TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare an ordinance to amend and restate Chapter 2.07 of the Long Beach Municipal Code to adopt a revised Code of Conduct and Ethics, as proposed by the Ethics Commission. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On December 9, 2020, the Ethics Commission (Commission) identified the need for a Commission Action Plan and the development of a Code of Conduct and Ethics (Code) for City of Long Beach (City) officials and staff. The Commission created an ad hoc committee to focus on the development of the Code to be included as an integral foundation for a formal Ethics Program.
The ad hoc committee worked with City staff to review the City’s existing Code and gather best practices to present a draft of the updated Code to the full Commission for approval. The Code was approved by the full Commission.
On July 14, 2021, the Commission received feedback on the Code from City Departments and internal stakeholders. The Commission made additional edits based on the feedback, and on February 2022 the meet and confer process began with the City’s labor organizations. On August 25, 2022 the City closed out the meet and confer process with the final labor organization. City staff provided additional information on the Ethics Education Program, which is currently under development. The Code did not change as a result of the Meet and Confer process. On September 14, 2022, the Commission approved the proposed Code and referred it to the City Council for an update to Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) Chapter 2.07 for codification.
Code of Conduct and Ethics
The Commission respectfully requests that the City Council directs the City Attorney to draft an Ordinance to replace the current Code of Ethics in LBMC Chapter 2.07 with the revised Code of Conduct and Ethics proposed by the Commission, and agreed upon by labor organizations. The proposed Code includes a values statement that highlights the importance of having a government that operates equitably, ethically, and that works to promote and preserve public trust and confidence. Further, the draft Code asks the City commit to the values of:
• Accountability-willingness to accept responsibility and account for one’s actions.
• Equity-ensuring fairness and due process.
• Impartiality-loyalty to the public good.
• Diversity-embracing histories, values, and ideas from all backgrounds, and recognizing their contribution to improving the City’s operations, services, and programs.
• Transparency-actions and practices that are open to public observation and scrutiny.
• Integrity- being truthful, seeking truth, and adherence to the City’s values.
The proposed Code also includes a robust list of principles outlining actionable ethical conduct everyone in the City must adhere to. These values and principles set forth in the Code commit and encourage elected officials, employees, volunteers, and members of boards, commissions, and committees to undertake their duties with the highest ethical principles and to place the public interests in the forefront. The Code drafted by the Commission is included (Attachment).
This matter was reviewed by Principal Deputy City Attorney Richard F. Anthony on October 4, 2022 and by Budget Operations and Development Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on September 29, 2022.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on November 1, 2022, to request the City Attorney draft an Ordinance to update the Code of Conduct and Ethics in LBMC Chapter 2.07 with the Code of Conduct and Ethics proposed by the Commission.
FISCAL IMPACT
The recommended action has no fiscal or local job impact. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
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Respectfully Submitted,
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER