(A) (1) An City official or employee shall disqualify himself from participating in any official act directly affecting a business in which he or she has a financial interest. No employee or official shall acquire a financial interest at a time when he or she believes or has reason to believe that it will be directly affected by his or her official act.
(2) (a) Every City official or employee who has a financial interest which he or she believes or has reason to believe may be affected by an official act taken within the scope of his or her employment shall disclose the precise nature and value of the interest.
(b) The disclosure shall be made in writing to the City Clerk at the time the conflict occurs and an updated report filed during the month of January every year thereafter while the affected financial interest continues.
(c) Additionally, it shall be the duty of a City official or employee to inform the City Clerk of such a financial interest at the time he or she acquires it. The information on the disclosure, except for the valuations attributed to the reported interests, shall be made available by the City Clerk to any citizen for inspection; provided, however, that, no disclosure shall be made until it is approved by the City Solicitor or his or her staff; and further provided that, the valuations shall be confidential.
(d) The filing of disclosures pursuant to this section is a condition of entering upon and continuing in City employment or official capacity.
(3) The City shall not enter into any contract with a business in which an City official or employee has a controlling interest, involving services or property of a value in excess of $1,000, unless the contract is made after public notice and competitive bidding.
(4) Any purchase order or contract entered into by the City with a business in which an City official or employee of the City has a controlling interest is void if the City official or employee failed to comply with the provisions of this section prior to the City entering into the contract or purchase order.
(1995 Code, § 2.52.130)
(B) (1) A City official or employee may not participate in a vote or decision on a matter affecting a person, entity or property in which the official or employee has a substantial interest; in addition, a City official or employee who serves as a corporate officer or member of the board of directors of a non-profit entity may not participate in a vote or decision regarding funding or action by or through the City of the entity. Where the interest of a City official or employee in any subject matter of a vote or decision is remote or incidental, the City official or employee may participate in the vote or decision.
(2) For the purpose of this division (B), the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST. The disclosure by any City official or employee. DISCLOSURE OF A REMOTE INTEREST OR AN INCIDENTAL INTEREST is not required, but the disclosure shall not bar that City official or employee from participating in a vote or decision, if in fact the interest is remote or incidental.
INCIDENTAL INTEREST. An interest in a person, entity or property which is not a substantial interest and which has insignificant value.
REMOTE INTEREST.
1. An interest of a person or entity, including a City official or employee, who would be affected in the same way as the general public.
2. The interest of a commission member in the property tax rate, general City fees, City utility charges or a comprehensive zoning ordinance or similar decisions is remote to the extent that the commission member would be affected in common with the general public.
(1995 Code, § 2.52.140)