City of Gainesville - File #: 170712.

• File #: 170712.
• Version: 2
• Name: Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Form
• Type: Discussion Item
• Status: To Be Introduced
• File created: 1/5/2018
• In control: General Policy Committee
• On agenda: 3/8/2018
• Final action: 3/8/2018
• Title: Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Form (B)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
3/8/2018	2	General Policy Committee	Approved, as shown above	Pass
1/4/2018	1	City Commission	Referred	Pass

title
Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Form (B)

recommendation
Discuss as Committee deems appropriate.

explanation
At the January 4, 2018 City Commission Meeting, at the request of Commissioner Hayes-Santos, the City Commission referred this issue to the General Policy Committee. Currently, the City has not enacted any local ethics code or requirements for its elected or appointed officers; but instead relies on State law and the Florida Commission on Ethics for such matters. The State ethics laws are generally comprised of three components: mandatory disclosures; prohibited actions and business relationships; and mandatory training. The Florida Commission on Ethics interprets and applies Florida's ethics laws by acting on complaints, recommending penalties, issuing legally binding advisory opinions interpreting the ethics laws, and serving as an ethics resource to elected and appointed officers.

Disclosure Filings
As to disclosure filings that apply to municipal officers, the State law requires disclosures of: financial interests; voting conflicts; gifts; clients represented before any City board; and business transactions, relationship or interest for purpose of obtaining exemption/waiver.

State law imposes a monetary fine, collected by the Florida Commission on Ethics, for failure to timely file required disclosures. A reference chart and a copy of each State disclosure form is attached as back-up to this agenda item. The forms are helpful because they clearly describe who must file and what information must be provided.

Prohibited Actions & Relationships
As to prohibited actions and relationships that apply to municipal officers, the State law prohibits:

(a) Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts;
(b) Unauthorized Compensation;
(c) Misuse of Public Position;
(d) Disclosure of Use of Certain Information for personal benefit;
(e) Solicitation or Acceptance of Honoraria;
(f) Doing Business with One's Agency;
(g) Having Conflict...