It is hereby declared to be the policy of the city that the proper operation of government requires that public officials and employees be independent, impartial and responsible to the people of the city; that governmental decisions and policy should be made in the proper channels of the governmental structure; that no official or member of any board, commission or committee should have any financial or other interest, direct or indirect, or engage in any business transaction or professional activity, or incur any obligation of any nature which is in conflict with the proper discharge of his duties in the public interest; that no city official should render any decisions on behalf of the city and the public based on undue influence or favoritism toward any person, entity or professional organization that the city official may be affiliated with; that public office and public employment are positions of public trust imposing the duty of a fiduciary upon all city officials, who are not to use their public position for personal gain or for the benefit of any person, entity or professional organization with whom the city official is affiliated; and that the public should have confidence in the integrity of its government. To implement such a policy the city council deems it advisable to enact this policy for city officials to serve not only as a guide for official conduct of the city officials but also as a basis for discipline for those who refuse to abide by its terms. This policy shall be cumulative of other ordinances, city charter provisions and state statutes defining and prohibiting conflicts of interest.
(Ordinance 970 adopted 8/9/11; 2004 Code, sec. 9.701; Ordinance 1234 adopted 6/21/22)
As used in this article, the following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed to them below:
City board.
The city council and any board, commission, committee or other body created by the city council pursuant to federal or state law or city ordinance, including boards that may be advisory-only in nature.
City official.
The following persons: Any member of the city council, the planning and zoning commission, the board of adjustment, and any member of a board, commission or committee established by ordinance, charter or state law and appointed by the city council. References to the city council or council member in this article shall include the mayor.
Entity.
A sole proprietorship, partnership, firm, corporation (including nonprofit corporations), holding company, joint-stock company, receivership, trust, unincorporated association, or any other entity recognized by law.
(Ordinance 970 adopted 8/9/11; 2004 Code, sec. 9.702; Ordinance 1234 adopted 6/21/22)
(a) 
A city official shall disclose the existence of any substantial interest in an entity or real property involved in any decision pending before such official or the body of which he or she is a member. To comply with this subsection a city official shall, prior to any discussion or determination of the matter, either file an affidavit of disclosure as required by chapter 171 of the Texas Local Government Code or, if not so required by chapter 171, shall publicly disclose in the official records of the body or with the city manager or his/her designee the nature of the interest, and shall abstain from further discussion and voting on the matter. The conflicts disclosure statement shall be filed with the city manager or his/her designee prior to the official or body of which he or she is a member considering any matter involving the real property of the entity in which the city official has substantial interest. Nothing in this article shall be construed to alleviate any duty or action required by a city official under chapter 171 of the Texas Local Government Code.
(b) 
For purposes of this article, a person has a substantial interest in an entity if:
(1) 
The person owns 10 percent or more of the voting stock or shares of the entity or owns either 10 percent or more or $15,000.00 or more of the fair market value of the business entity;
(2) 
Funds received by the person from the entity exceed 10 percent of the person’s gross income for the previous year;
(3) 
The person serves on the board of directors or other governing body of the entity.
(c) 
For purposes of this article, a person does not have a substantial interest in an entity if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) 
The person holds a position as a member of the board of directors or other governing board of an entity;
(2) 
The person has been appointed by the city council to serve on such board;
(3) 
The person receives no remuneration, either directly or indirectly, for his or her service on such board; and
(4) 
The primary nature of the business entity is governmental.
(d) 
A person has a substantial interest in real property if the interest is an equitable or legal ownership with a fair market value of $2,500.00 or more.
(e) 
A city official is considered to have a substantial interest under this section if a person related to the official in the first degree by consanguinity or affinity, as determined under chapter 573, Government Code, has a substantial interest under this section.
(Ordinance 970 adopted 8/9/11; 2004 Code, sec. 9.703; Ordinance adopting 2021 Code; Ordinance 1234 adopted 6/21/22)
(a) 
No city official, or their spouses, shall knowingly:
(1) 
Accept or solicit any gift, favor, service or thing of value, including a promise of future employment, from any person, group or business entity that might reasonably tend to influence him or her in the discharge of his or her official duties. This prohibition shall not apply to:
(A) 
An occasional unsolicited non-pecuniary gift, insignificant in value;
(B) 
An award publicly presented in recognition of public service; or
(C) 
Any gift which would have been offered or given to him if he or she were not a city official, or their spouses.
(2) 
Grant in the discharge of his or her official duties any improper favor, service or thing of value to any person, group or business entity.
(3) 
Disclose any confidential information gained by reason of the position of the city official concerning the property, operations, policies or affairs of the city, or use such confidential information to advance any personal interest, financial or otherwise, of such city official or others. This subsection shall not preclude disclosure of such confidential information in connection with any investigation or proceeding regarding whether there has been a violation of the standards of conduct set forth in this article.
(4) 
Use one’s position or office of employment or city facilities, personnel, equipment or supplies to secure special privileges or exemptions for oneself or others or for the private gain of the city official or spouse.
(5) 
Engage in any exchange, purchase or sale of property, goods or services with the city, except:
(A) 
Rendering services to the city as city official;
(B) 
Paying taxes, fines, utility service or filing fees;
(C) 
City board members who are not otherwise officers or employees of the city may engage in any exchange, purchase or sale of property, goods or services with the city, or enter into a contract with the city, provided that the board on which they are a member has no advisory function or cognizance, direct or indirect, present or prospective, with respect to the transaction in which such city board member engages or proposes to engage.
(6) 
Hold himself or herself out as representing the city in any capacity other than that for which he or she was appointed, elected or hired.
(7) 
Engage in or accept private employment or render a service when such employment or service is incompatible with the proper discharge of his or her official duties or would tend to impair his or her independent judgment in the performance of his or her official duties.
(8) 
Make or permit the unauthorized use of city-owned vehicles, equipment, materials or property.
(9) 
Grant any special consideration, treatment or advantage to any citizen beyond that which is available to every other citizen.
(10) 
Transact any business in his or her official capacity with the city with a business entity in which he or she has a substantial interest.
(11) 
Engage in any dishonest or criminal act or any other conduct prejudicial to the government of the city or that reflects discredit upon the government of the city.
(12) 
Knowingly perform or refuse to perform any act in order to deliberately thwart the execution of city ordinances, rules or regulations or the achievement of official city programs.
(b) 
No city official shall knowingly represent, directly or indirectly, any person, group or business entity:
(1) 
Before the city council or any department, agency, board or commission of the city;
(2) 
In any action or proceeding against the interests of the city or in any litigation in which the city or any department, agency, board or commission thereof is a party; or
(3) 
In any action or proceeding in the municipal courts of the city which was instituted by a city officer or employee in the course of his or her official duties, or a criminal proceeding in which any city officer or employee is a material witness for the prosecution.
(c) 
No city official shall knowingly represent, directly or indirectly, any person, group or business entity:
(1) 
Before the city council or the board or commission of which he or she is a member;
(2) 
Before a board or commission which has appellate jurisdiction over the board or commission of which he or she is a member;
(3) 
In any action or proceeding against the interests of the city or in any litigation in which the city or any department, agency, board or commission thereof is a party; or
(4) 
In any action or proceeding in the municipal courts of the city which was instituted by a city officer or employee in the course of his or her official duties, or a criminal proceeding in which any city officer or employee is a material witness for the prosecution.
(d) 
The restrictions in this section do not prohibit a city official (other than city council), or his or her spouse, appearing before the city council or a city department, agency, board or commission to represent himself or herself in a matter affecting his or her property; provided, however, that no such person, or his or her spouse, shall appear before the board or commission of which he or she is a member.
(e) 
The restrictions in this section do not apply to business associates of city officials, but only personally to the city officials themselves.
(Ordinance 1234 adopted 6/21/22)
(a) 
Any person who has information that indicates a city official may have violated the provisions of this article may provide that information to any member of the city council or the city manager or his/her designee in writing. Upon receiving a written complaint, the city council, at its next regularly scheduled meeting, shall consider whether the individual against whom a complaint has been made has violated this article. The city council may hear testimony and consider evidence on the matter. The city council shall make a finding by majority vote whether the city official has violated this article; provided that the member accused of the violation shall not vote on any matter involving that member. If no violation is found to have occurred, the city council may issue a statement finding the complaint is totally without merit, brought for the purpose of harassment, or brought in bad faith.
(b) 
Except where otherwise provided by state law, it is not the intent for violations of this article to be subject to criminal penalties. If the city council determines that a city official has violated this article, the city council may take one of the following actions:
(1) 
Admonition.
A verbal nonpublic statement made by the mayor to the city official. An admonition is appropriate when the violation is minor or may have been unintentional.
(2) 
Reprimand.
Administered to the city official by letter. The letter shall be prepared by the mayor, unless the mayor is accused of the violation, in which case the mayor pro tem shall prepare the letter. A reprimand is appropriate when a violation has been made knowingly and intentionally.
(3) 
Censure.
A written statement administered personally to the city official at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the city council. The censure shall be administered by the mayor, unless the mayor is accused of the violation, in which case the mayor pro tem shall administer the censure. The censure shall be given publicly and the city official shall not make any statement in support of or in opposition thereto. A censure shall be administered at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the city council, regardless of whether the city official appears as required.
(4) 
Other sanctions.
Any sanction imposed under this section is in addition to and not in lieu of any other penalty, sanction, or remedy which may be imposed or sought under state law or charter provisions.
(Ordinance 1234 adopted 6/21/22)
(a) 
City officials shall at all times treat each other and staff with respect and dignity.
(b) 
The mayor shall preserve order and decorum of city council meetings. The presiding officer shall preserve order and decorum of meetings of all other city boards.
(c) 
City officials shall listen courteously and attentively to all public discussions before the city board. City officials shall refrain from interrupting other speakers, making personal comments not germane to the public business before them and posted on the agenda, or otherwise interfering with the orderly conduct of meetings.
(d) 
During meetings of a city board, all city officials shall refrain from abusive conduct, shouting, argumentative/aggressive behavior, or verbal attacks upon other board members, council members, city staff members, or members of the general public.
(e) 
If any provision of this section is violated during a meeting of a city board, including a city council meeting, the mayor or the presiding officer shall first request that the city official who is breaching the standards of conduct cease the disruptive conduct.
(f) 
If, after receiving a warning from the mayor or the presiding officer, the city official persists in disturbing any city board meeting, the mayor or the presiding officer shall order the person to leave the meeting. If such person does not remove himself, the mayor or the presiding officer shall order any law enforcement officer who is on duty to remove that person from the meeting room.
(Ordinance 970 adopted 8/9/11; 2004 Code, sec. 9.704; Ordinance 1234 adopted 6/21/22)
The city secretary shall cause a copy of this article to be distributed to and signed for by every city official within 30 days after enactment of this article. Each city official thereafter elected or appointed shall be furnished and sign for a copy before entering upon the duties of his or her office.
(Ordinance 1234 adopted 6/21/22)