§ 2.20.130. General requirements.

The following ethical standards are hereby established to govern the conduct of public officer[s], public appointees and city employees:

(1)

A public officer, public appointee or city employee shall not seek or accept any gift, service, favor, employment, engagement, emolument or economic opportunity which would tend improperly to influence a reasonable person in his or her position to depart from the faithful and impartial discharge of his public duties.

(2)

A public officer, public appointee or city employee shall not use his or her position in government to secure or grant unwarranted privileges, preferences, exemptions or advantages for him or herself, any family member, any business entity, or any other person.

(3)

A public officer, public appointee or city employee shall not participate as an agent of government in the negotiation or execution of a contract between the city and any person or business entity in which he or she has an interest.

(4)

A public officer, public appointee or city employee shall not accept any salary, retainer, gift, augmentation, expense allowance or other compensation from any private source for the performance of his or her public duties.

(5)

A public officer, public appointee or city employee acquires, through his or her public duties or relationships, any information which by law is not at the time available to people generally, he or she shall not use the information to further the interests of him or herself or any other person or business entity.

(6)

A public officer, public appointee or city employee shall not suppress any governmental report or other document because it might tend to affect unfavorably his or her interests.

(7)

A public officer, public appointee or city employee shall not use governmental time, property, equipment or other facility for a nongovernmental purpose or to benefit his or her interests. This subsection does not prohibit:

(a)

A limited use of governmental property, equipment or other facility for personal purpose if:

(1)

The public officer who is responsible for and has authority to authorize the use of such property, equipment or other facility has established a policy allowing the use or the use is necessary as a result of emergency circumstances;

(2)

The use does not interfere with the performance of his public duties;

(3)

The cost or value related to the use is nominal; and

(4)

The use does not create the appearance of impropriety.

(b)

The use of mailings lists, computer data or other information lawfully obtained from a governmental agency which is available to members of the general public for nongovernmental purposes; or

(c)

The use of telephones or other means of communication if there if not a special charge for that use.

If the city incurs a cost as a result of a use that is authorized pursuant to this subsection or would ordinarily charge a member of the general public for the use, the public officer or employee shall promptly reimburse the cost or pay the charge to the city.

(8)

A public officer or city employee shall not attempt to benefit his or her personal or financial interest through the influence of a subordinate.

(9)

A public officer, public appointee or city employee shall not seek other employment or contracts through the use of his or her official position.

(10)

A public officer, public appointee or city employee shall not receive or acquire an interest in or an interest affected by a contract, transaction, land use decision or other matter at a time when such person knows the interest will be directly affected by an official act or action of the city.

(Ord. No. 4506, § 1, 4-25-95; Ord. No. 4781, § 1, 8-26-97)