A. The city expects all city officials to serve the public with equality, honesty, and transparency, and to take actions that the official believes best serve the public and city. The public has a right to conscientious, loyal, faithful, and unbiased service by its officials, performed free of deceit, undue influence, conflict of interest, self-enrichment, self-dealing, concealment, bribery, fraud, and corruption.

B. The city has an obligation to the public and city officials to establish standards of ethical conduct; promote ethics education for all city officials; provide clear guidance to city officials of the ethical procedures and standards of the city; recommend procedures that promote ethical behavior and hold city officials responsible and accountable for their behavior; and promote procedures that protect city officials, employees, and members of the public from harassment or retribution should they raise concerns about activities that do not appear to be in line with ethical behavior.

C. Any effort to benefit a substantial financial interest through official action is a violation of the public trust. The city finds that, so long as it does not interfere with the full and faithful discharge of a city official’s public duties and responsibilities, this code of ethics does not prevent an official from following other independent pursuits. The city further recognizes that: