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1. What is a Conflict of Interest Code?

A Conflict of Interest Code is a set of rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the Political Reform Act. The Act requires all California cities to adopt and implement a Conflict of Interest Code.

Each Conflict of Interest Code designates positions required to file a Statement of Economic Interests - Form 700, and assigns disclosure categories specifying the types of interests to be reported. The Form 700 is a public document. In the City of El Cerrito, disclosure requirements for positions and commissions designated in the City’s Conflict of Interest Code are identified in Appendix A. Disclosure requirements are stated in Appendix B. City Councilmembers, the City Manager, City Attorney, City Treasurer and Planning Commissioners are required by state law to file at the highest level. The types of interests that must be disclosed depend upon the responsibilities of the designated position. The disclosure requirements may include the reporting of investments, business positions, interests in real property, income and other financial interests. The Political Reform Act contains specific provisions setting forth the circumstances under which employees and commissioners must disqualify themselves from making, participating in or influencing a governmental decision. The City Clerk administers the  Conflict of Interest Code at the local level and notifies elected officials and each designated employee and commissioner of his or her filing obligation. State law requires cities to conduct a biennial review of the Conflict of Interest Code to ensure that designated positions and disclosure requirements are kept current. Codes and code revisions are adopted by City Council resolution.

2. What are the three elements of a Conflict of Interest Code?

A. Terms of the Code (the "Body")

The essential terms of a Conflict of Interest Code are found in the Code's main body, which includes such provisions as the manner of reporting financial interests, disqualification procedures, and other information. The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) recommends that agencies incorporate FPPC Regulation 18730 by reference because the information required to be in a code's main body is complex and may change over time. Regulation 18730 contains all the necessary provisions. The FPPC periodically amends this regulation to include legislative and regulatory changes. By incorporating FPPC Regulation 18730 by reference, the body of the code automatically stays in compliance with Political Reform Act Regulations.

B. Designated Positions
A Conflict of Interest Code must specifically list positions that make or participate in making decisions. Typically, positions that involve voting on matters, negotiating contracts, or making recommendations on purchases without substantive review must be included in the Code. Persons holding positions listed in Government Code Section 87200 are considered "statutory filers." Such persons, include the Mayor, City Councilmembers, the City Manager, the City Attorney, the City Treasurer, Planning Commissioners and persons who manage public investments.

C. Disclosure Categories
The primary purpose of the Conflict of Interest Code is the requirement to disclose types of financial interests, business positions and property that may be affected by the decision-making of persons holding designated positions. Each position designated in the Conflict of Interest Code is assigned a unique disclosure requirement.

3. What is a Statement of Economic Interests - Form 700?

The Statement of Economic Interests (Fair Political Practices Commission Form 700) is a public document which certain public officials, government employees, commissioners and consultants designated in the City’s Conflict Code, use to disclose personal financial interests.

4. How do I know if I must file a Statement of Economic Interests?

The City Clerk will inform you by letter that you must file a Statement of Economic Interests. If you are unsure of your status, you can always check the Conflict of Interest Code posted on this website.

5. Why do I have to file a Statement of Economic Interests?

The California Political Reform Act (Gov. Code Sections 81000-91014), in conjunction with the City of El Cerrito’s Conflict of Interest Code requires the filing of Statements of Economic Interests. The Act states:

"Assets and income of public officials which may be materially affected by their official actions should be disclosed (and in appropriate circumstances the officials should be disqualified from acting in order that conflicts of interest may be avoided)" (Section 81002(c))

For more information on this subject please review resources provided on the City’s website and the FPPC’s website.

6. When do I have to file?

The Statement of Economic Interests - Form 700 must be filed under the following circumstances:

• An Assuming Office statement is required within 30 days of the date when you take a position already designated in a conflict of interest code.

  An individual hired for a position not yet covered under an agency’s conflict-of-interest code must file the Form 700 if the individual serves in a position that makes or participates in making governmental decisions. These individuals must file under the agency’s broadest disclosure category until the code is amended to include the new position unless the agency has provided in writing a limited disclosure requirement.

