The following rules govern any challenges to the City Recorder’s or member of the City Council’s participation in the processing of any claim.
(A) Any factual information obtained by the City Recorder or a member of the City Council outside the information provided by city staff, or outside the formal written comments process or hearing will be deemed an ex parte contact. The City Recorder or a member of the City Council that has obtained any material factual information through an ex parte contact must declare the content of that contact, and allow any interested party to rebut the substance of that contact. This rule does not apply to contacts between city staff and the City Recorder or member of the City Council.
(B) Whenever the City Recorder or member of the City Council, or any member of their immediate family or household, has a direct financial interest in the outcome of a particular demand or lives within the area entitled to notice of the claim, the City Recorder or member of the City Council shall not participate in the deliberation or decision on that demand.
(C) All decisions on claims must be fair, impartial, and based on the applicable review standards and the evidence in the record. The City Recorder or a member of the City Council who is unable to render a decision on this basis must refrain from participating in the deliberation or decision on that claim.
(Ord. 08-255, passed 3-4-2008)