(a) 
General rule.
To avoid the appearance and risk of impropriety, an official or employee shall not take any official action that he or she knows is likely to affect substantially the economic interests of:
(1) 
The official or employee;
(2) 
His or her parent, child, spouse, or other family member within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity;
(3) 
His or her outside client;
(4) 
A member of his or her household;
(5) 
The outside employer of the official or employee or of his or her parent, child, or spouse;
(6) 
A business entity in which the official or employee knows that any person listed in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) holds an economic interest;
(7) 
A business entity or nonprofit entity for which the city official or employee serves as an officer or director or in any other policy-making position; or
(8) 
A person or business entity:
(A) 
From whom, within the past twelve months, the official or employee, or his or her spouse, directly or indirectly has (i) solicited, (ii) received and not rejected, or (iii) accepted an offer of employment; or
(B) 
With whom the official or employee, or his or her spouse, directly or indirectly, is engaged in negotiations pertaining to business opportunities.
(b) 
Recusal and disclosure.
(1) 
A city official or employee whose conduct would otherwise violate subsection (a) must recuse himself or herself. From the time that the conflict is or should have been recognized, he or she shall:
(A) 
Immediately refrain from further participation in the matter, including discussions with any persons likely to consider the matter; and
(B) 
Promptly file with the city secretary the appropriate form for disclosing the nature and extent of the prohibited conduct.
(2) 
A department director or assistant city manager shall promptly bring the conflict to the attention of the city manager, who will then, if necessary, reassign responsibility for handling the matter to another person.
(3) 
The city manager shall promptly bring the conflict to the attention of the mayor.
(Ordinance 898-05-08 adopted 5/21/08; 2009 Code, sec. 1.04.071)
(a) 
General rule.
A city official or employee may not use his or her official position to unfairly advance or impede private interests, or to grant or secure, or attempt to grant or secure, for any person (including himself or herself) any form of special consideration, treatment, exemption, or advantage beyond that which is lawfully available to other persons.
(b) 
Special rules.
The following special rules apply in addition to the general rule:
(1) 
Acquisition of interest in impending matters.
An official or employee shall not acquire an interest in, or affected by, any contract, transaction, zoning decision, or other matter, if the official or employee knows, or has reason to know, that the interest will be directly or indirectly affected by impending official action by the city.
(2) 
Reciprocal favors.
An official or employee may not enter into an agreement or understanding with any other person [if] that official action by the official or employee will be rewarded or reciprocated by the other person, directly or indirectly.
(3) 
Appointment of relatives.
An official or employee shall not appoint or employ or vote to appoint or employ any relative within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to any office or position of employment within the city.
(4) 
Supervision of relatives.
No official or employee shall be permitted to be the immediate supervisor of a relative within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity. Department heads are responsible for enforcing this policy. If an employee, by reason of marriage, promotion, reorganization, or otherwise, is placed into an immediate supervisory relationship with a relative, one of the employees will be reassigned or other appropriate arrangements will be made for supervision.
(c) 
Recusal and disclosure.
A city official or employee whose conduct would otherwise violate subsection (b)(3) shall adhere to the recusal and disclosure provisions.
(Ordinance 898-05-08 adopted 5/21/08; 2009 Code, sec. 1.04.072)
(a) 
General rule.
A city official or employee shall not solicit, accept, or agree to accept any gift or benefit:
(1) 
That reasonably tends to influence or reward official conduct; or
(2) 
That the official or employee knows or should know might reasonably be perceived as tending to influence or reward the discharge of official duties.
(b) 
Special applications.
Subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) do not include:
(1) 
A gift to an official or employee relating to a special occasion, such as a wedding, anniversary, graduation, birth, illness, death, or holiday, provided that the value of the gift is fairly commensurate with the occasion and the relationship between the donor and recipient;
(2) 
Reimbursement of reasonable expenses for travel authorized in accordance with city policies;
(3) 
A public award or reward for meritorious service or professional achievement, provided that the award or reward is reasonable in light of the occasion;
(4) 
A scholarship or fellowship awarded on the same terms and based on the same criteria that are applied to other applicants; or
(5) 
Admission to an event in which the official or employee is participating in connection with official duties.
(c) 
Campaign contribution exception.
The general rule stated in subsection (a) does not apply to a campaign contribution made pursuant to the Texas Election Code.
(d) 
Gifts to closely related persons.
A city official or employee shall take reasonable steps to persuade a parent, spouse, child, or other relative within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity not to solicit, accept, or agree to accept any gift or benefit that reasonably tends to influence or reward the city official’s or employee’s official conduct, or that the official or employee knows or should know might reasonably be perceived as tending to influence or reward the city official’s or employee’s discharge of official duties.
(Ordinance 898-05-08 adopted 5/21/08; 2009 Code, sec. 1.04.073)
(a) 
Improper access.
A city official or employee shall not use his or her position to secure official information about any person or entity for any purpose other than the performance of official responsibilities.
(b) 
Improper disclosure or use.
A city official or employee shall not intentionally or knowingly disclose any confidential information gained by reason of said official’s or employee’s position concerning the property, operations, policies or affairs of the city. This rule does not prohibit:
(1) 
Any disclosure that is no longer confidential by law; or
(2) 
The confidential reporting of illegal or unethical conduct to authorities designated by law.
(Ordinance 898-05-08 adopted 5/21/08; 2009 Code, sec. 1.04.074)
Representation before the city. A city official or employee shall not represent for compensation any person, group, or entity, other than himself or herself, or his or her spouse or minor children, before the city. For purposes of this section, the term “compensation” means money or any other thing of value that is received, or is to be received, in return for or in connection with such representation.
(Ordinance 898-05-08 adopted 5/21/08; 2009 Code, sec. 1.04.075)
(a) 
General rule.
An elected city official or employee shall not solicit, accept, or engage in concurrent outside employment which could reasonably be expected to impair independence of judgment in, or faithful performance of, official duties.
(b) 
Special application.
The following special rule applies in addition to the general rule: An elected official or employee shall not provide services to an outside employer related to the official’s or employee’s city duties.
(Ordinance 898-05-08 adopted 5/21/08; 2009 Code, sec. 1.04.076)
A city official or employee shall not use, request, or permit the use of city facilities, personnel, equipment, or supplies for private purposes (including political purposes), except: pursuant to duly adopted city policies, to the extent and according to the terms that those resources are lawfully available to the public or in accordance with state law.
(Ordinance 898-05-08 adopted 5/21/08; 2009 Code, sec. 1.04.077)
(a) 
Violations by other persons.
A city official or employee shall not knowingly assist or induce, or attempt to assist or induce, any person to violate any provision in this code of ethics.
(b) 
Using others to engage in forbidden conduct.
A city official or employee shall not violate the provisions of this code of ethics through the acts of another.
(Ordinance 898-05-08 adopted 5/21/08; 2009 Code, sec. 1.04.078)
This code of ethics is cumulative of and supplemental to applicable state and federal laws, the city charter and city ordinances. Compliance with the provisions of this code shall not excuse or relieve any person from any obligation imposed by state and federal laws, the city charter and city ordinances regarding ethics, or any other issue addressed herein. Specifically, provisions in the city charter addressing prohibitions and conduct by city officials and employees must still be adhered to even if not addressed in this code. Even if a city official or employee is not prohibited from taking official action by this code of ethics, action may be prohibited by duly promulgated personnel rules, which may be more stringent.
(Ordinance 898-05-08 adopted 5/21/08; 2009 Code, sec. 1.04.079)