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an individual is acting or making an official decision as a Council member, as a member of a Council advisory committee, or as a member of the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission. Members of the Council, the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, and Council advisory committees frequently are selected because the members represent specific business, professional, governmental, and other interests. Members of the Council, the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, and Council advisory committees have outside employment or personal interests and can continue to engage in private employment or pursue personal activities. A potential conflict of interest does not exist unless the private employment or personal activities are associated in some manner with business before the Council or the commission or are related to or will be affected by a particular action or decision of the Council or the commission. Although the statutory conflict of interest provisions generally do not restrict a public or local official from engaging in outside activities, other statutory law or common law principles might limit a public or local official's ability to engage in outside employment or pursue personal interests. For example, the "incompatibility of office" doctrine generally prohibits simultaneous service on the Council and another governmental body whose activities may be affected by Council action or subject to Council review. Conflict of interest is distinguishable from incompatibility of office. A conflict of interest exists if a public or local official must participate in an official action or decision which has a substantial effect on the official's personal or business - related financial interests. Two public offices are incompatible when the functions of the public offices are inconsistent and the incumbent of the two offices cannot faithfully perform the duties of either office because the performance of the duties of either office results in a conflict of duty with respect to the performance of the other public office.' c. A potential conflict of interest exists when a public or local official is discharging official duties and must take "an action or make a decision." The Council and the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission do not always take an action or make a decision when the Council or the commission discharge their responsibilities as metropolitan governmental units. Business items or public issues sometimes are addressed by the commission or the Council and its standing committees on a discussion -only basis; the discussions are preliminary to formal actions or final decisions. Although Chapter 10A refers to circumstances under which an official must "take an action or make a decision," Council members and members of the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission who would have a conflict of interest if the business items or policy issues were before the Council or commission for action or decision should disclose the potential conflict of interest and refrain from further participation in the matter, particularly when the preliminary discussions are detailed and formulate the bases upon which future final actions or decisions are made. 21 Even if no actual conflict of interest exists under Chapter 10A because no final action or decision will be made, the appearance of a conflict of interest may exist. Council advisory committees only make recommendations to the Council. However, even if no actual conflict of interest exists under Chapter 10A the appearance of a conflict may exist, particularly if the Council has a practice of deferring to an advisory committee's expertise and generally accepts and adopts the advisory committee's recommendations. n d. A potential conflict of interest exists when the action or decision in which the o is participating will "substantially affect" the official's personal or business - related financial interests. According to Chapter 10A, a potential conflict of interest exists when an action or decision would "substantially affect" an official's personal "financial interests" or substantially affect the financial interests of an "associated business." 23 The current administrative rules of the Ethical Practices