(A) (1) The Council has the inherent right to make and enforce its own rules and to ensure compliance with those laws generally applicable to public bodies.
(2) Should any Council member act in any manner constituting a substantial violation of these rules or other general laws, the Council, acting as a whole, may discipline that Council member to the extent provided by law, including public reprimand.
(B) To exercise such inherent right, the Council has the right to investigate the actions of any member of the Council. Such investigation shall be referred to the Council upon a finding that a reasonable ground exists that a substantial violation has occurred.
(C) The Council shall investigate the actions in executive session. No Council member shall have the right to make public any information obtained through such investigation.
(D) (1) Any member accused of a substantial violation of Council rules, or any other general law, shall have the right to present a defense to the allegations, including the right to present rebuttal evidence, and to have representation by legal counsel.
(2) Upon finding, by a moral certainty, that a substantial violation has occurred, and that such violation affects the Council member’s ability to represent the interests of the city as a whole, the Council may, upon unanimous vote of Council members, other than the Council member subject to censure proceedings, impose a proper sanction.
(Prior Code, § 1.05.185) (Ord. 264, passed 7-6-1999; Ord. 298, passed - -; Ord. 299, passed 10-21-2002; Ord. 305, passed 3-17-2003; Ord. 362, passed 6-18-2007; Ord. 386, passed 3-1-2010; Ord. 396, passed 10-3-2011; Ord. 412, passed 2-4-2013)