No officer, official, or employee of the city shall:
(A) Accept any gift or economic benefit of more than $20 in value from any person or entity which gift or economic benefit might reasonably tend to influence the officer, official, or employee in the discharge of official duties, or grant in the discharge of official duties any improper gift, economic benefit, service, or thing of value; however, the provisions of this section shall not apply to any political contribution made pursuant to the Texas Election Code;
(B) Use his or her official position to solicit or secure special privileges or exemptions for himself or herself or others;
(C) Directly or indirectly disclose or use any information gained solely by reason of his or her official position or employment for his or her own personal gain or benefit or for the private interest of others;
(D) Transact any business on behalf of the city in his or her official capacity with any business entity of which he or she is an officer, agent, or member or in which he or she owns a substantial interest. If such a circumstance should arise, then in the case of any officer or official, he or she shall make known the interest and abstain from voting on the matter, or in the case of any employee, he or she shall turn the matter over to his or her supervisor for reassignment, state the reasons for doing so, and have nothing further to do with the matter involved;
(E) Engage in any outside activities which will conflict with his or her assigned duties in the employment of the city, or which has employment with the city which will give him or her an advantage over others engaged in a similar business, vocation, or activity;
(F) Accept other employment or engage in outside activities incompatible with the full and proper discharge of his or her duties and responsibilities with the city, or which might impair his or her independent judgment in the performance of his or her public duties;
(G) Receive any fee or compensation for his or her services as an officer, official, or employee of the city from any source other than the city, except as may otherwise be provided by law. This shall not prohibit an officer, official, or employee from performing the same or other services that he or she performs for the city for a private organization if there is no conflict with his or her city duties and responsibilities;
(H) Represent, directly or indirectly, or appear on behalf of the private interests of others before any agency, board, commission, authority, or committee of the city, or accept any retainer or compensation that is contingent upon a specific action being taken by the city or any of its agencies, boards, commissions, authorities, or committees, unless the officer, official, or employee of the city has made full disclosure of the representation, retainer, or compensation. For purposes of this division (H), the term
FULL DISCLOSURE shall mean:
(1) The filing of an affidavit with the City Secretary describing the representation, retainer, or compensation;
(2) Disclosure, either orally or in writing, to the other members of the city agency, board, commission, authority, or committee;
(3) Refraining from any other discussion of the matter with other members of the city agency, board, commission, authority, or committee; and
(4) Refraining from voting on or participating in the consideration of the matter by the city agency, board, commission, authority, or committee.
(I) Use the prestige of his or her position on behalf of any political party or engage in any political activity which does not maintain the nonpartisan policy of the city; provided, however, that all employees are encouraged to register and vote as they may choose in all local, state, and national elections;
(J) Knowingly perform or refuse to perform any act in order to deliberately hinder the execution and implementation of any city ordinances, rules, or regulations or the achievement of official city programs;
(K) Have a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in any contract with the city or a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in the sale of the city of any land, or rights or interest in any land, materials, supplies, or service;
(L) Participate in a vote or decision on any matter in which the officer, official, or employee has a direct or indirect substantial interest or in which a relative of the officer, official, or employee has a director or indirect substantial interest;
(M) Grant any special consideration, treatment, or advantage to any individual, business organization, or group beyond that which is normally available to every other individual, business organization, or group. This shall not prevent the granting of fringe benefits to city employees as an element of their employment or as an added incentive to the securing or retention of employees; or
(N) Knowingly disclose information deemed confidential by law.
(Ord. 07-0116, passed - -) Penalty, see § 34.99