(A) Conflicts of interest in general. Every officer and employee of the city and every city agency shall comply with the following standards of conduct:
(1) No officer or employee, or any immediate family member of any officer or employee, shall have an interest in a business or engage in any business, transaction or activity, which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of the officer’s or employee’s public duties.
(2) No officer or employee shall intentionally use or attempt to use his or her official position with the city to secure unwarranted privileges or advantages, financial or otherwise, for himself or herself or others including:
(a) The officer or employee;
(b) A family member;
(c) An outside employer; or
(d) Any business in which the officer or employee or any family member has a financial interest.
(3) No officer or employee shall be deemed in violation of any provision in this section if, by reason of the officer’s or employee’s participation, vote, decision, action or inaction, no financial benefit accrues to the officer or employee, a family member, an outside employer or as a member of any business, occupation, profession or other group, to any greater extent that any gain could reasonably be expected to accrue to any other member of the business, occupation, profession or other group.
(4) Every officer or employee who has a prohibited financial interest which the officer or employee believes or has reason to believe may be affected by his or her participation, vote, decision or other action taken within the scope of his or her public duties shall disclose the nature of the interest to the governing body of the city or city agency served by the officer or employee, and the disclosure shall be entered on the official record of the proceedings of the governing body. The officer or employee shall refrain from taking any action with respect to the matter that is the subject of the disclosure.
(B) Conflicts of interest in contract.
(1) No officer or employee of the city or any city agency shall directly or through others undertaken, execute, hold or enjoy, in whole or in part, any contract made, entered into, awarded or granted by the city or a city agency, except as follows:
(a) The prohibition in division (1) above shall not apply to contracts entered into before an elected officer filed as a candidate for city office, before an appointed officer was appointed to a city or city agency office, or before an employee was hired by the city or a city agency. However, if any contract entered into by a city or city agency officer or employee before he or she became a candidate, was appointed to office, or was hired as an employee, is renewable after he or she becomes a candidate, assumes the appointed office, or is hired as an employee, then the prohibition in division (1) above shall apply to the renewal of the contract.
(b) The prohibition in division (1) above shall not apply if the contract is awarded after public notice and competitive bidding, unless the officer or employee is authorized to participate in establishing the contract specifications, awarding the contract, or managing contract performance after the contract is awarded. If the officer or employee has any of the authorities set forth in the preceding sentence, then the officer or employee shall have no interest in the contract, unless the requirements set forth in division (c) below are satisfied.
(c) The prohibition in division (1) above shall not apply in any case where the following requirements are satisfied:
1. The specific nature of the contract transaction and the nature of the officer’s or employee’s interest in the contract are publicly disclosed at a meeting of the governing body of the city or city agency.
2. The disclosure is made a part of the official record of the governing body of the city or city agency before the contract is executed.
3. A finding is made by the governing body of the city or city agency that the contract with the officer or employee is in the best interests of the public and the city or city agency because of price, limited supply or other specific reasons.
4. The finding is made a part of the official record of the governing body of the city or city agency before the contract is executed.
(2) Any violation of this section shall constitute a Class A misdemeanor, and upon conviction, the court may void any contract entered into in violation of this section. Additionally, a violation of this section shall be grounds for removal from office or employment with the city in accordance with any applicable provisions of state law and ordinances, rules or regulations of the city.
(C) Receipt of gifts. No officer or employee of the city or any city agency shall directly, or indirectly through any other person or business, solicit or accept any gift(s) having a aggregate fair market value of more than $200 whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise, or any other form, under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift was intended to influence, or could reasonable be expected to influence the officer or employee in the performance of his or her public duties.
(D) Use of city property, equipment and personnel. No officer or employee of the city shall use or permit the use of any city time, funds, personnel, equipment, letterhead or other personal or real property for the private use of any person, unless:
(1) The use is specifically authorized by a stated city policy; or
(2) The use is available to the general public, and then only to the extent and upon the terms that the use is available to the general public.
(Ord. G-D11, Series 1994, passed 10-25-94)