Ord 2017-020/amending Chapter 2, Article 5, Code of Ethics, of the San Marcos City Code; requiring Financial Disclosure Forms to be updated within 30 days following acquisition of additional interests in real property; requiring Financial Disclosure Form

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(1) The commission shall review each complaint in executive session prior to conducting a hearing to determine whether the complaint is in proper form and alleges sufficient facts to constitute a prima facie violation of a provision of this article or a state conflict of interest law. (2) If the commission determines that the complaint is defective in form or does not allege sufficient facts to constitute a prima facie violation of a provision of this article or a state conflict of interest law, the commission shall dismiss the complaint, and provide notice, including the reasons for the dismissal, to the complainant and to the person accused. (3) If the commission determines that the complaint is in proper form and alleges sufficient facts to constitute a prima facie violation of a provision of this article or a state conflict of interest law, the commission shall schedule a hearing on the complaint. (c) Hearings. (1) The commission will adopt rules of procedure to govern hearing on complaints. The rules will allow for the presentation of evidence by the complainant and the person accused, and cross examination of witnesses. (2) The chair of the commission or any person acting in that capacity, and the recording secretary of the commission, are authorized to administer oaths to persons who testify at hearings conducted by the commission. (d) Ex parte communications. It is unlawful for a person who has filed a complaint alleging a violation of this article or a state conflict of interest law by a city officer or employee, or a person against whom such a complaint has been filed, to communicate verbally or in writing about the subject matter of the complaint with a member of the ethics review commission at any time other than during a public meeting of the commission. All such communications by such persons to the commission outside of a public meeting of the commission must be directed to the city attorney. The city attorney will collect all such communications and provide them to the commission with the agenda materials for the meeting at which the complaint is considered. The city attorney will make copies of these communications available to interested persons in accordance with state law. (e) Sanctions. If the commission determines at the conclusion of a hearing that a violation has occurred, it may impose or recommend any of the following sanctions: (1) A letter of notification, if the violation is clearly unintentional, or when the official or employee's action was made in reliance on a written opinion of the city attorney. A letter of notification shall advise the official or employee of any steps to be taken to avoid future violations. (2) A letter of admonition, if the commission finds that the violation is minor and may have been unintentional, but calls for a more substantial response than a letter of notification.