This post was updated Nov. 4 at 12:37 a.m.

Westwood voters have the chance to shape ethics reform and make changes to retirement operations for Los Angeles police this November.

Measure ER, if passed, would give the LA City Ethics Commission the right to independent counsel and triple the current penalty for violating ethics laws from $5,000 to $15,000. The measure also prevents family members of county officials, campaign consultants and major donors from serving on the commission.

Under Measure ER, the commission will also be required to hold a public hearing for every commission policy proposal.

The ethics commission was established by LA voters in 1990 to help preserve confidence and trust in city government. The commissioners provide education about compliance with ethics laws, maintain public access to disclosure documents and conduct investigative audits. The commission can also make legislative recommendations based on existing laws or policies.

Paul Krekorian, an Ethics Commission member from 1998 to 1999 and current member of Los Angeles City Council, said he supports the ethics reforms, adding that they are necessary to create an atmosphere of ethical compliance within the city.

Krekorian said these reforms would make the commission more independent by preventing councilmembers from using budget cuts to retaliate against investigations. He added that Measure ER would also help to avoid conflicts of interest and establish the right to hire its own counsel outside the city attorney.

“It is a way to change the overall culture within City Hall.” Krekorian said, “That’s why the ethics commission still matters.”

While no official arguments were submitted against the measure, some residents have voiced concerns.

Sean McMorris, the transparency, ethics, and accountability program manager at Common Cause California – a nonpartisan organization that advocates for democracy – said he believes Measure ER is “really watered-down.”

“The Charter Review Commission needs to go back and review this and actually implement some of the meaningful reforms that were taken out in the 11th hour,” he said.

While McMorris acknowledged that some parts of the measure could be beneficial, such as increasing penalties and limiting eligibility for appointment to the commission, he said most of the measure amendments are still less impactful than what the city council makes it out to be.

Despite what he perceives to be the measure’s shortcomings, McMorris says voters should still vote for Measure ER.

“It’s still probably better than the status quo,” he said.

Ruth Galanter, who was a member of the LA city council when the ethics commission was created, said she sees Measure ER as a waste of money, given that the commission’s role overlaps with some of the duties of the California Fair Political Practices Commission – a state agency.

“It simply doesn’t work,” Galanter said. “When you try out a program and it doesn’t work, the answer is not to throw more money at it – it’s to figure out why it doesn’t work,”

Galanter believes the allocations funded by Measure ER may be better spent on paying retirees – including through initiatives like Measure FF.

If passed, Measure FF would allow police officers employed by the LAPD, LA World Airports, the Port of LA and the Department of Parks and Recreation to transfer membership and service from the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System – the general pension plan for municipal employees – to the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Plan.

Currently these three departments are covered under LACERS, the general pension plan for all city municipal workers except police and fire department employees. If Measure FF is passed, the city will pay the cost of transferring pensions.

Under LACERS, civilian employees receive approximately 63% of their salary in pension payments after 30 years on the job. However, under LAFPP, this payment would be 75% of the original salary – and 90% if the employee worked for 33 years.

According to City Administrative Officer Matthew Szabo, the measure requests the city to pay LAFPP all one-time and annual fees, costing the city around $6.3 million annually. Additionally, The city’s General Fund, Airport Revenue Fund, and Harbor Revenue Fund will pay all costs for their respective affected members, adding up to around $23 million for a one-time payment and $1 million annually.

Supporters of the measure include Krekorian, Mayor Karen Bass and the Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association.

Galanter said finding a way to pay retirees higher is a better use of the city’s funds than Measure ER.

“I can think of many ways I would rather spend that money that I think would produce more for the people of LA,” Galanter said.