(a) The city shall conduct its businesses, operations and services in accordance with the law and the highest standards of business practices and ethics. The city is committed to complete honesty, utmost integrity, fair dealing and ethical behavior as the basis of its businesses, operations and services to the community.

(b) It is the intent of the city that its elected officials adhere to the highest levels of ethical conduct so that the public will have the confidence that persons who are in positions of public responsibility act for the benefit of the public. Elected officials should comply with the letter and spirit of this ethics code as well as strive to avoid situations which may create impropriety or the appearance of impropriety.

(c) It is the intent of the City to establish and enforce a policy which ensures that its elected officials are independent, impartial and responsible to the citizens they serve and represent. Elected officials should have a general understanding of the City's views regarding situations which create or involve conflicts of interest and/or the appearance of impropriety. It is the intent of this code of ethics to clarify which actions are allowed and which constitute a breach of the public trust.

(d) It is the intent of the City to establish an independent panel of judges empowered to establish a system that enables citizens to report possible wrongdoing and seek enforcement so that any breach of the public trust may be discovered and dealt with appropriately. (Ord. No. 2019-51, § 1, 8-19-2019)