HomeMy WebLinkAbout033309 ORD - 02/27/2024Ordinance amending Sections 2-312, 2-326, 2-340, 2-342, and 2-349 of the
Code of Ordinances of the City of Corpus Christi, Texas to update
definitions and language for clarity, duties of the Ethics Commission,
disclosure of interests for contractors, and eliminate the use of short
form annual reports.
WHEREAS, the City's Code of Ethics requires the Ethics Commission to review the
City's Code of Ethics annually and make recommendations to City Council for any
necessary changes, and the Ethics Commission reviewed has recommended changes to
the City's Code of Ethics;
N OW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, THAT
S ECTION 1. Section 2-312 of the City Code is amended to add the following
definition for "City Official":
"City Official. The mayor; members of the city council, municipal court judges and
magistrates; city manager; deputy city managers assistant city managers'
assistants to the city manager; city secretary; deputy city secretary; assistant to the
city secretary; municipal court clerk, deputy court clerks; all department heads and
assistant department heads; internal auditor and all assistant internal auditors;
assistant to mayor; executive secretaries; and members of all boards, commissions
(except the youth commission whose members are minors), committees, and other
bodies created by the city council pursuant to federal or state law or city ordinance,
including entities that may be advisory only in nature, who are appointed by the
mayor the c ty council, or who are designated in the by-laws or organization papers
of the entity to serve on behalf of the city; and board members of any entity who
are appointed by the mayor city council to such board membership. This list is
updated and posted to the City's website annually by the city manager."
S ECTION 2. Subsection 2-326(a)(2) of Section 2-326 of the City Code is amended
to read as follows:
"Subsection. 2-326(a)(2): Prepare and publish pamphlcts electronic information
online and other materials explaining the duties of individuals subject to the Code
of Ethics. Such materials shall include instructions to the public about how to obtain
information such as financial disclosures, campaign reports, and the like from the
city.
S ECTION 3. Subsection 2-326(a)(3) of Section 2-326 of the City Code is amended
to read as follows:
"Subsection 2-326(a)(3): Review all financial disclosure reports which are filed with
the city pursuant to this article. If the commission identifies a possible conflict of
interest or needs further disclosure from its review of the financial disclosure report
the commission shall notify the filing official to request additional information
regarding the possible conflict of interest. The Ethics Commission will,provide a
definitive deadline, not to exceed 60 days from the date of request, for the filing
official to respond."
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S ECTION 4. Subsection 2-326(a)(6) of Section 2-326 of the City Code is repealed
as follows:
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purposes of this provision, a general election and run off election shall be
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S ECTION 5. Section 2-340 of Section 2-340 of the City Code is hereby amended
to read as follows:
"Section 2-340: On or before the last Friday of March of each year, reporting
officials shall file with the City Secretary an annual report of financial information
covering January 1 through December 31st of the previous year. Council members
and Planning Commission members shall also file with the city secretary a
supplemental report of financial information by the last Friday of each year covering
the most recent January 1 through June 30. Those reporting officials who have no
changes to report since their most recent complete report may, in lieu of filing a
complete report file a
have filed a complete financial disclosure form within the previous five (5) years.
Each reporting official shall utilize a form provided by the city secretary, which shall
be signed and submitted in hard copy, or submitted electronically, as may be
provided for by the city."
S ECTION 6. Subsection 2-342(k) of Section 2-342 of the City Code is amended
to read as follows:
"Section 2-342(k): The names and addresses of all any persons from whom the
reporting official received gifts or favors, including but not limited to trips,
excursions, food, lodging, money, commodities or services, cumulatively exceeding
$200.00 in value. The nature and date of each gift received shall be specified.
Provided, however, campaign contributions reported as required by state law and
gifts or favors from relatives need not be reported hereunder."
S ECTION 7. Subsection 2-349(b) of Section 2-349 of the City Code is amended
to read as follows:
"Subsection 2-349(b): In the case of any business desiring to sell goods or services
to the city (except when the value of the goods or services is not reasonably
anticipated to exceed $100.00 per calendar year) but which does not require city
council, board, commission or committee consideration or action, the business shall
file with the city's purchasing agent a statement specifically naming any city
employee, official and board member having any ownership into best interest in the
business constituting 3% or more of the ownership, or having any pecuniary interest
in the transaction. This provision does not apply to or include the purchase of
magazine subscriptions and memberships in professional or trade organizations
related to municipal operations."
S ECTION 8. Subsection 2-349(d) of Section 2-349 of the City Code is amended
to read as follows:
"Subsection 2-349(d): If a person who requests official action on a matter knows
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that the requested action will confer an economic benefit on any city official or
employee that is distinguishable from the effect that the action will have on
members of the public in general or a substantial segment thereof, he or she shall
disclose that fact in a signed writing to the city official, employee or body that has
been requested to act in the matter., unless the interest of the city official or
employee in the matter is apparent. The disclosure shall also be made in a signed
writing filed with the city secretary."
S ECTION 9. All provisions of the ordinances of the City of Corpus Christi in conflict
with the provisions of this ordinance be, and the same are hereby, repealed, and all other
provisions of the ordinances of the City of Corpus Christi not in conflict with the provisions
of this Ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.
S ECTION 10. Should any sentence, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase or
section of this ordinance be adjudged or held to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, the
same shall not affect the validity of this ordinance as a whole, or any part or provision
thereof other than the part so decided to be invalid, illegal or unconstitutional, and shall
not affect the validity of the Code of Ordinances as a whole.
S ECTION 11. This ordinance shall become effective upon final approval by the
City Council, signature by the Mayor and publication of the caption of the ordinance in
accordance with the law.
Introduced and voted on the -nal' day ofRICA&o'--t/ , 2024.
ASS and APPROVED on the ariTh day of Eqe)
ATTEST:
Paulette Guajardo, May
_,t61/44s,
, 2024.
Re:ecca Huerta, City Secretary
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