For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
ABUSE. Behavior involving the use of City funds or property in an excessive or improper manner which a prudent person would not consider a reasonable and necessary business practice given the facts and circumstances. Abuse is the intentional destruction, diversion, manipulation, misapplication, maltreatment, or misuse of City resources. To abuse power is to use authority in an extravagant or coercive manner; to employ it contrary to the law of its use; to leverage authority for personal gain; or to otherwise use it improperly and to excess.
FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY. Includes payment for services not performed or for goods not delivered; falsification, or alteration of documents; improprieties/misrepresentation in the handling or reporting of money or financial transactions; theft, misappropriation, misapplication, destruction, removal, or concealment of City property.
GROSS MISMANAGEMENT. A continuous pattern of managerial abuses, wrongful or arbitrary and capricious actions, or fraudulent or criminal conduct which may have a substantial adverse economic impact.
GROSS WASTE OF PUBLIC FUNDS. An unnecessary or unauthorized expenditure of a substantial amount of money or a series of unnecessary or unauthorized expenditures of smaller amounts of money cumulatively amounting to a substantial amount of money.
(Ord. 2021-30, passed 5-20-21)