Ethics Advisory Opinion No. 43
April 26, 2000
Issued By: City Attorney’s Office
Whether the employer of a member of the San Antonio Local Development Company who is also a former member of the Citizen Advisory Action Board may submit a bid for the private process service contract with the San Antonio Police Department.
A member of the San Antonio Local Development Company who is also a former member of the Citizen Advisory Action Board has asked whether his employer may submit a bid for the private process service contract with the San Antonio Police Department. The following facts are presented:
The City of
The employer of a member of a City board is interested in submitting a bid for this contract. The member does not have a financial interest in the company seeking to submit its bid, but is an employee of the company. He is currently a member of the San Antonio Local Development Company (SALDC) and is a former member of the Citizen Action Advisory Board.
The SALDC is a
corporation comprised of 33 members. It
is responsible for, among other things, the issuance of Small Business
Administration 504 Loans. The Citizen
Action Advisory Board (CAAB) is comprised of six (6) members and is part of the
Police Chief’s Advisory Action Board. The CAAB presides
over disciplinary cases involving non-criminal investigations of misconduct by
police officers. The issue is whether,
under the City of
Part A, Section 2 of the Code[1] defines a City official to include members of the SALDC, and defines a former City official as one whose city duties terminate on or after January 1, 1999. As both a current and former city official, the individual is required to follow the applicable standards of conduct set forth in the Code.
Standards of Conduct
governing
Improper Economic Benefit. As a general rule, a City official may not take any official action that is likely to have an effect on his economic interest or the economic interest of his employer that is distinguishable from its effect on a substantial segment of the public. If such occurs, the City official is under a duty to recuse himself and disclose, in writing, to the City Clerk the economic benefit.
Given the facts above, it is unlikely that a matter regarding the contract would come before the SALDC. However, should it occur, the individual is required to disclose the potential conflict to the City Clerk and recuse himself from any further participation in the matter.
Unfair Advancement of Private Interests. Part B, Section 2 of the Code[2] prohibits all City officials from using their position “to unfairly advance or impede private interests, or to grant or secure, or attempt to grant or secure, for any person [ ] any form of special consideration, treatment, exemption, or advantage beyond that which is lawfully available to other persons.” Under this section, the individual may not use his position as a City official to advance the interests of his employer or give the impression of such. Failure to abide by this standard of conduct is a violation of the Ethics Code and subject to the penalties therein.
Representation of Private Interests. Part B, Section 5 of the Code[3] addresses representation of private interests and includes those issues brought forth by a member of a board before the City. Section 5(a) states:
“A city official . . . who is a member of a board . . . shall not represent any person, group or entity:
1. before that board or body;
2. before city staff having responsibility for making recommendation to, or taking any action on behalf of, that board or body, unless that board or body is only advisory in nature; or
3. before a board or other city body which has appellate jurisdiction over the board or body of which the city official or employee is a member, if any issue relates to the official’s or employee’s duties.”
Under section 5(a)[4], the individual may not represent his employer before the SALDC or before the City Council on a matter that relates to his board duties. The individual may, however, represent his employer before other boards and commissions and other city bodies if the issue does not relate to his duties on the SALDC.
Prohibited
Financial Interest in Contract. Part B,
Section 10[5] prohibits City officers from having a financial interest in a contract
with the City or its agencies. Under
this section, a City officer includes, among others, “members of any board or commission which is more than advisory
in function.” Because the
SALDC is advisory in nature, its members are
Standards of Conduct
for
Subsequent representation. Part C, Section 2(a) of the Code[6] prohibits a former City official from representing anyone for a period of two (2) years before the City board or commission on which he sat, before city staff providing support to said board or commission unless the board is advisory in nature, or before City Council if the issue relates to his former duties. It further prohibits a former City employee from implying that he is able to influence City action as a result of his former position.
Under the facts presented, the individual could not represent his employer before the CAAB or before the City Council on a matter relating to his former duties for two (2) years from the date his membership on the CAAB expired. He may, however, appear before City staff providing support to the CAAB, as the CAAB is advisory in nature. Should his employer be selected and should he be employed to provided the services under the contract, he may interact with city staff in the Police Department in providing these services.
Financial interest in Discretionary Contract or Sale. Part C, Section 3 of the Code[7] prohibits former City officials from having a financial interest in a contract with the City or its agencies, including SAWS. Under this section, a former City official is defined as any person who, prior to termination of official duties, was a member of a board or commission that is more than advisory in nature. Here again, the CAAB is an advisory board, and, therefore, the individual is not a former city officer as that term is defined for the purposes of this section. As such, it does not apply.
SUMMARY
The employer of a member of the San Antonio Local Development Corporation who is also a former member of the Citizen Advisory Action Board may submit a bid for the annual contract for private process service. The member should, however, remain cognizant of both the standards governing current city officials and former city officials, including, but not limited to, refraining from using his position with the City to acquire said contract.
[1] Currently codified in Ethics Code Section 2-42
[2] Currently codified in Ethics Code Section 2-44
[3] Currently codified in Ethics Code Section 2-47
[4] Currently codified in Ethics Code Section2-47(a)
[5] Currently codified in Ethics Code Section 2-52
[6] Currently codified in Ethics Code Section 2-56
[7] Currently codified in Ethics Code Section 2-57