City's lobbyist-disclosure program to start in '12

The city Board of Ethics is delaying the start of a new lobbyist registration and disclosure program until early next year, the result of snags in developing computer software.

Under the new deadlines, people who spend significant time or money trying to influence City Council actions or administrative policy will have to register sometime after Jan. 3 - technically, within 10 days after they spend 20 hours or $2,500 trying to lobby city officials.

The first spending reports from lobbyists will be due in April, covering the first quarter of 2012. - Bob Warner