No officer or official of the city, including all members of city-appointed boards, commissions and committees, shall:
(A) Accept any gift or economic benefit of more than $50 in value from any person or entity which gift or economic benefit might reasonably tend to influence such officer or official in the discharge of official duties, or grant in the discharge of official duties any improper gift, economic benefit, service or thing of value; however, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any political contribution made pursuant to the Texas Election Code;
(B) Use his or her official position to solicit or secure special privileges or exemptions for himself/herself or others;
(C) Directly or indirectly disclose or use any information gained solely by reason of his or her official position for his or her own personal gain or economic benefit or for the private interest of others;
(D) Transact any business on behalf of the city in his or her official capacity with any business entity of which he or she is an officer, agent or member or in which he or she owns a substantial interest. If such a circumstance should arise, he or she shall make known such interest and abstain from voting on the matter;
(E) Engage in any outside activities which will conflict with his or her assigned duties in the city;
(F) Engage in outside activities incompatible with the full and proper discharge of his or her duties and responsibilities with the city, or which might impair his or her independent judgment in the performance of his or her public duties;
(G) Receive any fee or compensation for his or her services as an officer or official of the city from any source other than the city, except as may otherwise be provided by law. This shall not prohibit an officer or official from performing the same or other services that he or she performs for the city for a private organization if there is no conflict with his or her city duties and responsibilities;
(H) Represent, directly or indirectly, or appear on behalf of the private interests of others before any agency, board, commission, authority or committee of the city, or accept any retainer or compensation that is contingent upon a specific action being taken by the city or any of its agencies, boards, commissions, authorities or committees, unless such officer or official of the city has made full disclosure of such representation, retainer or compensation. For purposes of this section, the term FULL DISCLOSURE shall mean:
(1) The filing of an affidavit with the City Secretary describing such representation, retainer or compensation;
(2) Disclosure, either orally or in writing, to the other members of the city agency, board, commission, authority or committee;
(3) Refraining from any other discussion of the matter with other members of the city agency, board, commission, authority or committee; and
(4) Refraining from voting on or participating in the consideration of such matter by the city agency, board, commission, authority or committee.
(I) Knowingly perform or refuse to perform any act in order to deliberately hinder the execution and implementation of any city ordinances, rules or regulations;
(J) Have a substantial interest in any contract with the city or a substantial interest in the sale of the city of any Eand, rights or interest in any land, materials, supplies or service;
(K) Participate in a vote or decision on any matter in which the officer or official has a substantial interest or in which a relative of the officer or official has a substantial interest;
(L) Grant any special consideration, treatment or advantage to any individual, business organization or group beyond that which is normally available to every other individual, business organization or group.
(M) Knowingly disclose information deemed confidential by law; or
(N) Participate in any vote or decision relative to any amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan or any change in the zoning classification of property if the officer or official or a relative of the officer or official has any interest in any property within 200 feet of the property which is the subject of the amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan or on which the change in zoning classification is proposed. Further, any officer or official who has any such interest in property shall be legally disqualified from participating in any vote or decision relative to the comprehensive plan amendment or change in zoning classification.
(Ord. 2019-6, passed 1-15-2019) Penalty, see § 31.99