Ethics Tenet 10
Oppose efforts to interfere with professional responsibilities by consistently executing official duties, policies, and processes with an unwavering commitment to unbiased public service.
Guidelines
Information Sharing and Feedback. The member should collaborate with the governing body to establish clear communication protocols for effective, equitable, and transparent information sharing and reciprocal feedback.
Personnel and Operational Matters. The member shall lead personnel and operating decisions consistent with responsibilities established in the charter or enabling legislation without interference from the governing body.
Case Study
In response to public criticism regarding the heights of buildings being approved for development within the city, the City Council directed the City Manager to plan an interactive planning session, led by a professional facilitator, to gather public input on this issue. After staff designed the workshop and reported back to the Council on the details, several Council members criticized staff’s recommendations regarding a number of details about the workshop, including the choice of facilitator, the inclusion of property owners and developers in addition to residents, and the format of the workshop. Individual Council members approached the City Manager to impose their desires upon him for the session including setting the parameters, hiring the facilitator, establishing the input gathering process, and inviting the attendees.
