(A) There is hereby created an Ethics Commission which shall have the authorities, duties and responsibilities, as set forth in this chapter, to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(B) The Ethics Commission shall consist of three members who shall be appointed by the executive authority of the city, subject to the approval of the legislative body. The initial members of the Ethics Commission shall be appointed within 60 days of the effective date of this chapter. The members shall serve for a term of three years; except that, with respect to the members initially appointed, one member shall be appointed for a term of one year, one member shall be appointed for a term of two years and one member shall be appointed for a term of three years. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for a term of three years.
(C) An Ethics Commission member may be reappointed for any number of consecutive terms.
(D) No member of the Ethics Commission, nor any family member of a member of the Ethics Commission, shall hold any elected or appointed office, whether paid or unpaid, or any position of employment with the city or any city agency.
(E) Each member of the Ethics Commission shall have been a resident of the city for at least one year prior to the date of the appointment and shall reside in the city throughout the term in office. The members of the Ethics Commission shall be chosen by virtue of their known and consistent reputation for integrity and their knowledge of local government affairs.
(F) A member of the Ethics Commission may be removed by the executive authority, subject to the approval of the legislative body for misconduct, inability or willful neglect of duties. Before any member of the Commission is removed from office under this division (F), the member shall be afforded the opportunity for a hearing before the executive authority and the legislative body.
(G) Vacancies on the Ethics Commission shall be filled within 60 days by the executive authority, subject to the approval of the legislative body. If a vacancy is not filled by the executive authority within 60 days, the remaining members of the Ethics Commission shall fill the vacancy. All vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term.
(H) Members of the Ethics Commission shall serve without compensation, unless otherwise approved by the legislative body, but shall be reimbursed for all necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(I) The Ethics Commission shall, upon the initial appointment of its members, and annually thereafter, elect a Chairperson from among the membership. The Chairperson shall be the presiding officer and a full voting member of the Commission.
(J) Meetings of the Ethics Commission shall be held, as necessary, upon the call of the Chairperson or at the written request of a majority of the members.
(K) The presence of two or more members shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of two or more members shall be necessary for any official action to be taken. Any member of the Ethics Commission who has a conflict of interest with respect to any matter to be considered by the Commission shall disclose the nature of the conflict, shall disqualify himself or herself from voting on the matter and shall not be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum.
(L) Minutes shall be kept for all proceedings of the Ethics Commission and the vote of each member on any issue decided by the Commission shall be recorded in the minutes.
(Ord. 2015-01, passed 5-11-2015)