ARTICLE I. - TRUST
15.20. - Ethical aspiration.
15.30. - Fiduciary duty.
15.40. - Conflicts of interest.
15.50. - Soliciting or accepting gifts.
15.60. - Outside employment.
15.70. - Use of official position to solicit privileges or special treatment.
15.80. - Statements of economic interest.
15.90. - Post employment restrictions.
15.100. - City property.
15.110. - Political activity.
15.120. - Loans.

15.20. - Ethical aspiration. 
We put the public interest ahead of our own personal advancement and financial interests. We disclose conflicts of interest and refrain from participating in decisions where we have a financial interest. We avoid actions that might impair independence of judgment or give the appearance of impropriety or a conflict of interest. We do not use our positions to gain privileges or special treatment and do not use public property or personnel for private or personal purposes. (2003-Or-034, § 1, 3-21-03) 
15.30. - Fiduciary duty. 
In the performance of their official duties, local officials and employees shall act for the benefit of the city. (2003-Or-034, § 1, 3-21-03) 
15.40. - Conflicts of interest. 
(a) Definition of conflicts of interest. A local official or employee, whether paid or unpaid, shall avoid any situation that might give rise to a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest is present when, in the discharge of official duties, a local official or employee participates in a governmental decision, action or transaction in which he or she has a financial interest, except when that financial interest is no greater than that of another member of his or her business classification, profession or occupation or in matters involving city litigation when that financial interest is no greater than that of another member of the public impacted by the litigation. A financial interest is any interest, including loans, which shall yield, directly or indirectly, a monetary or other material benefit to the local official or employee (other than monetary or material benefits authorized by the city). A financial interest of a local official's or employee's employer (other than the City of Minneapolis), his or her associated business, or his or her spouse, domestic partner, or dependent, and their employers or associated businesses shall also be considered a financial interest of the local official or employee. The following assets shall not be considered a financial interest for purposes of this section: 
(1)	Ownership of shares in a diversified mutual fund.
(2)	Membership in a pension plan or employee benefit plan.
(3)	Ownership of bonds or publicly traded securities with a market value of less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00).
(4)	Ownership of a whole life insurance policy.
(b)	Addressing conflicts of interest. To address conflicts of interest:
(1)	A local official or employee shall not participate in making or attempt to use his or her position to influence any city governmental decision, action, or transaction in which the local official or employee knows or has reason to know that he or she has a conflict of interest. To participate or participation means making the decision, taking action, entering into a transaction, providing advice or a recommendation, introducing, sponsoring, debating, voting on, approving, and investigating the decision, action, or transaction. Participation includes the direct and active supervision of the participation of a subordinate in the matter. Participation is more than official responsibility, knowledge, perfunctory involvement, or involvement on an administrative or peripheral basis. 
(2)	A local official or employee may participate in a city governmental decision, action, or transaction involving an organization or entity when the local official or employee, or his or her spouse, domestic partner, or dependent is an officer, director, board member, or trustee, if the local official or employee does not have a financial interest in the governmental decision, action, or transaction. However, the local official or employee must disclose his or her affiliation with the organization or entity as though it were a conflict of interest. A local official or employee may participate in a city governmental decision, action, or transaction when the local official or employee has a financial interest in a matter involving city litigation but that financial interest is no greater than that of another member of the public impacted by the litigation. However, the local official or employee must disclose his or her financial interest in the litigation as though it were a conflict of interest. 
(3)	A local official or employee may participate in a city governmental decision involving a related person, other than his or her spouse, domestic partner, or dependent, if the local official or employee does not have a financial interest in the governmental decision, action, or transaction. However, the local official or employee must disclose his or her relationship with the related person as though it were a conflict of interest. 
(4)	Any lobbyist (other than an employee of the city) who is lobbying on behalf of the city must disclose a complete list of the principals represented by that lobbyist or other lobbyists in the same firm, along with the project or projects on which lobbying is expected to occur on a principal's behalf, to all elected officials of the city and the city clerk. The ethics officer will report to the intergovernmental relations committee on what projects, if any, create, or may create a professional conflict of interest for the lobbyist. A professional conflict of interest is a situation where the interests of a principal of the lobbyist are or may be adverse to the interests of the city. The lobbyist must update the list any time there is a change in his or her list. 
