H.1 2025-042 Review and consider proposed amendments to Article 7 (“Council Relations Policy; Administrative Support”) of the Council Relations Policy, Rules of Order, and Code of Ethics (Bylaws), as discussed at the September 10, 2025, Committee meeting; and take appropriate action.

[H.1 2025-042 Review and consider proposed amendments to Article 7 (“Council Relations Policy; Administrative Support”) of the Council Relations Policy, Rules of Order, and Code of Ethics (Bylaws), as discussed at the September 10, 2025, Committee meeting; and take appropriate action. ]

HERE STARTING WITH H.1. 2025-042, WHICH IS TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 7 ("COUNCIL RELATIONS POLICY; ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT") OF THE COUNCIL RELATIONS POLICY, RULES OF ORDER AND CODE OF ETHICS (BYLAWS) AS DISCUSSED AT THE SEPTEMBER 10TH 2025 COMMITTEE MEETING AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

AND WITH THAT WE HAVE 7.7 HERE, WHICH RELATES TO THE RELEASE OF RECORDS PURSUANT TO REQUEST BY A COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND THAT'S 7.7 B. HERE. YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AND REVIEW TO ENSURE IT'S IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING? SO I THINK THIS IS GOOD. I KNOW I'VE MENTIONED TO AMBER THAT THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT I THINK SHOULD BE ALREADY AVAILABLE TO COUNCIL, THAT WAY SHE'S NOT HUNTING FOR THEM.

IT'S KIND OF CRAZY THAT SHE'S HAVING TO DO SOME OF THAT. SO I'M GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE MAYOR ON THAT,

[00:05:05]

AND I THINK IT WILL COME THROUGH AS AN ORDINANCE, OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES OR RESOLUTION.

SO WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THAT WORKLOAD, SUCH AS LIKE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.

WE SHOULD ALREADY HAVE ACCESS. WE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TO ASK HER TO TAKE TIME OUT OF HER DAY TO GO GET THESE AND SEND THEM OUT TO US.

SO I THINK WITH THAT GETTING PUT IN PLACE AND WITH HOW THIS IS WORDED, I THINK THAT IT'S PERFECT AND THAT HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT INFORMATION IS GIVEN TO COUNCIL, BUT ALSO WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF PUTTING TOGETHER A LIST OF THINGS THAT SHOULD JUST BE READILY SHARED.

IT WON'T PUT SUCH A BURDEN ON AMBER WHEN SHE'S GETTING THOSE THINGS.

ANY OTHER INPUT AS IT RELATES TO 7.7 B.? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AS IT RELATES TO 7.7 B.

I MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 7.7 B. SECOND. ALRIGHT, WE'LL PROCEED TO TAKE VOTE ON THAT.

MR. QARAGHULI IS HERE AND HE SECOND THAT MOTION.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES, WHICH IS GREAT. IT'S A GREAT IMPROVEMENT FROM LAST MEETING.

AND NOW WE'LL PROCEED TO H.2 2025-043, WHICH IS TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 9 ("RULES OF ETHICS") OF THE

[H.2 2025-043 Review and consider proposed amendments to Article 9 (“Rules of Ethics”) of the Council Relations Policy, Rules of Order, and Code of Ethics (Bylaws), as discussed at the September 10, 2025, Committee meeting; and take appropriate action.]

COUNCIL RELATIONS POLICY, RULES OF ORDER AND CODE OF ETHICS (BYLAWS), AS DISCUSSED AT THE SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2025 COMMITTEE MEETING; AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

I BELIEVE THAT CHANGES FOR THE LAST MEETING. I THINK THOSE ARE THE ONES IN THE GREEN.

AND WE CAN JUST GO THROUGH THAT FROM 16. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS OR INPUT REGARDING 16 AND DOWN, AND YOU CAN JUST RAISE IT AS WE GO THROUGH IT.

I THINK THERE'S A CHANGE WE CAN MAKE TO 9.4. JUST IN ADDITION, I THINK WE CAN ADD SOME SORT OF INDEPENDENT ETHICS REVIEW PANEL. I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW OUR BYLAWS MAKE BASICALLY THE COUNCIL THE JUDGE OF ITS OWN COMPLAINTS.

AND SO THAT'S FINE FOR A SMALL TOWN, BUT PRINCETON, IF IT EVER BECOMES A CITY OF OVER 80,000 OR 100,000 OR MORE, I WOULD SAY TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC TRUST THAT WE NEED INDEPENDENT EYES.

[00:10:04]

YES, SIR. ARE YOU SAYING THAT TO ESTABLISH IT RIGHT NOW, OR ARE YOU WANTING TO IDENTIFY A THRESHOLD, WHEN WE HIT A CERTAIN POPULATION, WE'RE REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH THE BOARD? BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE AROUND 47,000 RIGHT NOW.

SO IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO THE NUMBERS YOU WERE SAYING.

SO DO YOU WANT US TO DO ONE IMMEDIATELY, OR ARE YOU WANTING TO SET LIKE A POPULATION? I WOULD SAY RIGHT NOW JUST TO HAVE IT READY, JUST IN CASE FOR THE FUTURE.

