CHAPTER 6
CODE OF ETHICS
SECTION:
1-6-3: Statement Of Expense Of Candidate
1-6-5: Interest In Contracts Prohibited; Exceptions
1-6-6: Incompatible Service; Confidential Information
1-6-7: Personal Or Private Interests
1-6-8: False Charge Of Misconduct (Rep. by Ord. 5157)
1-6-1 DECLARATION OF PURPOSE:
It is hereby recognized and established that high moral and ethical standards among City officials are vital and essential to provide unbiased, open and honest conduct within all phases and levels of government; that a code of ethics is a helpful aid in guiding City officials and to eliminate actual conflicts of interest in public office and to improve and elevate standards of public service so as to promote and strengthen the confidence, faith and trust of the people of the City of Renton in their local government.
1-6-2 DEFINITIONS:
For the purpose of this Chapter:
CANDIDATE: Any individual who declares himself to be a candidate for an elective office and who, if elected thereto, would meet the definition of a public official hereinabove set forth.
COMPENSATION: Anything of economic value, however designated, which is paid, loaned, advanced, granted, transferred, or to be paid, loaned, advanced, granted or transferred for or in consideration of personal services to any person.
CONTRACT: Includes any contract or agreement, sale, lease, purchase, or any combination of the foregoing.
CONTRACTING PARTY: Any person, partnership, association, cooperative, corporation, whether for profit or otherwise or other business entity which is a party to a contract with a municipality.
PUBLIC OFFICIAL: All of the elected City officials, together with all appointed officers including their deputies and assistants of such an officer who determine or are authorized to determine policy making decisions within their respective department or office, including appointive members of all municipal boards, commissions and agencies and whose appointment has been made by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. (Ord. 2586, 9-28-70)
1-6-3 STATEMENT OF EXPENSE OF CANDIDATE:
Every candidate for election at a primary and/or general election within the City shall comply with RCW Chapter 42.17A, Public Disclosure Law. Campaign disclosure reports must be filed online with the Public Disclosure Commission at www.pdc.wa.gov in accordance with State law. (Ord. 4315, 6-10-91; Ord. 5802, 5-16-16)
1-6-4 ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS:
No public official shall receive, accept, take, seek, or solicit, directly or indirectly, anything of economic value as a gift, gratuity, or favor, from any person if such public official has reason to believe the donor would not grant or give such gift, gratuity, or favor, but for such public official’s office or position within the City of Renton.
No public official shall receive, accept, take, seek, or solicit, whether directly or indirectly, anything of economic value as a gift, gratuity, or favor, from any person or from any officer or director of such person if such public official has reason to believe such person:
A. Has, or is seeking to obtain contractual or other business or financial relationship with the City of Renton; or
B. Conducts operations or activities which are regulated by the City Council, its committees or any board or commission of the City of Renton; or
C. Has interests which may be substantially affected by such public official’s performance or nonperformance of his or her official duty.
1-6-5 INTEREST IN CONTRACTS PROHIBITED; EXCEPTIONS:
No public official shall be beneficially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract which may be made by, through, or under the supervision or direction of such public official, in whole or in substantial part, or which may be made for the benefit of his office, or accept, directly or indirectly, any compensation, gratuity or reward in connection with such contract from any other person beneficially interested therein. The foregoing shall not apply to the exceptions specified in RCW 42.23.030 which are incorporated herein as if fully set forth. Remote Interest: A public official shall not be deemed to be interested in a contract as specified in the immediately preceding paragraph if he has only a remote interest in the contract and if the fact and extent of such interest is disclosed to the governing body of the City of Renton of which he is a member and noted in the official minutes or similar records of the City prior to the consummation of the contract, and thereafter the governing body authorizes, approves or ratifies the contract in good faith by a vote of its membership sufficient for the purpose without counting the vote or votes of the public official having a remote interest therein.
