If a council member has reason to believe he/she has a conflict of interest with respect to a governmental decision he/she may give the full facts of the matter to the City Attorney and request advice thereon. The request for advice should be submitted to the City Attorney sufficiently in advance of the meeting to allow the City Attorney a reasonable opportunity to analyze the facts stated and the applicable law and to seek appropriate assistance from the Fair Political Practices Commission. Any response by the City Attorney shall be in writing, if time permits, and delivered to each council member before the meeting in question. Oral responses shall be stated on the public record. If a determination whether it is reasonably foreseeable that a financial interest would be affected by a governmental decision depends on the advice of an appraiser or similar professional, except an attorney, the City Attorney may retain such professional at city expense. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to preclude the member or the City Attorney from seeking assistance or advice on a conflict of interest matter from the Fair Political Practices Commission.
(Ord. 1205, passed 11-6-96)