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Human Resources Manager Lasher noted the Bloomington policy contains a conflict of interest <br />section from the employee's perspective. <br />Mayor Strommen stated the "fuzzy" conflicts also need to be addressed and a process determined <br />in how to disclose that conflict and put it on the table. She asked staff to find out if City <br />Attorney Goodrich knows of other policies addressing that issue. <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated the attorney deals with the law but the Council may want to <br />deviate into the ethics area so the City Attorney may not be as much help to craft the process <br />rules. <br />Mayor Strommen stated she is surprised that other cities have not tackled the process for "fuzzy" <br />conflicts of interest. <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated staff will conduct further research to find other examples. <br />Councilmember Tossey stated there may not be other examples because it is already defined in <br />Statute. He asked whether a former Council had established a Code of Conflict that was not part <br />of the Charter and had no "teeth." He stated he wants something that has authority because <br />otherwise it means nothing. <br />Councilmember LeTourneau stated a new Council may see things differently so such a policy <br />may not live beyond the current membership. <br />Councilmember Tossey agreed they are self - regulated rules but when a new Council is seated, he <br />wants the new Council to hold to the same rules and ethics. That is why he wants it put into the <br />Charter, so it has some "teeth" for enforcement. <br />Councilmember LeTourneau stated if the document has enough significance to have cultural <br />significance, then it will become part of the DNA of this organization. <br />Councilmember Backous stated he is skeptical whether the Charter Commission can draft a <br />document that covers all situations because of the wide variety that can arise. But, he thinks it is <br />worthwhile for the Charter Commission to discuss it. <br />Mayor Strommen suggested staff ask whether the League and/or State has any other policy <br />language, and schedule this discussion for a future Council Work Session with the <br />documentation provided in advance so the Council has time to review the language and <br />determine if it supports the concepts. <br />Councilmember Backous stated he would like a Charter Commission review before too much <br />work is done on the front end. He stated the Council is trying to take the Statute conflict of <br />interest laws and make it more restrictive; however, everyone has different ethics and the only <br />way to make it enforceable is to have the Charter Commission review it. He agreed that in the <br />City Council Work Session / June 4, 2013 <br />Page 16 of 22 <br />