Title
Consider/Discuss/Acton on an Ordinance Adopting a City Council Ethics Policy as Developed by the Ad-Hoc Committee on City Council Ethics Policy
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Operational Excellence
(2D: Continuously Review and Update McKinney Ethics Policies for the City Council and Staff)
MEETING DATE: August 21, 2018
DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office
CONTACT: City Attorney’s Office; Trevor Minyard, Assistant to the City Manager
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• N/A
ITEM SUMMARY:
• At the request of the City Council, an ad hoc committee of council members, citizens, and various staff have developed a draft City Council Ethics Policy for consideration and discussion.
• Based on the direction and comments of the City Council at the July 16, 2018 Work Session, the City Attorney’s Office revised various sections of the attached City Council Ethics Policy were appropriate.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• In February of 2017, former Mayor Brian Loughmiller presented an item requesting the review of a City Council Ethics Policy.
• In July of 2017, Mayor Pro Tem (then Councilwoman) Tracy Rath and Mayor George Fuller brought back the Ethics Policy discussion to the newly seated City Council. It was decided that an ad hoc committee would be formed to assist in drafting, reviewing, and submitting a Draft Ethics Policy back to the full City Council.
• In August of 2017, the initial meeting of the ad hoc committee met. Members, Ex Officio Members, and Staff represented were; Mayor George Fuller, Mayor Pro Tem (then Councilwoman) Tracy Rath, Pastor Leroy Armstrong, Mrs. Carolyn Corbin, Mr. Lewis McLain, City Manager Paul Grimes, City Secretary Sandy Hart, the City Attorney’s Office, and Assistant to the City Manager Trevor Minyard.
• Throughout 2017 and into the first six months of 2018, the ad hoc committee met frequently and worked to draft an Ethics Policy for the City Council. The committee took components from various City Council Ethics Policies in other cities within the state of Texas. Examples of these cities include, but are not limited to; the City of Richardson, the City of Fort Worth, the City of College Station, and the City of Sugarland.
• Additional components of the Draft Ethics Policy have been derived from industry research and state law. Examples of such information includes, but is not limited to; National League of Cities’ research, Texas’ Whistleblower Policy, and Ch. 176 of the Texas Local Government Code.
• After multiple meetings of the ad hoc committee, independent work from various members of the ad hoc committee, reviews from the City Attorney’s Office, and a final review from the ad hoc committee, the Draft City Council Ethics Policy is being presented for discussion.
• On July 16, 2018 the City Council was presented the Draft City Council Ethics Policy by the City Attorney’s Office and various City staff members.
• At the July 16, 2018 City Council Work Session, comments were provided to the City Attorney’s Office by members of the City Council regarding proposed revisions to the Draft City Council Ethics Policy. Suggested revisions have been implemented to the City Council Ethics Policy attached were appropriate.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• N/A
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• N/A