(c)	Disclosure of conflicts of interest. If a local official or employee, in the discharge of his or her official duties, recognizes that his or her participation would create a conflict of interest, the local official or employee shall disclose the conflict of interest as follows: 
(1)	The mayor and members of the city council shall disclose the conflict of interest to each other as soon as they become aware of the conflict. If such official becomes aware of a conflict during a meeting of the city council, or one (1) of its committees, or the executive committee, the official shall immediately disclose the conflict of interest orally. The mayor or city council member shall also prepare, on a form prescribed by the city clerk, a written statement describing the matter requiring action or decision and the nature of his or her conflict of interest. The written statement shall be distributed to the mayor and the members of the city council and filed with the city clerk. After the first time the official has orally disclosed a conflict of interest and filed the form, the elected official may subsequently orally disclose a conflict by referring to the form. Because the mayor or city council members may not attend all city council or committee meetings, oral disclosure may consist of the written statement being read into the record by the presiding officer at the first regular meeting of the city council after the form has been filed. 
(2)	A department head shall disclose a conflict of interest to the mayor and the city council by preparing, on a form prescribed by the city clerk, a written statement describing the matter requiring action or decision and the nature of his or her conflict of interest. The form shall be distributed to the mayor and the members of the city council and filed with the city clerk. 
(3)	A local official who is not an employee and who is not covered by paragraphs (1) and (2) above shall disclose a conflict of interest to the other individuals on the agency, authority or instrumentality as soon as the local official becomes aware of the conflict. If a local official becomes aware of a conflict during a meeting, the local official shall immediately disclose the conflict of interest orally. The local official shall also prepare, on a form prescribed by the city clerk, a written statement describing the matter requiring action or decision and the nature of his or her conflict of interest. The written statement shall be distributed to the mayor and city council, any department head whose jurisdiction or agency could be affected, and filed with the city clerk. 
(4)	An employee who is not covered by paragraphs (1), (2) or (3) above shall disclose a conflict of interest (i) orally to his or her supervisor; and (ii) in writing as described below. If there is no supervisor, an employee shall disclose a conflict of interest in writing as described below. An employee who is required to disclose a conflict of interest in writing under this paragraph (4) shall prepare, on a form prescribed by the city clerk, a written statement describing the matter requiring action or decision and the nature of his or her conflict of interest. The written statement shall be distributed to the employee's immediate supervisor and department head, and filed with the city clerk. 
(5)	All initial written statements required by this section shall be filed not later than June 1, 2003. Thereafter, they shall be filed and distributed within one (1) week after the local official or employee becomes aware of the conflict of interest. 
(6)	If the local official or employee has a supervisor, the supervisor shall assign the matter, if possible, to another person who does not have a conflict of interest. If they have no immediate supervisor, the local official or employee shall remove himself or herself from participating in the action or decision in question. If the local official is a member of the city council or the mayor, the local official shall not participate in any discussion or vote on any matter involving the conflict of interest. Although the mayor or city council member must abstain from voting on the matter, he or she shall be counted present for purposes of a quorum. (2003-Or-034, § 1, 3-21-03; 2007-Or-066, § 1, 8-31-07; 2009-Or-033, § 1, 4-24-09) 
15.50. - Soliciting or accepting gifts. 
(a) A local official or employee shall not solicit or accept any gift from an interested person, lobbyist, or principal who has a direct financial interest in a decision that the local official or employee is authorized to make. 
(b)	Exceptions. The prohibitions in this section do not apply if the gift is: 
(1)	A campaign contribution as defined in Minnesota Statutes, Section 10A.01, subd. 11;
(2)	A service to assist an official in the performance of official duties, including, but not limited to, providing advice, consultation, information, and communication in connection with legislation, or services to constituents; 
(3)	A service of insignificant monetary value;
(4)	A plaque or similar memento with a resale value of five dollars ($5.00) or less;
(5)	A trinket or memento costing five dollars ($5.00) or less;
(6)	Informational material of unexceptional value;
(7)	Food or a beverage given at a reception, meal, or meeting away from the recipient's place of work by an organization before whom the recipient appears to make a speech or answer questions as part of a program; 
(8)	Given because of the recipient's membership in a group, a majority of whose members are not officials, and an equivalent gift is given to the other members of the group; or 
(9)	Given by an interested person, lobbyist, or principal who is a related person to the recipient, unless the gift is given on behalf of someone who is not a related person. 
(10)	A solicitation for city purposes conducted pursuant to a city council approved solicitation policy. Absent a city council approved solicitation policy, a solicitation for city purposes must be pre-approved by city council. 
(c)	A local official or employee who receives any gift prohibited by this section shall return, dispose of, or request that the city council accept the gift on behalf of the city. (2003-Or-034, § 1, 3-21-03; 2007-Or-066, § 2, 8-31-07; 2009-Or-033, § 2, 4-24-09) 
15.60. - Outside employment. 
(a) A local official or employee shall not accept employment or enter into a contract that:
(1)	Interferes with the proper discharge of his or her public duty; or
(2)	Creates a conflict of interest that would materially impair the local official's or employee's ability to serve the city.
Local officials, as defined in section 15.280(m)(3), who are not subject to provisions (c) and (d) of this section must still comply with this provision. 
(b)	Except for employment with the city, a local official or employee shall not accept employment or enter into a contract with any party or beneficiary to: 
(1)	A pending or existing city contract if the local official or employee participated in the negotiation, development, awarding, or management of that contract; or 
(2)	Any other matter involving the local official's or employee's department or agency if the local official or employee participated in that matter. 
(c)	A local official, as defined in section 15.280(m)(1) or (m)(2) of this ordinance, or an employee shall not solicit or accept any money or other thing of value in return for advice or assistance on matters concerning the operation or business of city government. 
(d)	A local official, as defined in section 15.280(m)(1) or (m)(2) of this ordinance, or an employee shall not represent any person or organization for a fee or any other thing of value, before the mayor, the city council, any city council committee member, or the executive committee, before any department of the city, or before any city board, agency, commission, or committee of a city board, agency or commission. 
(e)	An appointed local official, as defined in section 15.280(m)(2) of this ordinance, or an employee shall: 
(1)	Notify his or her department head before accepting outside employment or entering into a contract for services. Notification shall be in writing on the form prescribed by the city clerk. 
(2)	Not use city facilities or equipment to solicit or perform outside work. This provision shall not apply to sworn employees of the police or fire department who use city facilities or equipment for outside work in accordance with written department policies. 
(3)	Not solicit or perform outside work during the local official's or employee's hours of employment. The written permission must address the use of vacation or compensatory time, if applicable. (2003-Or-034, § 1, 3-21-03; Ord. No. 2003-Or-101, § 1, 7-25-03; 2007-Or-066, § 3, 8-31-07) 
15.70. - Use of official position to solicit privileges or special treatment. 
A local official or employee shall not use his or her official position to solicit privileges or special treatment, unless the privileges or special treatment are for the benefit of the city. (2003-Or-034, § 1, 3-21-03) 
15.80. - Statements of economic interest. 
(a) Minnesota Statutes, Sections 10A.01 and 10A.09 require a local official who holds elective office in the city or who is appointed to or employed in a public position in the city in which the person has authority to make, to recommend, or to vote on as a member of a decision making body, major decisions regarding the expenditure or investment of public money to file a statement of economic interest. In accordance with these statutes and with the provisions of this ordinance, the following persons shall file a statement of economic interest with the city clerk on a form prescribed by the city clerk. The statement of economic interest shall include sections for disclosing sources of compensation, securities, real property, investments in pari-mutuel horse racing, and loans. A loan from a financial lending institution, negotiated by unrelated parties each acting in his or her own self interest, with an interest rate of at least a market rate, does not need to be reported. The statement shall include the economic interests of the person filing the statement and his or her spouse or domestic partner, if any. 