I THINK BY THE TIME WE DO HAVE THAT NUMBER, IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE.

SO I THINK RIGHT NOW IS BEST. BUT I MEAN, WE CAN DO WHATEVER YOU GUYS.

WHAT THE MAJORITY AGREE ON, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT FRISCO AND OTHER LARGE CITIES ALREADY USE CITIZEN PANELS AND OUTSIDE PANELS TO ADD LEGITIMACY.

AND SO THIS WOULD MAKE OUR SYSTEM STRONGER, FUTURE READY FOREVER.

AND IT WOULDN'T TAKE AWAY POWER FROM THE COUNCIL.

IT WOULD JUST ADD CREDIBILITY TO THE COUNCIL SO THE PUBLIC WOULD KNOW WE'RE NOT POLICING OURSELVES.

AND IF WE DON'T, THEN IT COULD CREATE A PERCEPTION PROBLEM.

PEOPLE MIGHT NOT TRUST THE COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE ITSELF IN THE FUTURE.

AND IT'S JUST THREE CITIZENS AND VOLUNTARY SERVICE.

SO IT'S MINIMAL COST, BUT IT'S A HUGE GAIN IN TRUST AND IT WILL ONLY ISSUE RECOMMENDATIONS.

IT WON'T MAKE FINAL DECISIONS. I ALREADY HAVE MY OWN LIKE LANGUAGE FOR IT, IF YOU GUYS WANT TO HEAR IT, BUT. YEAH. SO CURRENTLY WOULD BE LIKE, IF THERE'S A COMPLAINT, THE CITY ATTORNEY WOULD REVIEW AND THEN PROVIDE FINDINGS TO THE COUNCIL WHO WILL THEN COMMUNICATE THAT DECISION.

YOU'RE SAYING TO HAVE LIKE AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY LIKE CITIZENS MAKE THAT DECISION, INSTEAD OF THE CITY ATTORNEY? OR WHAT'S THE PROPOSAL? ACTUALLY, THE CITY ATTORNEY DOES A REPORT.

BASICALLY THE INVESTIGATION PART. COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE CONTACTING THE INDIVIDUALS AND DOING THE INVESTIGATION.

SO ONCE THE ATTORNEY HAS COMPLETED THEIR REPORT, IT COMES TO COUNCIL, AT WHICH POINT COUNCIL IS MAKING A DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT TO DO AN INVESTIGATION. AND SO, I GUESS, THEN WOULD THE BOARD.

WOULD THEY BE PART OF THE INVESTIGATION OR WOULD THEY BE SIMILAR TO LIKE OUR ZONING ADJUSTMENT BOARD, WHERE YOU CAN APPEAL TO THEM, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE JUDGMENT THAT CAME THROUGH FROM COUNCIL, YOU CAN APPEAL TO THE ETHICS BOARD, TO HAVE IT OVERTURNED OR REVIEWED AGAIN.

OR ARE YOU SAYING GO STRAIGHT TO THE ETHICS BOARD? WELL, THE IDEA I HAD IN MIND IS, I THINK HOW YOU EXPLAINED IT WITH THE ZONING BOARD, THE COUNCIL CAN ADOPT, REJECT OR MODIFY THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE PANEL.

AND SO IT WOULD REVIEW ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND IT WOULD RECEIVE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT.

AND IT WOULD BASICALLY JUST ISSUE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

BUT THE COUNCIL CAN ADOPT IT, REJECT IT, MODIFY IT.

BUT ALL THE ACTION HAS TO. ALL THE FINAL ACTION BY THE PANEL HAS TO BE WRITTEN IN THE PUBLIC RECORD, BASICALLY, SO WE KNOW WHAT DECISION THEY CAME DOWN TO.

CAN YOU READ YOUR PROPOSAL THAT YOU HAVE? THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE I HAVE IS, IN ADDITION TO REVIEW BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS REVIEW PANEL COMPOSED OF THREE CITIZENS OF PRINCETON WHO ARE NOT CURRENT CITY OFFICIALS OR EMPLOYEES.

THE PANEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COUNCIL FROM AN OPEN APPLICATION PROCESS MANAGED BY THE CITY SECRETARY.

THE PANEL SHALL REVIEW ALL COMPLAINTS OF ETHICS VIOLATIONS, RECEIVE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT AND ISSUE A WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

THE COUNCIL MAY ADOPT, REJECT OR MODIFY THE PANEL'S RECOMMENDATION, BUT ALL FINAL ACTION MUST INCLUDE THE PANEL'S WRITTEN FINDINGS IN THE PUBLIC RECORD.

SO THEY WOULD JUST BE A PART OF, LIKE THEY'D BE WORKING WITH THE ATTORNEY TO DO THE INVESTIGATION.

AND WHEN THE ATTORNEY GIVES THEIR REPORT, THE BOARD IS ALSO GIVING THE REPORT.