As used in this Section “remote interest” means:
A. That of a nonsalaried officer of a nonprofit corporation;
B. That of an employee or agent of contracting party where the compensation of such employee or agent consists entirely of fixed wages or salary;
C. That of the landlord or tenant of a contracting party;
D. That of a holder of less than one percent (1%) of the shares of a corporation or cooperative which is a contracting party.
None of the provisions of this Section shall be applicable to any public official interested in a contract, though his interest be only remote as hereinabove defined, who influences or attempts to influence, any other public official of the City of which he is an officer to enter into such contract.
Any contract made in violation of the above provisions shall be void and as otherwise provided in RCW 42.23.050 and the provisions thereof being expressly incorporated herein as if fully set forth.
1-6-6 INCOMPATIBLE SERVICE; CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION:
No elected public official shall engage in or accept private employment or render services for any person or engage in any business or professional activity when such employment, service or activity is incompatible with the proper and faithful discharge of his official duties as such elected official, or when it would require or induce him to disclose confidential information acquired by him by reason of his official position. No such official shall disclose confidential information gained by reason of his official position, nor shall he otherwise use such information for his personal gain or benefit.
1-6-7 PERSONAL OR PRIVATE INTERESTS:
Every elected public official who has a financial or other private or personal interest in any ordinance, resolution, contract, proceeding, or other action pending before the City Council or any of its committees, shall promptly disclose such interest at the first public meeting when such matter is being considered by the City Council, on the records of the official Council minutes, the nature and extent of such personal or private interest and same shall be incorporated in the official minutes of the City Council proceedings. Such disclosure shall include, but not be limited to, the following information which shall be submitted in writing by such Councilman, sworn to under penalty of perjury, to-wit:
A. The name and address of any private business corporation, firm or enterprise affected by such councilmanic action of which the Councilman or other elected public official is or has been during the preceding twelve (12) months a shareholder, bond holder, secured creditor, partner, joint entrepreneur or sole proprietor, whenever the total value of his individual or undivided legal and equitable financial interest therein is and at any time during the preceding twelve (12) months has been in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00).
B. The name of any such private business or corporation, firm or enterprise of which such elected public official or his relatives are or have been during the preceding twelve (12) months as officer, director, partner, attorney, agent, or employee, who, for services rendered during such preceding twelve (12) months or to be rendered in any such capacity, has received or has been promised compensation in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00).
C. Every office or directorship held by such elected public official or his spouse in any corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or like business enterprise, which conducts its business activities within the boundaries of the Renton School District and which is subject to any regulation or control by the City of Renton, and from which such elected public official has received compensation or has been promised compensation during the preceding twelve (12) month period in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00), or services; or any other thing of value in excess of said amount.
D. A list containing a correct legal description of any and all real property located within the City limits of Renton in which any such elected public official has any interest whatsoever, as owner, purchaser, optionee, optionor, or any other proprietary interest, acquired during the preceding twelve (12) month period whenever such proprietary interest is in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00). This subsection shall not apply to the residence home of such official.
The foregoing provisions shall not apply to policies of life insurance issued to such public official or his spouse or members of his family, accounts in any commercial bank, savings and loan association or credit unions, or similar financial institutions subject to regulation by the State of Washington or any other governmental agency having jurisdiction thereover.
Any such elected public official who is disqualified by reason of such personal, private or similar conflict of interest in any matter as hereinabove defined, shall, after having made the required disclosure as herein set forth, remove himself from his customary seat during such debate and, by permission of the presiding officer, leave the Council chamber until such time as the matter at hand, from which such public official has been disqualified, has been disposed of in the regular course of business.
1-6-8 FALSE CHARGE OF MISCONDUCT:
(Rep. by Ord. 5157, 9-26-05)
1-6-9 PENALTY:
Any person who wilfully, knowingly and intentionally violates any provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and penalized in accordance with RMC 1-3-1. (Ord. 2586, 9-28-70; Ord. 5831, 1-23-17)