A. The purpose of the code of ethics is to assist City officials in establishing guidelines to govern their own conduct as it relates to official City business. The code is also intended to help develop traditions of responsible public service. This Code of Ethics shall apply to all members of the City Council, Planning Commission, and other City Boards and Commissions (hereinafter collectively "Representatives"). Representatives shall be deemed to have violated this Code of Ethics if he or she:
1. Receives or has any financial interest in any sale to or by the City of any service or property when such financial interest was received with the prior knowledge that the City intended to purchase such property or obtain such service;
2. Accepts or seeks for others any service, information or thing of value on more favorable terms than those granted to the public generally, from any person, firm or corporation having dealings with the City;
3. Accepts any gift or favor from any person, firm or corporation having any dealings with the City if he or she knows or has reason to know that it was intended to obtain special consideration;
4. Influences the selection of or the conduct of business with a corporation, person or firm having business with the City if he or she personally or through household relatives has financial interest in or with the corporation, person or firm;
5. Is an employee, officer, partner, director or consultant of any corporation, firm or person having business with the City, unless he or she has disclosed such relationship as provided by this chapter; provided, that nothing herein shall be deemed to apply to consultants who render professional advice to corporations, firms or persons on matters unrelated to the business with the City. This provision shall not apply if the official or employee disqualifies himself or herself from all participation in the City business with the corporation, firm or person;
6. Engages in or accepts private employment or renders services for private industry when such employment or service is incompatible with the proper discharge of his or her official duties, would impair his or her independence of judgment or action in the performance of his or her official duties, or would require or induce him or her to disclose confidential information acquired by reason of his or her official position;
7. Appears on behalf of a private interest before any regulatory governmental agency against the interest of the City, or represents a private interest in any action or proceeding against the interest of the City in any litigation to which the City is a party, unless he or she has a personal interest and this personal interest has been disclosed to the regulatory governmental agency. A City Councilmember may appear before regulatory governmental agencies on behalf of constituents in the course of his or her duties as a representative of the electorate or in the performance of public or civic obligations; however, no Representative shall accept a retainer or compensation that is contingent upon a specific action by a City agency;
8. Directly or indirectly possess a substantial or controlling interest in any business entity which conducts business or contracts with the City, or in the sale of real estate, materials, supplies or services to the City, without disclosing such interest as provided by this chapter. An interest is not a substantial interest if such interest does not exceed one-tenth of one percent of the outstanding securities of the business concern; or, if the interest is an unincorporated business concern, one percent of the net worth of such concern, or the financial interest of a corporation, person or firm does not exceed five percent (5%) of the net worth of the employee and his or her household relatives;
9. As a City Councilmember, has a financial or other private interest in any legislation or other matters coming before the council and fails to disclose such an interest on the records of the City Council. This provision shall not apply if the City Councilmember disqualifies himself or herself from voting by stating the nature and extent of such interest. Any other official or employee who has a financial or other private interest, and who participates in discussion with or gives an official opinion to the City Council and fails to disclose on the records of the City Council the nature and extent of such interest is in violation of this chapter;
10. Violates any ordinance or resolution of the City;
11. Discloses confidential information gained by reason of his or her official position or otherwise uses such information for his or her personal gain or benefit;
12. Makes any false statement or representation of any public record or document in a willful disregard of the truth of such statement or representation;
13. Request or permit the use of City-owned vehicles, equipment, materials or property for personal convenience, improper purposes, or profit, except when such services are available to the public generally or are provided as City policy for the use of such official in the conduct of official business;
14. Grants any special consideration, treatment or advantage beyond that which is available to every other citizen in similar circumstances;
16. Violates any provision of Chapter 42.20 or 42.23 RCW;
17. Violates the appearance of fairness doctrine in Chapter 42.36 RCW. (Ord. 234, 12-20-2016; amd. Ord. 234A, 2-22-2021)