Agenda - Council Work Session - 11/28/2023

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The purpose of this Policy is to inform City elected officials, appointed commission members, and staff of the City's broad definition of Conflicts and to establish procedures to follow to declare and monitor conflicts as they arise. The City Council requires each elected official, appointed commission members and staff member to be advised of this Policy, and each of said persons are to be provided a copy of this Policy, immediately upon assuming their City's duties or relationship. All individuals subject to this Policy are responsible for knowing and observing the Policy. This Policy recognizes that a conflict of interest may exist, from a practical perspective, whenever the personal or professional interests of an elected official, appointed commissioner or staff member are potentially at odds with City's interest(s). Since the City Council is responsible for ensuring that the organization's management serves the City's best interests, over and above the interests of any insider, this Policy broadly defines potential conflicts of interest to include all instances when a person within the organization may be able to exert his or her authority, influence, or bias on any issue in which he or she may have divided allegiances. The City Council recognizes that conflicts may exist not only when an individual has a financial interest in a transaction, but also when his or her nonfinancial interests are involved. In all cases, the City Council is committed to ensuring that whenever a dual interest between an individual's personal, business, organizational or professional affiliations and the position and interests of the City exists, disclosure of such conflict is given and the resulting decision-making is fairly and appropriately managed. Furthermore, this Policy's procedures apply not only when an actual conflict is demonstrated, but also when the interests or concerns of another party to which one has allegiance may reasonably be seen as competing with City's interests or concerns. The decision of the City Council to effect a level of higher scrutiny and procedures when an elected official, appointed commissioner, or staff member of the City appears to have a conflict acknowledges the public's increasing sensitivity to self-dealing and/or lax management by elected officials, appointed commissioners, and staff. The three types (or"Tiers") of conflicts defined in the Policy are not mutually exclusive. An interest that qualifies as a conflict of interest under one Tier may be a conflict of interest under either of the other Tiers as well, depending on the specific facts. Conflict of Interest and Divided Allegiances,Definitions Tier I -- Direct conflict: A direct conflict exists whenever there is any proposed transaction or action of the City in which an elected official, appointed commissioner, or staff member has any direct involvement or interest. Direct conflict of interest occurs when a decision or action would compromise a duty to a party without taking immediate appropriate action to eliminate the conflict. These transactions are subject to the highest scrutiny. Tier 2 -- Indirect conflict: An elected official, appointed commissioner or staff member has an indirect involvement or interest in a proposed transaction or action of the City whenever: a) Any other party to the transaction or party affected by the action is a"family member" (i.e., a relative) of the elected official, appointed commissioner, or staff member, or, there is a relationship, affiliation, or other interest that could create an inappropriate influence if the person is called on the make a decision or recommendation that would affect one or more of those relationships, affiliation, or interests. b) Any other party to the transaction or party affected by the action is an entity in which the elected official, appointed commissioner or staff member has a material financial interest, 491Page