Lobbyist Registration
Lobbying is defined as communicating directly or indirectly, either in person, by telephone, letter, electronic means or other method, with the city commission, city board or committee, or any member thereof or the city manager or city staff for the purpose of influencing legislation or other official action. It does not include the activities of a person undertaken in connection with a request for iformation, the submission of an application for a city permit, making inquiries regarding such application, or providing any information required to be submitted in support of such application.
Persons engaging in lobbying either directly or indirectly by the solicitation of others to engage in lobbying activities, shall receive appropriate written authorization from the person on whose behalf they are lobbying and file that written authorization with the application.
Lobbyists shall file a statement by October 15 each year of all lobbying expenditures.
Registration Fees
- Initial and annual lobbyist registration - $75
- Each principal (initial registration only) - $150
Overview
This page is designed to provide an overview of the City of Fort Lauderdale's Lobbyist Registration Ordinance (No. C-00-27) and Lobbyist Registration Fee Resolution (07-101). Below you will find answers
to some of the most frequently asked questions,
such as:
-
What constitutes lobbying?
-
Who is and is not required to
register as a lobbyist?
-
What are the registration procedures?
-
What types of information will
lobbyists be asked to provide?
Complete copies of the ordinance and resolution are available from the City Clerk's Office.
Lobbyist Registration Forms
Lobbyist registration forms may be downloaded from the City’s website. Registration forms may be obtained in
person Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
at the City Clerk’s Office, located on the 7th
Floor of City Hall at 100 N. Andrews Avenue in
Fort Lauderdale. Forms may also be obtained by
calling (954) 828-5002.
Contact Information
For more information about the City of Fort Lauderdale’s
Lobbyist Registration Ordinance and Resolution, please contact:
City of Fort Lauderdale
Office of the City Clerk
100 N. Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Ph: (954) 828-5002
Fax: (954) 828-5017
agendainfo@fortlauderdale.gov
Questions & Answers
What is lobbying?
Lobbying is any form of communication with City Commissioners, City
Board or Committee members, the City Manager or City employees that
is done to influence legislation or other official action. Indirect
lobbying refers to any individual who solicits others to engage in
lobbying activities.
What types of communication
are not considered lobbying?
Lobbying does not include requests for
information or communication that takes place in
conjunction with the submission of an application
for a City permit.
Who is required to register
as a lobbyist?
Any individual or organization must register
with the City Clerk’s Office when that individual
or organization is compensated to directly or indirectly
lobby City Commissioners, City Board or Committee
members, the City Manager or City employees.
When are lobbyists required
to register with the City?
Lobbyists must register with the City
Clerk’s Office prior to conducting any lobbying
activities. Initial registration will begin on
August 1, 2000. Individuals who conduct lobbying
activities after September 30, 2000 and are not
registered will be in violation of the ordinance.
Is there a registration fee?
Effective October 1, 2007, each lobbyist who wishes to conduct lobbyist activities with the City of Fort Lauderdale will be required to pay an annual registration fee of $75. This fee is due and payable on October 1 of each year.
In addition, effective October 1, 2007, for each Principal a Lobbyist registers with the City, there is a one-time fee of $150. This fee is initially payable on October 1, 2007, for each principal for whom the lobbyist is currently registered. For all new registrations submitted to the City of Fort Lauderdale after October 1, 2007, the fee of $150 is due and payable at the time the lobbyist registers a new principal. This fee is waived for registered not-for-profit entities.
What are the registration
procedures?
Lobbyist registration forms may be downloaded from this web page. Forms may also be obtained
in person from the City Clerk’s Office, 100 N.
Andrews Avenue, 7th Floor, or by calling (954)
828-5002. Completed registration forms may
be returned in person or by mail to:
City of Fort Lauderdale
Office of the City Clerk
100 N. Andrews Avenue, 7th Floor
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
What information will lobbyists
be asked to provide?
Lobbyists will be asked to provide information
relating to the following areas:
-
Name, address and nature of lobbyist’s
business;
-
Name, address and occupation
or profession of each individual or organization
on whose behalf lobbying will be performed;
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Subject matters that lobbyist
will seek to influence;
-
Business association with any
current elected official or City employee;
-
Written authorization from each
individual or organization on whose behalf
lobbying will be performed.
What reports will lobbyists
be required to file?
During the month of October, lobbyists must submit an annual financial statement listing all expenses incurred in connection with lobbying activities other than lobbyist's own personal expenses. The City Clerk's Office will mail all active lobbyists a financial report prior to October 1 of each year. If the lobbyist incurs no expenses, a negative report should be filed.
Effective October 1, 2007 and every subsequent October 1, lobbyists are required to submit a new Lobbyist Registration Form with an attached list of all active principals. Payment of the annual $75.00 Lobbyist Registration Fee must be submitted with the Registration form and list of all active Principals.
What is the Statement of
Representation?
Individuals must state that they are lobbyists
and disclose whom they are working for at the beginning
of any communication with the City.
What are the City’s lobbying
restrictions for former City Commissioners, Board
Members and City Employees?
Former City Commissioners, Board Members
and certain management level City employees are
prohibited from lobbying the City for one year
after leaving their position. This provision applies
only to those in office or employed at the time
or after the ordinance takes effect. (Note: Florida
statute prohibits former City Commissioners from
lobbying City elected officials for two years.)
Who is not required to register
as a lobbyist?
The following individuals do not need
to register as lobbyists:
-
Individuals or organizations
who communicate with the City on their own
behalf without compensation;
-
Individuals or organizations
who lobby on behalf of non-profit organizations,
such as a civic or homeowners association,
without receiving pay;
-
Public officers or employees
who are acting in their official capacity;
-
Representatives of the City’s
labor unions.
What are the penalties for
violating the ordinance?
Violators of the City’s Lobbyist Registration
Ordinance will be subject to reprimand, censure
or prohibition from lobbying the City for a period
of up to two years. |