SO THAT'S GIVING TWO PERSPECTIVES TO COUNCIL TO LOOK AT VERSUS ONE SINGULAR PERSPECTIVE? EXACTLY. WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO AMENDING THAT? I KNOW YOU SAID NOT CURRENT OFFICIALS OR EMPLOYEES, TO PUT WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IF, SAY, SOMEONE'S ON COUNCIL AND THEN THEY DON'T RUN AGAIN AND LIKE, IMMEDIATELY. WELL, YOU'RE NOT AN OFFICIAL ANYMORE.

NOW YOU CAN BE ON THIS BOARD. I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S.

I THINK THAT COULD CREATE SOME CONFLICT OF INTEREST, BECAUSE THEY WERE SO CLOSELY THAT TIMELINE OF SERVING THE CITY AND GOING STRAIGHT INTO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I THINK FORCING A BUFFER WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

YEAH, I AGREE THAT ADDITION WILL MAKE IT MUCH BETTER.

[00:15:10]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL THINK, BUT I ACTUALLY LIKE THIS TO GET TWO PERSPECTIVES, BECAUSE OFTEN SINCE THE CITY ATTORNEY ANSWERS TO COUNCIL, I CAN SEE WHERE THAT PERSPECTIVE COULD COME IN OF LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'RE DOING WHAT COUNCIL WOULD WANT AND THIS WOULD MAKE AN INDEPENDENT SECOND TYPE OF THING COMING IN. AND THAT ALSO SHOWS, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR ATTORNEY IS ACTING, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, DOING THE RIGHT THING AND THEIR REPORT IS VALID.

YOU KNOW, AND BECAUSE I DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO BE MAKING THAT KIND OF ASSUMPTION.

I THINK ABOUT IT MUCH LIKE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IF THEY HAD TO LOOK AT SOMETHING, PEOPLE QUESTION THE OUTCOME.

IT JUST MAKES THAT THIRD PARTY. AND I THINK FOR THE LANGUAGE FOR THE SAFEGUARD COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE, NO PERSON WHO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL OR AS A CITY EMPLOYEE WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE ON THE PANEL, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AS A SAFEGUARD. I MEAN, I LIKE THE IDEA.

I WOULDN'T EVEN PUT A TIME LIMIT LIKE LIMIT AS.

WELL, DEPENDS, MAYBE LONGER THAN TWO YEARS. OR PROBABLY JUST SAVE YOU SERVE THEN.

NO. BUT AGAIN, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MAY GO BACK AGAINST REGULAR RESIDENT OVER 15 YEARS, SO MAYBE A LONGER TIME FRAME THERE.

BUT I'M TRYING TO SEE HOW TO INCORPORATE THAT HERE, CONSIDERING, ONE, THE CITY ATTORNEY IS CONDUCTING THE INVESTIGATION OR THE REVIEW. WE CAN PUT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BOARD OF ETHICS.

JUST SQUEEZE IT IN. SO ALL THOSE AREAS WHERE IT'S SAYING THE ATTORNEY IS DOING THESE THINGS.

YEAH. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BOARD OF ETHICS.

YEAH. BUT YOU WANTED TWO DIFFERENT OPINIONS. SO ONE IS COMING FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND THEN ONE FROM THE RESIDENTS, WHICH IS THREE, A PANEL OF THREE. AND THEN THEY MAKE THAT DECISION WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION, WHICH MAY CONFLICT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY, WHICH TO YOUR POINT, IT KIND OF FORCES THEM TO DO THEIR JOB, RIGHT? SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT SHOULD BE IN CONJUNCTION OR WORKING TOGETHER.

BUT IS IT SAYING THAT, IF THERE'S A COMPLAINT, THEN YOU NEED TO HAVE THIS THREE MEMBER PANEL COMMITTEE THAT CONSIDERED A COMPLAINT AND WHILE YOU'RE DOING IT, THEN CONTEMPORANEOUSLY, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S ALSO REVIEWING THE MATTER.

AND THEN BOTH WILL PROVIDE THEIR FINDINGS TO CITY COUNCIL? IS THAT AND THEN CITY COUNCIL THEN, YOU KNOW, HAS THE OPTION TO ADOPT, ACCEPT OR REJECT.

IS THAT WHAT IT IS? BECAUSE THE THING IS, IT'S JUST TO FLESH IT OUT.

WHAT IF CITY COUNCIL SAYS, WELL, I AM GOING TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATION BASED ON WHAT THE THREE RESIDENTS SAYS, BUT NOT THE CITY ATTORNEY, OR WHERE DOES IT STAND? I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, BUT WE NEED TO LIKE, FLESH IT OUT.

SO IT KIND OF LIKE COMES IN. I KIND OF LIKE IT, BUT HOW IT SHOULD.

AND HOW DO YOU CONSIDER ONE OVER THE OTHER, OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? THAT WOULD BE UP TO COUNCIL. I MEAN, THEY COULD DO IT COLLABORATIVELY AND SUBMIT THEIR REPORT, AND WE CAN ADD IN THERE THAT IF THEIR FINDINGS ARE DIFFERENT, THEY CAN SUBMIT TWO DIFFERENT REPORTS.

