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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 06_Amending the Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected an Appointed City Council MembersCITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA RESOLUTION 2024-06 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, AMENDING THE CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT FOR ELECTED AND APPOINTED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHEREAS, the City Council desires to amend the Code of Ethics and Conduct governing members of the Owasso City Council. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, that the Code of Ethics and Conduct be amended to read as follows: OWASSO CITY COUNCIL CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT Compliance with all Laws City Council members shall comply with the laws of the United States, the State of Oklahoma, and the City of Owasso in the performance of their public duties. Such laws include but are not limited to: the United States and State of Oklahoma Constitutions, the City of Owasso Charter, laws pertaining to conflicts of interest, election campaigns, financial disclosures, open meeting law, open records law, the City of Owasso Code of Ordinances and all policies adopted by the City Council. Integrity and Accuracy City Council members are expected to perform their duties with uncompromising integrity. No member of the City Council shall under any circumstances make a statement for any purpose that is known by the member to be inaccurate or intended to be misleading. Conduct of Members It is acceptable and expected that City Council members may disagree about issues brought before the Council. However, it is not acceptable for any City Council member to make derogatory comments and gestures about other Council members, their opinions, or their actions. City Council members shall refrain from exhibiting abusive conduct, personal allegations, or verbal attacks upon the character or motives of other members of the City Council, members of City boards or commissions, the staff, and the public. City Council members shall, to the best of their ability, serve the citizens of the City of Owasso conscientiously and with honesty and impartiality. City Council members shall seek to perform their duties with diligence, efficiency, and courtesy. Members of the City Council shall each make impartial decisions based upon consideration and analysis of the facts, circumstances, merits, and laws of each case without taking into account unrelated considerations. Electronic Devices During Meetings In the spirit of the Open Meeting Act and in furtherance of the City Council's commitment to conducting government business with as much order and transparency as possible, councilors shall conduct themselves during official meetings with attentiveness and without outside distraction. While it is a common and acceptable practice for council members to use an electronic device like an iPad, Notepad, or similar to follow council meeting agendas in place of a paper copy, excessive use of cell phones or any other electronic device for talking, texting, email or otherwise communicating electronically during council meetings is, except for emergencies, prohibited. Page 1 of 4 Resolution 2024-06 It is the City Council's intent to prohibit electronic communications between members of the Council and other persons during City Council meetings. Prohibiting communications of this type enables the Council to operate with maximum transparency and allows the Council to avoid any appearance or perception of engaging in discussions or deliberations not open to the public during City Council meetings. Respect for Process City Council members shall perform their duties with the processes and rules of order established by the City Council. Upon a "Call to Order" of the City Council meeting, Councilors will respect that a meeting is in progress and recognize that it is inappropriate to temporarily exit the meeting unless a recess or adjournment has been called by the mayor. While a meeting is in progress, Council members should refrain from having "side bar" conversations with each other or with city staff. Public Meetings City Council members have the right to personally endorse candidates for all City Council seats and other elected offices. However, it is inappropriate to mention endorsements during City Council meetings or other official City meetings or hearings. City Council members shall prepare themselves for discussions of public issues brought before the City Council. City Council members shall listen courteously and attentively to all discussion and comment on the issue by the public, City staff, and other City Council members. City Council members shall refrain from interrupting other speakers unless compelled to do so to ensure compliance with City Council policies or processes for public meetings and shall additionally refrain from interfering with the orderly conduct of City Council meetings. Impartiality All City Council meetings and hearings shall be conducted fairly and impartially. City Council members shall not show favoritism in carrying out the City's business. The receipt of campaign contributions shall not in any circumstance constitute a basis for preferential treatment. Conflict of Interest Any member of the City Council who has a conflict of interest, financial or otherwise, in any matter brought before the City Council for consideration or action shall declare and disclose the conflict of interest to the City Council and shall not participate in discussion or voting on the matter. A conflict of interest involves any action, inaction, or decision by a city councilor in the discharge of his or her official duties which would materially affect his or her financial interest or those of his or her family members or any business with which the councilor is associated or has an ownership interest. The minutes of a meeting wherein a declaration of a conflict was made shall not record a vote on behalf of a City Council member who leaves the room during discussion and voting upon the issue. The minutes of such meeting shall, however, record a "no" vote if the City Council member remains in the room and abstains from voting, such recordation being in accordance with Oklahoma State Law and the Owasso Code of Ordinances. Gifts and Favors City Council members shall not directly or indirectly solicit, receive or accept any gift if 1) a reasonable inference could be drawn that the gift was intended to influence them in the performance of their official duties, or, 2) the gift is intended to serve as a reward or in appreciation of any official action taken by the City Council member. City Council members shall not solicit or accept