(A) Occurrence of; public presentation. Conflicts of interest will naturally occur from time to time and in such cases when they may or do in fact arise, should be presented publicly to diminish the potential of actual or perceived special interests.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES. Shall refer to those boards, committees, commissions, or other bodies created by statute, local ordinance, resolution, local policy and any and all subcommittees those bodies may, from time to time, create.
CITY COUNCIL. Except where specifically referred to, shall refer to the Mayor and each member of the City Council.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST. May occur when action by the city, either through its employees, its boards, committees, commissions or other such bodies, or the City Council, could be construed as impacting negatively or positively an interest of an employee or Council Member, his or her relatives, business or financial investments, property, or other interests.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY. The spouse, child, parents, brother, sister, half- sister, half-brother or the spouses of any listed relatives. All relationships shall include those arising from adoption and marriage.
(C) City Council reporting of conflicts of interest.
(1) If a case may arise when a Council Member or the Mayor has a conflict of interest, he or she shall make known the potential conflict in open session when City Council business might involve such interest. The Council Member or Mayor need not provide detail on the potential conflict so as to injure a client or patient relationship.
(2) In addition to the general rule on conflicts of interest above, the following specific conflicts of interest are specifically prohibited:
(a) Holding of other offices. No Council Member shall hold any other city office or employment during the term for which they were elected to the Council except where specifically allowed by the Charter and/or statute.
(b) Voting involving a conflict of interest. No member of the Council shall vote on any question in which he, she or a member of their immediate family as defined in this chapter, has a financial interest, other than the common public interest, or on any question concerning his or her own conduct. Council Members who may have a financial interest shall state such interest and then refrain from debating, commenting, or otherwise seeking to influence the Council on such question.
(c) If a member of City Council believes that another member of City Council has a conflict, he or she shall raise such perceived conflict. If the member in question does not concede a conflict, the majority of the remaining Council Members may vote to prohibit that Council Member or the Mayor who may have a conflict from participating in that item of business. The Council shall solely be the judge of its own members and the Mayor.
(D) Board, Committee, Commission Conflicts of interest.
(1) If a case may arise when a member of a board, committee, or commission has a conflict of interest, he or she shall make known the potential conflict in open session when the body might conduct business involving such interest. The member need not provide detail on the potential conflict so as to injure a client or patient relationship.
(2) In addition to the general rule on conflicts of interest above, the following specific conflicts of interest are specifically prohibited:
(a) Voting involving a conflict of interest. No member of the body shall vote on any question in which he, she or a member of their immediate family as defined in this chapter, has a financial interest, other than the common public interest, or on any question concerning his or her own conduct. Members who may have a financial interest shall state such interest and then refrain from debating, commenting, or otherwise seeking to influence the Council on such question.
(b) If a member believes that another member has a conflict, he or she shall raise such perceived conflict. If the member in question does not concede a conflict, the majority of the remaining body members may vote to prohibit that member who may have a conflict from participating in that item of business.
(E) City Manager reporting of conflicts of interest.
(1) If a case may arise when the City Manager has a conflict of interest, he or she shall make written notification of such conflict to the Mayor and the City Clerk. To the extent possible, the City Manager's involvement in the situation will be minimized to avoid the appearance of impropriety. The City Manager's conduct shall at all times be in accord with the ICMA Code of Ethics.
(2) It shall not be deemed a conflict of interest by the City Manager to enforce or cause to be enforced zoning or ordinance violations in keeping with standard practice. It shall also not be deemed a conflict of interest for action to be taken by the city to improve or otherwise conduct normal public activities in the neighborhood where the City Manager may reside.
(F) Employee reporting of conflicts of interest. If a case may arise when an employee of the city or the city's Attorney, Auditor, or other professional contractor may have a conflict of interest, he, she, or the corporation, partnership or entity shall promptly report such conflict or potential conflict to the City Manager. The City Manager shall determine what steps if any may be necessary to avoid the potential for preferential or adverse action because of the conflict.
(G) Council appearance before other bodies. City Council shall not appear before or seek to influence members of other Boards, Commissions, or Committees except when they may be appointed to such body, serve as a member by virtue of statute or Charter, or may be invited to address the body by a majority vote of the body.
(H) General prohibition. The City Council, board, committee, and commission members, the City Manager, and city employees should not take any special advantage of services, goods or opportunity for personal gain that is not available to the public in general.
(Ord. 793 of 2018, passed 6-18-2018)