(a) The City encourages complaints, reports or inquiries about prohibited practices or violations of law, including illegal or improper conduct by the City itself, by its leadership, or by others on its behalf. For purposes of this policy, "violations of law" means a violation of any state, federal or local law that the city has the authority to correct and the reporting employee reasonably believes to be:
(1) A criminal offense that is likely to cause an imminent risk of physical harm to persons,
(2) A hazard to public health or safety, or
(3) A felony.
(b) For purposes of this policy, "prohibited practices" means conduct that a reporting employee reasonably believes to be a serious violation of the policies and practices established by the City and that would financially or detrimentally impact the City, such as in correct financial reporting, financial improprieties, accounting or audit matters, or detrimentally impact the reputation of the City, such as ethical violations, fraudulent conduct, or other similar improper practices.
(Res. 31-11. Passed 12-20-11.)