any gifts, favors, or promises of future benefits which might compromise the independent judgment and action. City Council members shall not take special advantage of services or Page 2 of 4 Resolution 2024-06 opportunities for personal gain, by virtue of their public offices that are not available to the public in general. Political Fundraising Activities No City Council member shall use his or her position, authority or influence, whether actually possessed or anticipated, to interfere with or affect the results of an election or to obtain a political or other type of contribution. City Council members shall not use or attempt to use any political endorsement in connection with any appointment to any City board or commission. These rules are not intended to preclude City Council members from political fundraising activities, but to ensure that these activities are undertaken only at private initiative and expense in their role as private citizens and thus do not reflect upon the official activities of the City. Confidential Information City Council members shall respect and preserve the confidentiality of information concerning the property, personnel, or affairs of the City. City Council members shall neither disclose confidential information without proper legal authorization nor use such information in any way to advance or further their personal, financial, or private gain. Confidential Information shall not include any information that is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of disclosure by Recipient, which is disclosed by any third -party not known by Recipient, and who Recipient has no reason to believe to be under any contractual or fiduciary obligation not to disclose such information; was in the Recipient's possession prior to disclosure, or is independently developed by the Recipient. Advocacy City Council members shall represent the official policies or positions of the City Council to the best of their ability when designated as delegates or representatives of the City. When a City Council member is not acting in their official capacity as city councilor or as a delegate or representative of the City, their comments, discussions, and opinions do not represent the City of Owasso or the City Council and councilors should refrain from representing or implying anything to the contrary. Policy Role of City Council Members City Council members shall respect and adhere to the Council -Manager form of municipal government implemented in the City of Owasso through its charter and as outlined in Title 11 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The Council -Manager form of government provides for the City Council to determine all matters of policy for the City of Owasso. Additionally, the Council -Manager form of municipal government provides that the City Manager shall be responsible for all day-to-day operations of the City. Accordingly, City Council members shall not interfere with or impair the ability of the City Manager and other City staff to determine and Implement day-to-day operational matters. Implementation of Code of Ethics and Conduct This Code of Ethics and Conduct is intended to be self -enforcing by members of the City Council. City Council members shall be thoroughly familiar with this Code and shall make every reasonable effort to adhere to its provisions. The Code of Ethics and Conduct shall be included in the orientation training for newly elected City Council members. All City Council members shall sign a statement affirming they have read and understand the City of Owasso Code of Ethics and Conduct. Page 3 of 4 Resolution 2024-06 Censure Any member accused of a substantial violation of Council rules, or any other general law, shall have the right to present a defense to the allegations, including the right to present rebuttal evidence, and to have representation by legal counsel. Upon finding, by a moral certainty, that a substantial violation has occurred, and that such violation affects the Council member's ability to represent the interests of the city as a whole, the Council may, upon unanimous vote of Council members, other than the Council member subject to censure proceedings, impose a proper sanction. APPROVED this th day of September, 2024. YoAlvin Fruga, Mayo M. SteveKs, City APPR ED AS TO F RM: Juli ombardi, City Attorney Page 4 of 4 Resolution 2024-06 Column OFFICIAL AD PROOF This is the proof of your ad scheduled to run in Owasso Reporter on the dates indicated below. If changes are needed, please contact us prior to deadline at help@column.us Notice ID: 9PSCpU8miVjSXuUIDZiE I Proof Updated: Jul. 11,2024 at 01:01pm CDT Notice Name: Public Notice I Publisher ID: 111740 See Proof on Next Page This is not an invoice. Below is an estimated price,and it is subject to change.You will receive an invoice with the final price upon invoice creation by the publisher. FILER FILING FOR CITY OF OWASSO Stevens Owasso Reporter jstevens@cityofowasso.com (918)376-1577 Columns Wide: 2 Ad Class: Legals 07/17/2024: Legal Notice Notice 98.57 Total $98.57 Public Notice - Page 1 of 2 Published in the Owasso Reporter Owasso,Tulsa County,Oklahoma, July 1�,2024 NOTICE OF VACANCY OWASSO CITY COUNCIL The City of Owasso will receive"letters of interest'from citizens interested in filling the vacated Ward 1 City Council seat. Only qualified electors of the City of Owasso who reside in Ward 1 shall be considered. Upon appointment,such Councilor shall continue to reside within Ward 1 during the entire term of said Councilor's office,or,forfeit such office.For a general description of the Ward 1 boundaries,see the map below,or for a specific legal description visit www.cityofowasso.com or contact the City Clerk's office at 918-376-1502. Beginning Monday,July 22,2024,at 7:30 am,envelopes marked"letter of interest"can be mailed or delivered to the Owasso City Clerk.No letter will be accepted after 11:30 am on Friday,August 2,2024. Cittyy of Owasso 200 South Main Street Owasso,Oklahoma 74055 ATTENTION:City Clerk Letters of Interest shall contain information indicating the address,contact information,and voting precinct of the interested citizen. Additional infor- mation can be included,provided that such submittal shall not exceed ten total pages of standard 8% x 11"paper. The Owasso City Council anticipates action to fill the Ward 1 vacancy no later than August 30,2024.Upon appointment by the Council,the person selected shall immediately be administered the Oath of Office and seated as a member of the City Council. This appointment shall be until a Coun- cilmember is elected and swom into office to serve the remaining two years of the three-year term,ending in 2027. Owasso City Council Ward t _ r, r 71 ? 7�I E 1/6M Cound Ward 1d li E MAI, -..: LPXLP Public Notice - Page 2 of 2