The general public has a right to have Council members free from pre-hearing or ex parte contacts on matters heard by them. EX PARTE CONTACT means one side only. An EX PARTE CONTACT is a conversation or communication concerning the merits of a development proposal. It is also recognized that a countervailing public right is free access to public officials on any matter. Therefore, Council members shall reveal any significant pre-hearing or ex parte contacts with regard to any matter as early as possible under the circumstances in the hearing on the matter. If such contacts have impaired the Council members’ impartiality or ability to vote on the matter, the Council member shall so state and shall abstain from participating in any Council action on the item under consideration.
(Prior Code, § 1.05.215) (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)