IF THEIR FINDINGS ARE THE SAME, THE REPORTS WOULD BE TOGETHER.

SO THEY CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, THE INTERVIEWS TOGETHER, ALL OF THAT TOGETHER.

SO THEY'RE GETTING THE SAME INFORMATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THEN THE PANEL MEETS, THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR STUFF, THEN THEY COME BACK TOGETHER WITH THE ATTORNEY AND DISCUSS THEIR FINDINGS TO WRITE THE REPORT.

IF THEIR FINDINGS ARE DIFFERENT, TWO DIFFERENT REPORTS COME TO COUNCIL.

IF THEIR FINDINGS ARE THE SAME, IT'S A SINGULAR REPORT.

AND IF THEY'RE SEPARATE REPORTS COMING BECAUSE THEY CONFLICT, IT'S UP TO COUNCIL TO DETERMINE WHERE TO GO FROM THAT.

AND NOW WITH THE TIME FRAME ASPECT OF IT, I MEAN, I LIKE YOUR IDEA.

WE JUST HAVE TO CONSIDER THE TIME FRAME. SO NOW 15 DAYS, RIGHT? UNLESS WE ALREADY HAVE A COMMITTEE IN PLACE, SIMILAR TO HOW WE MAY HAVE AD HOC COMMITTEE OR THE BOARD, SOMETIMES IT TAKES TIME TO FIND PEOPLE, HAVE THEM COME IN AND HAVE THEM MEET OR CONFER.

SO WITH THE 15 DAYS, WOULD WE CHANGE THAT, AS THAT MAY TAKE TIME FOR US TO POST, OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A STANDING COMMITTEE THAT'S AVAILABLE AND WE JUST SUMMON THEM WHENEVER WE NEED THEM? I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE A STANDING COMMITTEE BECAUSE HONESTLY, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS WHERE WE CAN USE THE BOARD OF ETHICS IN DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COME UP,

[00:20:07]

SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, IF WE CHANGE THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, THE COMMITTEE CAN REVIEW IT AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S FAIR TO OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE MANAGERS WHO ARE MAKING THIS.

SO LET'S MAKE SURE IT CAN BE CHECKED. THAT BOARD CAN BE USED IN MANY CAPACITIES.

SO HAVING THEM ESTABLISHED, AND MAYBE IF WE LOOK AT THE CIP COMMITTEE, THERE'S LIKE RULES FOR HOW OFTEN LIKE THEY HAVE TO MEET FOR A GUARANTEE. WE CAN PUT THAT IN PLACE THROUGH THE ORDINANCE THAT ESTABLISHES IT.

OKAY, I LIKE THAT. I JUST LOVE THE IDEA. I JUST WANT TO LIKE, QUESTION, MAKE SURE IT MAKES SENSE.

AND I DON'T THINK THE TIMELINE WILL EXPAND AS LONG AS THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER.

IF THEY'RE DOING ALL THE INTERVIEWS TOGETHER, ALL THE THINGS TOGETHER, THERE SHOULDN'T NEED TO BE A LONGER TIME FRAME.

YEAH. HOWEVER, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT OPTION TO SAY, HEY, WE NEED MORE TIME.

YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE. IF THERE'S A STANDING COMMITTEE, THEN IT MAKES SENSE WITH THE 15 BUSINESS DAYS.

BUT IF IT'S LIKE EVERY TIME, YOU MAY HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND ADVERTISE AND FIND SOMEONE TO COME IN, THAT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC. SO YEAH, I LIKE IT.

I THINK WE JUST NEED TO FLESH IT OUT AND ENSURE IT ALIGNS AND MERGE IN AND FLOWS, SO.

AND MAYBE FOR THE PANEL, WE SHOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF, I DON'T KNOW, SOME SORT OF PERIODIC, LIKE CHANGING OF THE PANEL. SO WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME THREE PEOPLE.

YEP. JUST STAY THERE. THAT WOULD ALL GO INTO THE ORDINANCE.

SO COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE BOARD.

SO WHEN WE DO, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE INCLUDE.

HOW FREQUENTLY SOMEONE IS ELECTED OR APPOINTED, THE DURATION OF TIME BETWEEN APPOINTMENTS, DURATION OF TIME FOR, YOU KNOW, FROM BEING ON A BOARD TO BEING ABLE TO MOVE TO THAT BOARD.

THAT'S WHERE THOSE FINE DETAILS WILL COME INTO PLACE.

AND HERE WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDING THE VERBIAGE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY SECRETARY WILL GIVE US THE INFORMATION TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE BOARD OF ETHICS. THAT'S JUST SQUEEZING IN THERE THE BOARD OF ETHICS AND THEN CREATING UNDER THE SECTION WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT BOARDS, A MENTION OF THE BOARD OF ETHICS, AND THEN FORWARDING THIS INFORMATION TO HOME RULE CHARTER, BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL OF THE BOARDS LISTED THERE, AND GETTING THEM TO INCLUDE BOARD OF ETHICS IN THE HOME RULE CHARTER UNDER THE BOARDS THAT ARE LISTED. SOUNDS GOOD. I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THE TWO REPORTS ARE INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER.

