HomeMy WebLinkAboutREFERENCE MATERIAL - 8/17/2015- FORT COLLINS CHARTER PROVISION8/18/2015 Fort Collins, CO Municipal Code
about:blank 1/3
(a)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(1)
(2)
(3)
Section 9. - Conflicts of interest.
Definitions. For purposes of construction of this Section 9, the following words and phrases shall have
the following meanings:
Business means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise, association,
organization, self-employed individual, holding company, joint stock company, receivership, trust, activity
or entity.
Financial interest means any interest equated with money or its equivalent. Financial interest shall not
include:
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as an employee of a business, or as a holder
of an ownership interest in such business, in a decision of any public body, when the decision
financially benefits or otherwise affects such business but entails no foreseeable, measurable
financial benefit to the officer, employee or relative;
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as a nonsalaried officer or member of a
nonprofit corporation or association or of an educational, religious, charitable, fraternal or civic
organization in the holdings of such corporation, association or organization;
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as a recipient of public services when such
services are generally provided by the city on the same terms and conditions to all similarly
situated citizens, regardless of whether such recipient is an officer, employee or relative;
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as a recipient of a commercially reasonable
loan made in the ordinary course of business by a lending institution, in such lending institution;
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as a shareholder in a mutual or common
investment fund in the holdings of such fund unless the shareholder actively participates in the
management of such fund;
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as a policyholder in an insurance company, a
depositor in a duly established savings association or bank, or a similar interest-holder, unless
the discretionary act of such person, as an officer or employee, could immediately, definitely and
measurably affect the value of such policy, deposit or similar interest;
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as an owner of government-issued securities
unless the discretionary act of such owner, as an officer or employee, could immediately,
definitely and measurably affect the value of such securities; or
the interest that an officer or employee has in the compensation received from the city for
personal services provided to the city as an officer or employee.
Officer or employee means any person holding a position by election, appointment or employment in the
service of the city, whether part-time or full-time, including a member of any authority, board, committee
or commission of the city, other than an authority that is:
established under the provisions of the Colorado Revised Statutes;
governed by state statutory rules of ethical conduct; and
expressly exempted from the provisions of this Article by ordinance of the Council.
8/18/2015 Fort Collins, CO Municipal Code
about:blank 2/3
(1)
(2)
(3)
(b)
(1)
a.
b.
c.
(2)
(3)
(4)
Personal interest means any interest (other than a financial interest) by reason of which an officer or
employee, or a relative of such officer or employee, would, in the judgment of a reasonably prudent
person, realize or experience some direct and substantial benefit or detriment different in kind from that
experienced by the general public. Personal interest shall not include:.
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has as a member of a board, commission,
committee, or authority of another governmental entity or of a nonprofit corporation or
association or of an educational, religious, charitable, fraternal, or civic organization;
the interest that an officer, employee or relative has in the receipt of public services when such
services are generally provided by the city on the same terms and conditions to all similarly
situated citizens; or
the interest that an officer or employee has in the compensation, benefits, or terms and
conditions of his or her employment with the city.
Public body means the Council or any authority, board, committee, commission, service area, department
or office of the city.
Relative means the spouse or minor child of the officer or employee, any person claimed by the officer or
employee as a dependent for income tax purposes, or any person residing in and sharing with the officer
or employee the expenses of the household.
Rules of conduct concerning conflicts of interest.
Sales to the city. No officer or employee, or relative of such officer or employee, shall have a
financial interest in the sale to the city of any real or personal property, equipment, material,
supplies or services, except personal services provided to the city as an officer or employee, if:
such officer or employee is a member of the Council;
such officer or employee exercises, directly or indirectly, any decision-making authority
concerning such sale; or
in the case of services, such officer or employee exercises any supervisory authority over the
services to be rendered to the city.
Purchases from the city. No officer, employee or relative shall, directly or indirectly, purchase any
real or personal property from the city, except such property as is offered for sale at an
established price, and not by bid or auction, on the same terms and conditions as to all members
of the general public.
Interests in other decisions. Any officer or employee who has, or whose relative has, a financial or
personal interest in any decision of any public body of which he or she is a member or to which
he or she makes recommendations, shall, upon discovery thereof, disclose such interest in the
official records of the city in the manner prescribed in subsection (4) hereof, and shall refrain
from voting on, attempting to influence, or otherwise participating in such decision in any manner
as an officer or employee.
Disclosure procedure. If any officer or employee has any financial or personal interest requiring
disclosure under subsection (3) of this section, such person shall immediately upon discovery
thereof declare such interest by delivering a written statement to the City Clerk, with copies to the
City Manager and, if applicable, to the chairperson of the public body of which such person is a
member, which statement shall contain the name of the officer or employee, the office or
position held with the city by such person, and the nature of the interest. If said officer or
8/18/2015 Fort Collins, CO Municipal Code
about:blank 3/3
(5)
employee shall discover such financial or personal interest during the course of a meeting or in
such other circumstance as to render it practically impossible to deliver such written statement
prior to action upon the matter in question, said officer or employee shall immediately declare
such interest by giving oral notice to all present, including a description of the nature of the
interest.
Violations. Any contract made in violation of this Section shall be voidable by the city. If voided
within one (1) year of the date of execution thereof, the party obtaining payment by reason of
such contract shall, if required by the city, forthwith return to the city all or any designated
portion of the monies received by such individual from the city by reason of said contract,
together with interest at the lawful maximum rate for interest on judgments.
(Res. No. 71-12, 2-11-71, approved, election 4-6-71; Ord. No. 155, 1988, 12-20-88, approved, election 3-7-
89; Ord. No. 10, 1997, § 1, 2-4-97, approved, election 4-8-97; Ord. No. 22, 2001, § 2, 2-20-01, approved,
election 4-3-01)