(a) Conflicts of Interest. The use of public office for private gain is prohibited. The City Council shall implement this prohibition by ordinance. Regulations to this end shall include but not be limited to: acting in an official capacity on matters in which the official has private financial interest clearly separate from that of the general public; the acceptance of gifts and other things of value; acting in a private capacity on matters dealt with as a public official; the use of confidential information; and appearances by City officials before other City agencies on behalf of private interest. This ordinance shall provide for reasonable public disclosure of finances by officials with major decision-making authority over monetary expenditures and, insofar as permissible under State law, shall provide for fines and imprisonment for violations.
(b) Board of Ethics. The City Council shall, by ordinance, establish an independent Board of Ethics to administer and enforce the conflict of interest and financial disclosure ordinances. No member of the Board may hold elective or appointed office under the City or any other government or hold any political party office. Insofar as possible under State law, the City Council shall authorize the Board to issue binding advisory opinions, conduct investigations on its own initiative and, on referral or complaint, refer cases for prosecution, impose administrative fines, and hire independent counsel. The City Council shall appropriate sufficient funds to the Board of Ethics to enable it to perform the duties assigned to it.
(a) Activities Prohibited.
(1) No person shall be appointed to or removed from, or in any way favored or discriminated against with respect to any City position or appointive City administrative office because of race, gender, age, handicap, religion, country of origin or political affiliation.
(2) No person shall willfully make any false statement, certificate, mark, rating or report in regard to any test, certification or appointment under the provisions of this Charter or the rules and regulations made hereunder, or in any manner commit or attempt to commit any fraud preventing the impartial execution of such provisions, rules and regulations.
(3) No person who seeks appointment or promotion with respect to any City position or appointive City administrative office shall directly or indirectly give, render or pay any money, service or other valuable thing to any person for or in connection with his or her test, appointment, proposed appointment, promotion or proposed promotion.
(4) No person shall knowingly or willingly solicit or assist in soliciting any assessment, subscription or contribution for any political party or political purpose to be used in conjunction with any City election from any City employee.
(5) No City employee shall knowingly or willfully make, solicit or receive any contribution to the campaign funds of any political party or committee to be used in a City election or to campaign funds to be used in support of or opposition to any candidate for election to City office or City ballot issue. Further, no City employee shall knowingly and willfully participate in any aspect of any political campaign on behalf of or opposition to any candidate for City office. This section shall not be construed to limit any person's right to exercise rights as a citizen to express opinions or to cast a vote, nor shall it be construed to prohibit any person from active participation in political campaigns at any other level of government.
(b) Penalties. Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be ineligible for a period of five years following such conviction to hold any City office or position and, if an officer or employee of the City, shall immediately forfeit his or her office or position. The City Council shall establish by ordinance such further penalties as it may deem appropriate.