MAYBE THE COLLECTION OF THE DATA IS THE SAME TIME THAT THE ATTORNEY AND THE COMMISSION OR BOARD COME UP WITH TWO REPORTS, EVEN IF IT'S OBVIOUS THEY MAY BE THE SAME, BECAUSE I THINK IN THE THOUGHT PROCESS WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE THE CITIZENS HAVE THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT REVIEW.

AND THAT WAY IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY'VE BEEN INFLUENCED BY AN ATTORNEY, CITY ATTORNEY OR ANYTHING.

YEAH. AND THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEM, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR TWO INDEPENDENT REPORT, THAT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE.

BUT YOU ALSO WANT TO STAY MINDFUL THAT, IN THE EVENT THAT YOU HAVE TWO SEPARATE PARTIES DOING INVESTIGATIONS.

IF MR. WASHINGTON TELLS HIS STORY ONCE, BY THE TIME IT GETS DOWN TO [INAUDIBLE], IT'S NOT THE SAME STORY THAT MR. WASHINGTON SAID. SO YOU HAVE THE ATTORNEY ASKING QUESTIONS AND INVESTIGATING, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE ETHICS COMMITTEE ASKING.

BUT HOW DO YOU COMBINE THE TWO? BUT IT'S JUST THE DELIBERATION THAT'S JUST SEPARATED.

YEAH. WE WOULD ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT INTO THE ORDINANCE FOR THIS, THE ABILITY TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE BECAUSE THE OTHER BOARDS DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY.

COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO GRANT THEM THE ABILITY TO USE EXECUTIVE UNDER THE PERSONNEL PIECE.

AND THAT KEEPS IT UNBIASED, WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND CAN'T JUST BE ANY PERSON CHOSEN TO SIT ON THE ETHICS COMMITTEE. IT HAS TO BE PEOPLE WITH COMPETENCY, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

AND ALSO THE INDIVIDUAL, WHEN SOMETHING COMES UP AND IT'S GOING TO BE ON AN AGENDA UNDER PERSONNEL MATTERS, IT ALWAYS GOES. WHEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL, IT GOES INTO EXECUTIVE.

IT IS UP TO THAT INDIVIDUAL IF YOU WANT THAT CONVERSATION TO BE PUBLIC.

SO BY ENSURING THAT THE BOARD OF ETHICS HAS THE ABILITY TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE WHEN THEY'RE MEETING AND DOING THEIR DELIBERATIONS AND STUFF, THEY CAN THEY WILL HAVE THAT ABILITY TO GO IN THERE AND HAVE PART OF THE CONVERSATION PRIVATELY.

[00:25:03]

AND THEN THE PART THAT CAN BE PUBLIC IS PUBLIC.

UNLESS THE INDIVIDUAL IS LIKE, COOL, YOU CAN TALK THIS ALL OUT HERE IN PUBLIC.

IT ALSO PROTECTS THAT INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHTS TO THE PRIVACY.

YEAH, I LIKE THE IDEA. I JUST THINK IT MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE HOME RULE CHARTER COMMITTEE TO IMPLEMENT THAT IN SECTION NINE OF THE HOME RULE CHARTER, AS OPPOSED TO CARVING THAT INTO.

THAT WAY, IT FALLS IN LINE WITH ALL OF THE OTHER.

WE WOULD HAVE TO AT LEAST MENTION IT HERE IN THE COMPLAINT PROCEDURES THAT THE INFORMATION IS GOING TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS, WHICH IS WHY I SAID I AGREE WITH YOU. HOME RULE CHARTER IS GOING TO NEED TO HAVE THE SECTION, 100% AGREE WITH YOU. BUT WE DO NEED IN THE BYLAWS PART, IN THIS PART, TO JUST MAKE SURE THE INFORMATION IS ALSO.

THE VERBIAGE IS THERE THAT IT'S ALSO BEING SHARED TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS.

WE DON'T NEED TO OUTLINE WHAT THE BOARD IS. IS THAT.

RIGHT. SO THAT. EXCUSE ME, JUST SO I'M CLEAR.

SO WITH THE BOARD OF ETHICS. IF THERE'S AN ETHICS VIOLATION OR AN ETHICS COMPLAINT, WILL THE CITY ATTORNEY BE DOING AN INVESTIGATION AND THE BOARD OF ETHICS WOULD BE DOING AN INVESTIGATION.

IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING? OKAY. YEAH. THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND IT IS THE COMPLAINT IS FILED AGAINST THE CITY SECRETARY.

SHE GIVES IT TO THE ATTORNEY AND WHOEVER WAS, YOU KNOW, ACCUSED OF VIOLATING SOMETHING OR WHATEVER.

AND THEN THE ATTORNEY BASICALLY CHECKS IF IT'S LEGALLY SUFFICIENT, IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, HE CITES SPECIFIC SECTIONS AND WHATEVER.

AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE IN MY NOTES, AT LEAST.

HE WRITES A REPORT ON WHETHER IT IF THERE'S AN ACTUAL VALID CLAIM UNDER THE BYLAWS.

AND SO WE HAVE. THIS WOULD MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY DEFECTIVE COMPLAINTS.

SO THAT'S WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY DOES. AND THEN THE PANEL BASICALLY RECEIVES THE CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT, LOOKS AT THE CONTEXT AND THE FACTS, AND ISSUES THEIR OWN WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL.

THAT'S WHAT I HAD IN MIND. BUT WE BROUGHT UP A LOT OF IDEAS.

IT'S ALL GOOD, THOUGH.

RIGHT. SO WITH THAT WE COULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR 9.4 BEFORE WE MOVE ALONG.

IF THAT'S. 9.4. I WOULD MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE INCLUSION OF INFORMATION BEING SHARED TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS IN COMPLIANCE WITH HOME RULE CHARTER.

SO THAT HOME RULE CAN PUT ALL THAT STUFF IN PLACE.

BUT WE HAVE OUR PART. SO TO MR. WASHINGTON POINTS, IS THAT.

WELL, I KNOW YOU HAVE A MOTION HERE, BUT JUST ONE EXTRA COMMENT HERE.

SO WOULD IT BE WORDED IN ANTICIPATION THAT THE HOME RULE CHARTER WILL BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE NEED FOR AN ETHICS BOARD? SO IF THE HOME RULE CHARTER DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT AND THE LANGUAGE BASED ON HOW IT'S FRAMED HERE, THEN IT'S NOT APPLICABLE. IS THAT CORRECT? BECAUSE WHEN WE GO TO HOME RULE CHARTER, THAT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY TWO YEARS AND IT'S NOT GUARANTEED THAT IT'S GOING TO GET APPROVED AT THE BALLOT.

SO I GUESS HOME RULE CHARTER CAN HAVE THE ABILITY.

SO LET ME RETRACT MY MOTION. I´LL MAKE A NEW ONE.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT THEN WITH THAT IN MIND, BECAUSE I FORGOT ABOUT THAT, WE DO NEED TO ESTABLISH THE BOARD OF ETHICS WITHIN HERE.

AND JUST AS WE'VE LISTED OTHER BOARDS WITHIN HERE, HOME RULE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT SOME FINE DETAILS INTO PLACE AFTER THE ORDINANCE IS PASSED, SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO. BUT WE CAN'T WAIT FOR AN ELECTION TO MAKE THAT DECISION BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT ELECTION IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND, MY NEW MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE 9.4 WITH THE ADDITION OF A BOARD OF ETHICS COMMITTEE, ESTABLISHED OF THREE APPOINTED CITIZENS, AND WE WOULD CREATE A 9.4 A. TO OUTLINE THE HOME RULE OR, SORRY, TO OUTLINE WHAT THE BOARD OF ETHICS WOULD BE. ANYONE TO SECOND? I SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL PROCEED TO TAKE VOTE AS IT RELATES TO THE ADOPTION OF 9.4 WITH THE ADDITION.

[00:30:06]

RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES AND WE´LL PROCEED TO THE NEXT SECTION HERE, WHICH IS 9.5.

WELL, NO CHANGES TO 9.5. WELL, YEAH. 7. 9.5.7.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY CHANGES THERE. I THINK THAT WAS THE ADDITION THAT WE MENTIONED IN THE LAST MEETING.

I WANT TO POSE A THOUGHT THERE, FOR NUMBER SEVEN.

IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES AND SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.

WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO INCLUDING OPPORTUNITIES TO REPRESENT THE CITY? BECAUSE IF SOMEONE IS VIOLATING THE ETHICS THINGS, MAYBE WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO REGULARLY IS ATTENDING CERTAIN EVENTS AND REPRESENTING THE CITY. WE WOULDN'T WANT THAT PERSON REPRESENTING THE CITY, PERHAPS AT THAT TIME.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES SENSE, BECAUSE SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S.

SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S THE MAYOR, AND THE MAYOR REPRESENTS THE CITY AT DIFFERENT EVENTS.

MAYBE THERE'S AN EVENT UPCOMING WHERE WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO SEND COUNCILMAN WASHINGTON IN HIS PLACE BECAUSE OF WHATEVER THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN BE A DECISION THAT IS MADE.

TO ENSURE WHOEVER IS THE FACE OF THE CITY, REPRESENTING THE CITY AT EVENTS, IS SOMEONE WHO IS REPRESENTING THE ETHICS OF OUR CITY, AND THAT THIS WOULD ALSO ALLOW THE ABILITY TO SAY NO, YOU SHOULD NOT BE REPRESENTING THE CITY FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND IT COULD BE ANY COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU MEAN WHILE THE INVESTIGATION IS GOING ON? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES. OR IT COULD BE ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES AFTER IF AFTER THE INVESTIGATION, WE FIND. SAY SOMEONE SAYS AN INSENSITIVE REMARK ABOUT AN ORGANIZATION.

