucher Program tenants, and her husband, Rodney Taylor, as landlord of these tenants.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Prior to becoming Mayor for the City of San Antonio, Councilmember Ivy Taylor’s husband, Rodney Taylor, participated as a landlord in the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Choice Voucher Program administered by the San Antonio Housing Authority. Upon being appointed Mayor by the City Council, Mayor Taylor, as the presiding officer of the governing body, became responsible for the appointment of the SAHA housing authority commissioners under Chapter 392 of the Texas Local Government Code.
Because Rodney Taylor had contracts with HUD and HCVP tenants during the time that Ivy Taylor became the Mayor, that created a conflict of interest with regard to her responsibilities to appoint commissioners to the housing authority, and also created prohibited interests in contracts due to Rodney Taylor’s participation in the SAHA-administered HCV Program.
Since that time, all existing contracts between Mr. Taylor, SAHA and HCVP tenants have been transferred to the Bexar County Housing Authority. Mayor Taylor has no role in appointing commissioners to the Bexar County Housing Authority. The transfer of contracts eliminates any conflicts of interest in the Mayor’s appointment of SAHA commissioners, and eliminates the basis for any complaint under the City’s Ethics Code.
ISSUE:
All current and future conflicts of interest and prohibited interests in contracts have been resolved by the transfer of contracts to the Bexar County Housing Authority. This recommended action will resolve any conflict of interest or prohibited interests in contracts that existed between the Mayor’s appointment and subsequent election, until their transfer.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council may vote not to waive the Ethics Code provisions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Office of the City Attorney recommends that the City Council waive the applicable Ethics Code provisions, for this limited purpose.