(a) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the city that the proper operation of democratic government requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible only to the people of the city and that governmental decisions and policy should be made in the proper channels of the governmental structure. To implement such a policy, the city council deems it advisable to enact this Code of Ethics for all officers, employees and advisory board members, whether elected or appointed, paid or unpaid, to serve not only as a guide for official conduct of the city’s public servants, but also as a basis for discipline for those who fail to abide by its terms. This Code of Ethics is cumulative of other ordinances, City Charter provisions and state statutes defining and prohibiting conflict of interest. This § 2-236 is intended to reflect the general intent behind this Code of Ethics and shall not be deemed to be a part of the Code of Ethics or serve as a basis for a violation of this Code of Ethics.
(b) This Code of Ethics has five primary purposes:
(1) To encourage high ethical standards in official conduct by officers, employees and advisory board members;
(2) To establish minimum standards of conduct for officers, employees and advisory board members;
(3) To establish an ethics review commission;
(4) To provide a process for the filing and resolution of complaints asserting violations of this article; and
(5) To provide sanctions for violations of this Article.
(c) This Code of Ethics is not intended to be nor shall it be used as a political weapon to intimidate or embarrass any person covered herein.
(d) Task forces, as defined in § 2-237, shall conduct their meetings in accordance with the requirements imposed on a governmental body by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Tex. Government Code Chapter 551.
(Ord. 20548-12-2012, § 1, passed 12-18-2012, eff. 12-22-2012)