(1)	A candidate for the office of mayor, city council member, or board of estimate and taxation member within fourteen (14) days after filing an affidavit of candidacy or petition to appear on the ballot for an elective city office; and 
(2)	An elected local official, as defined in section 15.280(m)(1) of this ordinance, within sixty (60) days after commencing his or her term of office; and 
(3)	Appointed local officials, as defined in section 15.280(m)(2) of this ordinance, or employees, within sixty (60) days of accepting appointment or employment as a local official or employee in a position which the city council has determined has authority to make, to recommend, or to vote on as a member of a decision making body, major decisions regarding the expenditure or investment of public money. The list of these positions shall be maintained by the department of human resources; and 
(4)	Individuals appointed or designated by the mayor or appointed by the city council to the following agencies, authorities, or instrumentalities, within sixty (60) days of accepting appointment or employment as a local official: 
Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission 
Family Housing Fund, Minneapolis/St. Paul 
Planning Commission, Minneapolis 
Public Housing Authority, Minneapolis 
Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission 
Sports Facilities Commission, Metropolitan. 
(b)	Each individual who is required to file a statement of economic interest shall file a supplementary statement on April 15 of each year that he or she remains a local official if information on the most recently filed statement has changed. A local official shall file a supplementary statement within ten (10) days after becoming aware of an inaccuracy in any previously filed statement. 
(c)	Within thirty (30) days after leaving office, a local official shall file a statement of economic interest covering the period from the end date of the most recent statement through the last day of service as a local official if information on the most recently filed statement has changed. 
(d)	Individuals required to file a statement of economic interest are subject to the penalty provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 10A.09 and this ordinance. All statements filed with the city clerk shall be public data. (2003-Or-034, § 1, 3-21-03; 2007-Or-066, § 4, 8-31-07) 
15.90. - Post employment restrictions. 
(a) A former local official or employee shall not disclose or use any confidential, private, nonpublic, privileged or proprietary information gained by reason of his or her city employment. 
(b)	During the period of one (1) year after leaving city office or employment:
(1)	A local official, as defined in section 15.280(m)(1) of this ordinance, shall not represent or lobby on behalf of any person or organization on any matter before the city. 
(2)	A local official, as defined in section 15.280(m)(2) of this ordinance, or an employee shall not represent or lobby on behalf of any person or organization on any matter before the city in which the former local official or employee participated. A local official, as defined in section 15.280(m)(3) of this ordinance, may only represent or lobby on behalf of a person or organization on a matter before the city in which the former local official participated when that participation was only advisory in nature. 
(3)	A local official or employee shall not participate as a competitor in any competitive selection process for a city contract, nor shall any city contract be awarded to such a former local official or employee, in which they assisted the city in recommending or approving the project or work to be done or recommending or approving the process to be used. 
(c)	The prohibitions of this section shall not apply to a former local official or employee acting on behalf of the city, its departments, independent boards and commissions, or another governmental agency unless such assistance or representation is adverse to an adopted policy or position of the city. (2003-Or-034, § 1, 3-21-03) 
15.100. - City property. 
A local official or employee shall not engage in or permit the unauthorized use or destruction of city property. (2003-Or-034, § 1, 3-21-03) 
15.110. - Political activity. 
(a) A local official or employee shall not use his or her official authority or influence to compel any person to apply for membership in or become a member of any political organization, to pay or promise to pay a political contribution, or to take part in political activity. 
(b)	A candidate for, or holder of, elective office is subject to the campaign finance and public disclosure provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 10A and Chapter 383B. (2003-Or-034, § 1, 3-21-03) 
15.120. - Loans. 
(a) A local official or employee, or the spouse or domestic partner of the local official or employee, or any entity in which the local official or employee or his or her spouse or domestic partner has a financial interest, shall not apply for, solicit, accept or receive a loan of any amount from any person, organization, or entity that is either doing business with or seeking to do business with the city. However, this section shall not prohibit application for, solicitation for, acceptance of or receipt of a loan from a financial lending institution if the loan is negotiated by unrelated parties, each acting in his or her own self interest and the interest rate charged is at least a market rate. 
(b)	This section shall not prohibit a local official or employee, or the spouse or domestic partner of a local official or employee, from applying for, soliciting, accepting, or receiving a loan from an entity such as an employer-sponsored credit union, insurance provider or deferred compensation plan that does business with the city or is seeking to do business with the city. 
(c)	This section shall not prohibit an appointed local official or employee, or the spouse or domestic partner of an appointed local official or employee, from applying for, soliciting, accepting, or receiving a loan from the Minneapolis Community Development Agency (MCDA), the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP), or another city-sponsored or city-administered loan program. (2003-Or-034, § 1, 3-21-03)