A. For purposes of this section, "hours of employment" means occurring at a time when a City officer or employee is acting within the course and scope of employment, but excludes a lunch break afforded to the officer or employee.
B. Except as otherwise provided by law:
1. The partisan political activity, political opinion, or political affiliation of an applicant for a position with the city may not provide a basis for denying employment to the applicant.
2. A city officer's or employee's partisan political activity, political opinion, or political affiliation may not provide the basis for the officer or employee's employment, promotion, disciplinary action, demotion, or dismissal.
3. A city employee may not engage in political campaigning or solicit political contributions during hours of employment.
4. A city officer or employee may not use city equipment while engaged in campaigning or other political activity.
5. A city officer or employee may not directly or indirectly coerce, command, or advise another city officer or employee to pay, lend, or contribute part of the officer's or employee's salary or compensation, or anything else of value to a political party, committee, organization, agency, or person for political purposes.
6. A city officer or employee may not attempt to make another officer or employee's personnel status dependent on the officer's or employee's support or lack of support of a political party, affiliation, opinion, committee, organization, agency, or person engaged in political activity.
C. A city employee who has filed a declaration of candidacy may:
1. Be given a leave of absence for the period between the primary election and the general election; and
2. Use any vacation or other leave available to engage in campaign activities.
D. Neither the filing of a declaration of candidacy nor a leave of absence under this section may be used as the basis for an adverse employment action, including discipline and termination, against the employee.
E. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to:
1. Prohibit a city officer or employee's voluntary contribution to a party or candidate of the officer or employee's choice; or
2. Permit city officer or employee partisan political activity that is prohibited under federal law.
F. No city officer or employee shall solicit or participate in soliciting any assessment, subscription, or contribution to any political party during working hours on the premises of any city property.
G. No city officer or employee shall promise any appointment to any position with the city as a reward for any political activity.
H. A city employee who is elected as a city officer shall terminate the city employment prior to being sworn into the elected office. (Ord. 785, 7-31-2007, eff. 8-15-2007)