The orderly conduct of the Commissioners in meetings and in public is necessary for the good governance of the city and facilitates open dialogue between Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners adopts the following as its code of conduct:
(A) Arrive at meetings on time; silence all personal communication devices, and do not allow them to distract from the work at hand.
(B) Listen and understand before drawing conclusions.
(C) Focus on city vision and goals.
(D) No personal attacks or inferences.
(E) Look for areas of agreement before differences.
(F) State your reservation, but support the Board of Commissioners' decision once a decision is made.
(G) Agree to disagree; move on to the next issue.
(H) Come prepared to discuss issues.
(I) Ask questions of staff prior to the meeting so that Commissioners and staff can be prepared.
(J) Understand that the City Manager is the primary link or the valid chain of command authority that serves between the City Commissioners and the professional staff. The City Commissioners' relationship with the staff shall be through the City Manager. The City Commissioners shall refrain from giving orders or direction to any subordinate of the City Manager, either publicly or privately. The City Commissioners establish policy and laws for the city, and the City Manager is the head of administration managing the established policy and law.
(K) Praise in public; provide constructive feedback in private.
(L) Participate in discussions and focus on the issue; avoid side conversations. Be mindful that sidebar conversations are disruptive.
(M) Show respect and courtesy and refrain from making disparaging comments about fellow City Commissioners, the public, and city staff in the conduct of a Board of Commissioners' meeting, outside of Commissioner meetings, in social settings, and on social media.
(N) Communicate in an open, direct manner; keep others informed. Do not present false claims or records.
(O) Discuss any problems you may have with another Commissioner directly and not to other Commissioners, the community, or staff.
(P) Be a positive and ethical ambassador for the city. Refrain from any activity or action that may hinder one's ability to be objective and impartial on any matter coming before the Board of Commissioners.
(Q) Understand that the Mayor must first recognize you before speaking at a Board of Commissioners' meeting.
(R) Allow others to finish their comments before speaking (subject to the rules of parliamentary procedure and the Mayor's responsibility to preserve order and decorum).
(S) Recognize that city policy decisions are ultimately the responsibility of the Board of Commissioners collectively in public meetings. Work assignments and policy direction should come from the elected body as a whole and not from individual members. Do not dominate or misdirect the City Manager's time and staff's time through allotment of insular, frivolous, or voluminous assignments.
(Ord. 1010, passed 9-30-21)