WELL, THAT'S NOT THE PERSON WE'RE GOING TO WANT GOING TO THAT ORGANIZATION OR REPRESENTING THE CITY IN THAT REGARD.

SO THAT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE A CONSEQUENCE IF THIS TYPE OF AN ORGANIZATION IS.

WE'RE GOING TO SEND SOMEONE TO REPRESENT, YOU WILL NOT BE THE PERSON SENT TO REPRESENT THE CITY.

YOU'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL MORE, SO I DON'T KNOW ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES YET OF THINGS WHERE SOMEONE CAN REPRESENT THE CITY.

I'VE SEEN SEVERAL, AND I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS TALKED ABOUT GOING TO EVENTS MORE, LIKE HAVING COUNCIL GO ATTEND THINGS.

RIGHT. BUT YOU WOULD KIND OF KNOW THIS MORE WELL.

AND MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A COUNCIL DECISION, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE LET'S SAY THERE'S SOME TYPE OF COMPLAINT AND IT'S UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN FULLY VETTED OR WHAT HAVE YOU, THEN.

I WOULD HATE TO HAVE THAT MARK ON SOMEONE. AND IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO MAYBE IT WOULD BE A CASE BY CASE THING, WHERE IN THE EVENT, DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE COMPLAINT IS OR WHAT HAVE YOU, THEN MAYBE THAT'S A COUNCIL DECISION TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE, YOU KNOW, REPRESENT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

IT DOES. IN LOOKING AT THE 9.5 VIOLATION 7, DO YOU THINK THAT THAT'S SOMEWHERE, SINCE IT'S.

IT LOOKS LIKE THESE ARE DECISIONS THAT COUNCIL CAN MAKE, REMOVING THEM FROM THESE APPOINTED THINGS.

DO YOU THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN JUST SQUEEZE IN, OR WOULD WE NEED LIKE A LINE 8 TO SEPARATE IT? IT WOULD PROBABLY BE AN ADDITIONAL.

AND INSTEAD OF BEING SPECIFIC TO THAT EFFECT, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE COULD GO ON AND ON. HOW ABOUT WE MAY ADD SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE A CATCHALL TO SAY OTHER ACTIONS IS PERMITTED BY LAW, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE PERMITTED WHERE YOU CAN SAY, HEY, BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS ACTION, VOTE ON IT, BECAUSE THESE ARE ISSUES THAT CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON TO SAY,

[00:35:06]

HEY, WE'RE MAKING THIS DECISION. YOU'LL HAVE TO VOTE ON IT BASED ON THE VIOLATION HERE, I BELIEVE HERE.

SO MAYBE TO ADD A CATCHALL TO SAY THEY CAN TAKE OTHER ACTION AS PERMITTED BY LAW, AND THAT COULD FALL WITHIN THAT SCOPE.

BECAUSE YOU COULD ADD AND SAY, HEY, YOU CAN'T GO TO AN EVENT THAT WE'RE KEEPING ABOUT CERTAIN MATTERS.

SAY YOU ARE SPECIFIC AND SAY WITHIN THE DFW AREA, BUT THEN THERE'S NO COVERAGE FOR, SAY, OUT OF STATE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO I THINK HAVING A CATCHALL SECTION WILL KIND OF COVER THINGS AS LONG AS IT'S LEGAL.

THIS IS JUST MY POINT OF VIEW HERE. PLUS, IT GIVES MORE LEEWAY AND SO COUNCIL CAN MAKE DECISION IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY.

AND YOU GUYS CAN KNOCK THAT DOWN. YOU CAN BE AS SPECIFIC AS YOU WANT.

SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS. WE COULD ALSO JUST SHORTEN IT TO CITY COUNCIL APPOINTED ASSIGNMENTS SUCH AS INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE OR SUBCOMMITTEE THEN.

MAKING IT SUCH AS IT DOESN'T LIMIT IT TO THAT.

IT OPENS THAT UP TO, LIKE YOU SAID, IT COULD BE OUT OF STATE.

IT COULD BE. IT'S AN ASSIGNMENT THAT COUNCIL'S GIVING, AND WE CAN TAKE IT AND BE MORE FLEXIBLE WITH IT AND THEN USE THESE AS SUCH AS, AS EXAMPLES. YEAH. WHICHEVER. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO WHICHEVER ONE WORKS, BUT I.

WHICHEVER, I FAVOR ANYTHING THAT'S BROADER WHERE IT'S NOT SO SPECIFIC AND LIMITED.

I THINK REALLY BOTH OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GOOD TO REWORD 7 TO JUST USE THESE AS EXAMPLES AT A GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE OR SUBCOMMITTEE, AND THEN ALSO TO HAVE THE NUMBER 8, OTHER ACTIONS AS PERMITTED BY LAW.

WE COULD EVEN MAKE IT OTHER ACTIONS, AS PERMITTED BY LAW, AND APPROVED BY THE ETHICS COMMITTEE, BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT FULLY WRITTEN DOWN AND IT'S OPEN, WE WANT TO CREATE A CHECKS AND BALANCES ON THAT.

