Code of Ethics / Code of Conduct

City Council directed staff to develop a Code of Conduct and a Code of Ethics to provide enforceable guidelines that further the public's trust in democratic government and uphold the public interest. The new Code of Ethics / Code of Conduct (PDF) policy was adopted in 2014 and since been updated, most notably to allow a less-formal process that allows amicable parties to resolve a complaint prior to an investigation or a hearing. 

  1. Substantive changes
  2. Board of ethics
  3. To file a complaint

1. Section 2-208(a)(5) was amended to include a process that would allow the subject of the complaint to submit, in writing to the Board of Ethics, a response to the alleged violation of the Codes.

2. Section 2-208(a)(6) allows the Board of Ethics to consider public records of the event where the alleged misconduct occurred as well as the written response from the subject of the complaint to provide context for their initial screening process, to be conducted in an executive session.

3. Section 2-208(a)(6) allows the Board of Ethics to recommend the parties pursue an alternative process for informally resolving the conflict. As part of this process, at the Board's discretion, the Board may request that the parties participate in an executive session.

4. Section 2-208(a) (8) was revised to include an intermediary process that would allow the parties to participate in mediation as a method for resolving the conflict. The costs of such mediation would be to be split between the two parties.

5. Section 2-208(a) (10) which outlines the hearing procedures, was revised to simplify the process and make it easier for a member of the public to be represented pro se. The intent of this revision is to simplify the hearing process ensuring that any party may represent themselves at the hearing, or they may be represented by an attorney or any person of their choice other than a City Official.

6. The policy language was streamlined throughout Section 2-208, to eliminate references to "inquiry or complaint" and replace these references with "complaint". This change was made as an effort to clarify and distinguish the concepts of a citizen inquiry (which is not permitted under the current policy), a formal complaint regarding an alleged violation, and an advisory opinion.

7. Additional edits and changes were made as an effort to clean-up, clarify, and streamline the policy.