SpecialMtg 2018-12-10 Item 2H - Ordinance - Creation of Ethics Officer Position

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AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2447 §5, AS CODIFIED IN TUKWILA MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 2.97, "CODE OF ETHICS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS," TO CREATE THE POSITION OF ETHICS OFFICER; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, State law prohibits certain conduct of City elected officials while serving the City; and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted a Code of Ethics for Elected Officials by Ordinance No. 2447 on August 4, 2014; and WHEREAS, the City desires to provide for uniform investigation and adjudication of ethics complaints; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to create the position of Ethics Officer to simplify the complaint process and to avoid undue waste caused by unnecessary investigations; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. TMC Section 2.97.040 Amended. Ordinance No. 2447 §5, as codified at Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) Section 2.97.040, "Board of Ethics," is hereby amended to read as follows: 2.97.040 Ethics Officer and Board of Ethics A. There is created a position of Ethics Officer. The purpose of the Ethics Officer is to review ethics complaints for an initial determination of sufficiency as described in TMC Section 2.97.050, before an investigation is initiated, and to provide advisory opinions for elected officials when requested. The City will contract with one or more qualified individuals or agencies to fill this position. To be qualified, the Ethics Officer must have prior experience working as a hearing examiner for Washington State municipalities or as a licensed attorney in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association. The W: Word Processing\Ordinances\Code of Ethics -Elected Officials amended strike-thru 10-16-18 LH:bjs Page 1 of 5 49