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OR 2014-1370 Code of Conduct AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS ORDINANCE NO. 2014-1370 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE 1-13, CODE OF CONDUCT, SECTION 1-13-4, STANDARDS OF CONDUCT-OFFICERS BY AMENDING SUBSECTION 1-13-4 (C) AND SUBSECTION 1/13-5 (E) TO PROVIDE FOR PROHIBITION OF REPRESENTATION BEFORE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND CITY COUNCIL OR FORMER OFFICERS; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF JANUARY 1, 2015. WHEREAS, the City Council has adopted a Code of Conduct for city council member and other officers of the City as defined by the ordinance; and WHEREAS, the City Council is of the opinion that former council members, boards and commission members and other officers of the City, as defined by the ordinance, should not appear before the board of which it has served or any other boards and commissions on behalf of the private interest of other person(s) in order to avoid any and all appearances of impropriety; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that prohibiting such former council members and boards and commission members from representation of others before any committees, commissions, boards and/or city council is in the best interest of fair and open government; and WHEREAS, the City Council hereby determines that it is in the best interest of the city government to amend Chapter 1, Article 1-13, Sections 1-13-4 (C) and 1-13-5 (E). NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS: SECTION 1. That Chapter 1, Article 1-13, Code of Conduct, Section 1-13-4 (C) is hereby amended to read as follows: “ARTICLE 1-13 CODE OF CONDUCT ….. TM 64262 Sec. 1-13-4 STANDARDS OF CONDUCT-OFFICERS . . . . . C. Advocate, or appear on behalf of the private interest of others, during their term of office or for a twelve (12) months following expiration, dismissal or resignationbefore the board, commission or committee of which the officer is a member, or before the City Council or any other board or agency of the City. …..” SECTION2. That Chapter 1, Article 1-13, Code of Conduct, Section 1-13-5 (E) is hereby amended to read as follows: “ARTICLE 1-13 CODE OF CONDUCT ….. Sec. 1-13-5 ADDITIONAL STANDARDS OF CONDUCT-COUNCILMEMBERS ….. E. No City Councilmember shall act as an advocate, or appear on behalf of, private interest of others during their term of office or for a twelve (12) months following the expiration, dismissal or resignation from office before any agency of the City, or any City board, commission or committee, nor shall such person be an advocate or appear on behalf of any private interest of others in any action or proceeding involving the City, nor voluntarily participate on behalf of others in any litigation to which the City might be a party. …..” SECTION 3. That the provisions of this ordinance shall only apply to the terms which begin after the effective date of this ordinance. SECTION 4. That all provisions of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Coppell, Texas, in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be, and the same are hereby, repealed, and all other provisions not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect. 2 TM 64262 SECTION 5. That should any word, phrase, paragraph, section or phrase of this ordinance or of the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, be 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 unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, and shall not affect the validity of the Code of Ordinances as a whole. SECTION 6. An offense committed before the effective date of this ordinance is governed by prior law and the provisions of the Code of Ordinances, as amended, in effect when the offense was committed and the former law is continued in effect for this purpose. SECTION 7. That any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions or terms of this ordinance or of the Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction in the Municipal Court of the City of Coppell, Texas, shall be subjected to a fine not to exceed the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each offense; and each and every day such violation is continued shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense. SECTION 8. That this ordinance shall take effect after its passage on January 1, 2015 and the publication of the caption, as the law and charter in such cases provide. DULY PASSED by the City Council of the City of Coppell, Texas, this the 0.6 day of 2014. AP I ROVE►. REN SELBO HUN MAYOR T: , • HRISTEL PETT' OS, CITY CCRETARY APPROVED AS TO FORM: 3 TM 64262 40 // z. ROBERT E. HAG", CITY ATTORNEY • 4 TM 64262