SO YOU CAN'T GO TOO EXTREME, EVEN IF IT'S WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF LAW, YOU CAN STILL GET A LITTLE EXTREME.

BUT WE COULD USE THE ETHICS COMMITTEE IN THAT POINT TO DOUBLE CHECK IT.

I WOULDN'T SAY ETHICS COMMITTEE BECAUSE REMEMBER, THEY'RE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL, RIGHT? AND. AT THIS POINT, COUNCIL HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION IF THEY'RE.

IF THE CONSEQUENCE IS BEING MADE AND IF SO, AT THAT POINT THE ETHICS COMMITTEE CAN COME BACK IN AND DETERMINE, IF YOU'RE USING NUMBER 8, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT EXCESSIVE.

BECAUSE THEY CAN'T OVERTURN IT. THERE'S NOTHING THAT. ONCE COUNCIL IS MAKING A DECISION, THEY'RE MAKING THE DECISION.

THEY WOULD JUST HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT IF NUMBER 8 IS ACTIVATED, THERE'S A CHECKS AND BALANCE TO THAT DECISION MADE.

AND IT GIVES THEM LIKE ANOTHER PURPOSE INSTEAD OF JUST USING THEM FOR AN ISOLATED THING.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT, WHICHEVER WORKS OUT, ROLL WITH IT.

I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE SECTION 9.5 WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES ON NUMBER 7 TO REWORD IT.

WHEREAFTER CITY COUNCIL APPOINTED ASSIGNMENTS, SUCH AS INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEES OR SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.

THAT'S NOT QUITE THE RIGHT PUNCTUATION. AND THEN ALSO ADDING NUMBER 8, OTHER ACTIONS AS PERMITTED BY LAW AND APPROVED BY THE ETHICS COMMITTEE.

I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT. AND WE'LL PROCEED TO TAKE VOTE AS IT PERTAINS TO 9.5 SECTION 7.

RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL PROCEED TO 9.6. THE LAST SENTENCE HERE.

[00:40:02]

NO ISSUES WITH 9.6. AGREED. RIGHT. SO I WOULD MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO ITEM 9.6.

I'LL SECOND. WE'RE MAKING THE MOTION FOR WHAT, 9.6? MOTION CARRIES.

AND THEN FOR THE DEFINITION SECTION, IF YOU WANT TO REVIEW IF YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES.

WITH THAT, WE´LL BE REVIEWING THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT, WHICH IS.

WE CAN MOVE ON TO H.4. TO H.3, WHICH IS H.3 2025-044, WHICH IS TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER ALL PROPOSED AMENDMENTS

[H.3 2025-044 Review and consider all proposed amendments to Articles 1 – 9 of the Council Relations Policy, Rules of Order, and Code of Ethics (Bylaws), as previously approved by the Committee; and take appropriate action.]

TO ARTICLES 1 THROUGH 9 OF THE CITY COUNCIL RELATIONS POLICY, RULES OF ORDER AND CODE OF ETHICS (BYLAWS) AS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. AND THAT'S THE DOCUMENT HERE.

THE YELLOW VERSION ARE THE CHANGES MADE. THE GREEN PORTION IN THE BACK, OR JUST AS IT RELATES TO SECTION 7 AND 9 THAT WE VOTED ON JUST NOW, AND REVIEW OR MAKE AMENDMENTS THERETO.

SO WE CAN REVIEW FROM 1 AND GO BACK THROUGH AS IT RELATES TO THE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW PORTION.

AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY IF YOU WANT TO MAKE ADDITIONAL CHANGES OR PROPOSAL HERE.

SO IN SECTION 2.3 FOR THE SPECIAL MEETINGS, I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD ADD IN SOMETHING FOR CANCELED ITEMS. SOMETIMES WHEN MEETINGS RUN LONG OR SOMETHING COMES UP, ITEMS WILL GET MOVED OR CANCELED.

AND DUE TO THE SHOT CLOCK ON SOME ITEMS AND TIMELINES, SPECIAL MEETINGS MAY BE NECESSARY, WE WOULDN'T BE NEEDING THE MAYOR OR THE CITY MANAGER OR ANY OR COUNCIL TO BE ASKING FOR IT.

IT WOULD BE AUTOMATIC IF, DUE TO THE TIMELINE, IT SHOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC THING THAT'S HAPPENING VERSUS PUTTING IT ON SOMEONE TO REMEMBER TO ASK FOR IT. PERFECT. LET'S. THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

BUT LET'S START WITH LIKE 1.1 WITH HIGHLIGHTED.

AND THEN WE GO DOWN JUST IN CASE FOLKS MAY HAVE CHANGES TO LIKE 1.1.

WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND FORTH BUT JUST FOLLOW THE FLOW.

AND THEN YOU SAID 2.3, RIGHT. ONCE WE GET THERE THEN WE'LL REVISIT THAT SINCE THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

WE HAVE 1.1 HERE WITH I DON'T HAVE ANY CHANGES THERE.