(A) A public official shall not solicit or accept any gift from any interested person, lobbyist, or principal who has a direct financial interest in a decision the public official is authorized to make.
(B) Exceptions. The prohibitions in this section to not apply if the gift is:
(1) A campaign contribution as defined in M.S. § 10A.01, subd. 11;
(2) A service to assist an official in the performance of official duties, including, but not limited to, providing advice, consultation, information, and communication in connection with legislation, or services to constituents;
(3) A service of insignificant monetary value; a service is of an insignificant monetary value if the monetary value of said service is less than $50;
(4) A plaque or similar memento recognizing services in a field of specialty or to a charitable cause;
(5) A trinket or memento of insignificant value;
(6) Informational material of unexceptional value;
(7) Food or a beverage given at a reception, meal, or meeting away from the recipient's place of work by an organization before whom the recipient appears to make a speech or answer questions as part of a program;
(8) Given because of the recipient's membership in a group, most of whose members are not officials, and an equivalent gift is given to the other members of the group; or
(9) Given by an interested person, lobbyist, or principal who is a related person to the recipient, unless the gift is given on behalf of someone who is not a related person.
(C) A public official who receives any gift prohibited by this section shall return, dispose of, or request that the City Council accept the gift on behalf of the city.
(2002 Code, § 2.903) (Ord. 61, Sixth Series, effective 8-20-2008; Ord. 14, Eighth Series, effective - -2021)