§ 1.2.9. Ethics and Conflicts of Interest.  


Latest version.
  • (A)

    No officer or employee shall have any interest arising by contract or other relationship that creates a substantial conflict of interest with respect to his or her duties, unless the conflict can be avoided by abstention or disqualification from participating in a transaction without adversely affecting the interests of the City. Every employee and appointed officer shall report promptly in writing to his or her appointing authority any business activity or situation that may be or may become a substantial conflict of interest.

    (B)

    No officer or employee shall have a direct interest in a contract or similar instrument with the City if he or she participated in approving or establishing the contract or instrument or its terms or conditions; provided, however, that subject to the conditions that may be established by ordinance or other applicable law, any officer or employee may purchase City property or financial instruments in a public sale at a fixed price or a public auction.

    (C)

    The City Council shall establish by ordinance a Code of Ethics for officers, employees, and members of boards and commissions relating to the use of public office for private gain, employment and supervision of family members, gifts, conflicts of interest, prior employment, outside employment, subsequent employment, and other ethics matters not inconsistent with the Charter. The Code of Ethics shall also establish a Board of Ethics to inform and assist officers, employees, and members of boards and commissions in interpreting the provisions of the Code of Ethics, investigate complaints, issue advisory opinions and waivers, assist agencies in conducting ongoing ethics programs, and perform other duties, not inconsistent with the Charter, as may be provided by ordinance. The Mayor and the Council shall each appoint an equal number of members of the Board of Ethics, and if the Board consists of an odd number of members, one member shall be nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by ordinance. If there is a conflict between the Code of Ethics and another rule or regulation, the Code of Ethics shall prevail but nothing herein shall be construed to impair the power of appointing authorities to adopt standards of conduct more stringent than the Code of Ethics for employees under their control.

(Charter 1960, C5.13; amended June 5, 1962; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 136-03, § 1, 2-24-03, elec. 5-6-03)