• Annual statements are required by April 1 of each year, covering the preceding calendar year. If you assumed office on or after October 1st of that year, no annual statement is due until the following April.
• A Leaving Office statement is required within 30 days of the date you leave a designated position.

7. Where do I have to file?

The completed Statement of Economic Interests - Form 700 must be received by the City Clerk at City Hall, 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 on or before the filing deadline. Faxes are not accepted and the Form 700 must include an original signature.

8. How do I complete my Statement of Economic Interests?

This depends upon what interests you are required to disclose, and what interests you hold. The City Clerk will supply you with the Form 700, the Reference Pamphlet, and the appropriate department or commission disclosure appendix.

• Complete the top section of the Cover Page of the Form 700 with your full name, mailing address (may be a business address), and daytime phone number.


• Section #1, Office, Agency or Court: Put the name of the department you work for or your board or commission on the first line. On the second line, if you are in a department that is broken into divisions, please list your division and put the name of your position as it appears in the Conflict of Interest Code. There are a few people who hold more than one designated position. They may file a single “expanded statement,” which discloses all the interests required of them by jurisdiction and each disclosure category. Since a statement needs to be filed with both jurisdictions, the statement can be completed by listing both jurisdictions and position titles, reporting disclosure requirements for all positions. Each statement must be filed with an original signature. Therefore, before signing the statement, make a copy for each agency. Sign each copy with an original signature and file with each agency.


• Section #2: Your jurisdiction is the City of El Cerrito


• Section #3: You will be advised by letter of the type of statement, whether Assuming, Annual, or Leaving. If Assuming or Leaving, check the appropriate box and fill in the date, if not pre-marked by the City Clerk’s Office. If an Annual Statement, the box will be pre-checked.


• Period Covered: For the Annual Statement, remember that you are disclosing information from the previous calendar year. For an Assuming statement, you are disclosing information from the year prior to your appointment date.


• Carefully review your disclosure category to determine if you have reportable interests.


• Read the instructions for each schedule of the Form 700, and be sure to use the appropriate schedule for each type of interest you must report. Put your name on each schedule you complete.
• When you have completed the appropriate schedule(s), go back to the Cover Page of the Form 700. Go to:


• Section #4, Schedule Summary: If you have disclosed reportable interests on any of the schedules, attach them to the Cover Page. Please check the appropriate box or boxes in Section #4. You are confirming that one or more schedules are attached to the cover page and contain information that you are required by law to disclose. Please recycle any schedules you don’t use.


• You may have no interests of the type you’re required to disclose, according to your conflict of interest code. If you do not complete any schedules, check the “No Reportable Interests” box and file only the completed and signed cover page with the City Clerk.


• Indicate the total number of pages completed including the Cover Page.


• Section #5, Verification: You must date and sign the cover page. The Form 700 cannot be accepted without your original signature.

9. Who will see my form?

Once filed, the Statement of Economic Interests - Form 700 is a public document and must be made available to the public upon request. Filers must sign the Form 700 under penalty of perjury.

By law, original Form 700s filed by the Mayor and City Council, City Manager, City Attorney, City Treasurer and Planning Commissioners are sent to the FPPC and copies are kept on file by the City Clerk. All other original forms are retained by the City Clerk.

10. What else should I know?

FILE ON TIME! Late filers may face fines or other penalties. Commissioners who do not file within 30 days of specific written notice provided by the City Clerk will be terminated.

11. Where do I go for help?

El Cerrito City Clerk 

• Questions relating to the City of El Cerrito’s Conflict of Interest Code and local filing obligations should be directed to the City Clerk. However, the City Clerk does not provide legal advice, so each person who has a filing obligation under the Conflict of Interest Code must make his/her own determination regarding individual disclosure and reporting of interests.
• The City Clerk is located at 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530, (510) 215-4305.

Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) - http://www.fppc.ca.gov/ Information available from the FPPC website:

• An interactive version of the Statement of Economic Interests - Form 700
• Form 700 Reference Pamphlet
• Text-Only Form 700 for Screen Readers
• Information relating to the Political Reform Act
• Contact the Fair Political Practices Commission's toll free help line at (866) 275-3772

Other Resources California Attorney General's Pamphlet on Conflict of Interest Law.