Skip to code content (skip section selection)
Compare to:
SEC. 12A-14.   MISCELLANEOUS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
   (a)   Special rules.
      (1)   Acquisition of interest in impending or decided matters. A city official or employee shall not acquire an interest (economic or otherwise) in any matter:
         (A)   if the official or employee knows that the interest will be affected by upcoming official action of the city.
         (B)   affected by an official action of the city for a period of one year after the date of the official action.
      (2)   Reciprocal favors. A city official or employee may not enter into an agreement or understanding with any other person that official action by the official or employee will be rewarded or reciprocated.
      (3)   Benefits to previous employers. A city official or employee may not, within 12 months of beginning his or her employment or service with the city, award a contract or participate in a matter benefiting a person or business entity that formerly employed the city official or employee.
      (4)   Area of notification conflict.
         (A)   General. A city official or employee shall not take official action on, or otherwise participate in, a matter if the city official or employee has an ownership interest, a lease, or other economic interest in a property within the area of notification listed in:
            (1)   Sections 51A-1.105(a) and (b) (zoning and board of adjustment applications);
            (2)   Section 51A-4.701 (authorized zoning cases);
            (3)   Sections 51A-9.201 and 51A-9.202 (thoroughfare realignments, state or county thoroughfare improvements).
   For purposes of this paragraph, ECONOMIC INTEREST includes, but is not limited to, legal or equitable property interests in land, chattels, and intangibles, and contractual rights, having more than de minimis value.
         (B)   Recusal and disclosure. A city official or employee who has an ownership interest, a lease, or other economic interest in a property within the area of notification in Subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall follow the recusal and disclosure requirements in Section 12A-24 of this chapter.
   (b)   Board of directors of a reinvestment zone.
      (1)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a member of the board of directors of a reinvestment zone established under the Tax Increment Financing Act, as amended, may:
         (A)   own property within that reinvestment zone; and
         (B)   participate in discussions and voting on matters before the board of directors that may indirectly affect the member's property within the reinvestment zone, but must follow the recusal and disclosure requirements in Section 12A-24 on matters before the board of directors that may directly affect the member's property in the reinvestment zone.
      (2)   For purposes of this subsection, a matter directly affects a member's property in the reinvestment zone if the matter involves a project in the reinvestment zone that is:
         (A)   financed with tax increment funds; and
         (B)   located within 200 feet of the member's property.
   (c)   City officials and employees serving in policymaking positions for business entities at the direction of the city. The restrictions and requirements of Section 12A-24 of this chapter do not apply to a city official or employee serving as an officer or director or in any other policymaking position for a business entity when taking official action on behalf of the city on matters concerning that business entity, if the city official or employee:
      (1)   was appointed by the mayor, city council, or city manager to represent the city as an officer or director or in any other policymaking position for the business entity; and
      (2)   has no substantial economic interest in the business entity or in the matter on which the action is being taken as defined in Texas Local Government Code Section 171.002, as amended.
   (d)   Municipal management district boards. The restrictions and requirements of this section do not apply to a member of a municipal management district board. (Ord. Nos. 24316; 24720; 27504; 27819; 30391 ; 32072 ; 32472 )