Advisory opinions may be requested by any city council member who seeks the board of ethics' opinion to guide his or her own conduct. Only a city council member may request an advisory opinion from the board of ethics about his or her own conduct or activities, provided that the request is made prior to the filing of a complaint as outlined in this chapter. Candidates for a city office can seek advisory opinions from the board of ethics about his or her own conduct or activities. A request for an advisory opinion may include a request to review the council member's own conduct that has already occurred, and has not yet been the subject of a complaint to the board or a report to the fraud coordination committee. The "self-reporting" on past incidents shall not act as a bar against possible sanctions for that conduct, but may be considered in mitigation of any possible penalties otherwise imposed.
(1992 Code, § 12.5-34) (Ord. 24-09, passed 3-16-2009; Ord. 57-12, passed 8-7-2012; Ord. 116-23, passed 12-5-2023)