§ 2-170. Role of the city attorney

(a) The city attorney serves as legal counsel to the ethics review commission. When complaints are filed relating to the mayor, city council members, city manager, or city attorney, independent legal counsel may be utilized to advise the commission and take part in its proceedings.

(b) The city attorney serves as ethics advisor to city officials and city employees. As ethics advisor, the city attorney is available to respond confidentially to inquiries relating to the ethics ordinance (this article) and may render advisory opinions on potential conflicts of interest or violation of this section at the request of a city official or city employee. The advisory opinion in any subsequent charges concerning the matter may be used as a defense to an alleged violation of this section unless material facts were omitted or misstated by the person requesting the opinion.

(c) The city attorney shall receive all sworn complaints and provide a copy and a preliminary review of the complaint to the commission for action. The preliminary review does not advise on the merits of a complaint.

(d) If a complainant alleges a violation by the city attorney, the complaint must be filed with the chairperson of the ethics commission, with a copy to the mayor and the city manager.

(Ord. No. 461, § 2.10, 5-9-2006)