City of Chino
Code of Conduct for Council Members,
Commissioners, Committee Members and Board Members
Adopted October 15, 2024
1. Act in the Public Interest
Recognizing that stewardship of the public interest must be their primary concern, members (Council Members, Commissioners, Committee Members and Board Members) will work for the common good of the people of Chino and not for any private or personal interest and they will assure fair and equal treatment of all persons, claims and transactions coming before the Chino City Council, Commissions, Committees and Boards.
Council Members will maintain a citywide perspective while being mindful of Council districts. Direction will be provided as a body, not as an individual.
2. Comply with the Law
Members shall comply with the laws of the nation, the State of California and the City of Chino in the performance of their public duties. These laws include but are not limited to the United States and California constitutions; the Chino Municipal Code; laws pertaining to conflicts of interest, election campaigns and open processes of government; and City ordinances, resolutions, and policies.
3. Conduct of Members
The professional and personal conduct of members must be above reproach and avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Members shall refrain from abusive conduct, use of inappropriate language or profanity, personal charges or verbal attacks upon character or motives of other members of the Council, Commissions, Committees, Boards, staff or members of the public. Members shall exhibit respect for all people and shall be sensitive to different cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds.
4. Respect for Process
Members shall perform their duties in accordance with the processes and rules of order established by the City Council, Commissions, Committees and Boards governing the deliberation of public policy issues, meaningful involvement of the public, and implementation of policy decisions of the City Council by City staff.
Timelines are critica l, with projects and members of the team under time constraints.
Timelines and time constraints are to be respected.
5. Conduct of Public Meetings
Members shall prepare themselves for public issues, listen courteously and attentively to all public discussions before the body, and focus on the business at hand. They shall refrain from interrupting other speakers, making personal comments not germane to the business of the body, or otherwise interfering with the orderly conduct of meetings.
If disagreements arise, members are to disagree agreeably and professionally. The members are to work together as a body, modeling teamwork and civility in our community.
EXHIBIT A
City of Chino
Code of Conduct for Council Members, Commissioners, Committee Members and Board Members
2 6. Conflict of Interest
In order to assure their independence and impartiality on behalf of the common good, members shall not use their official positions to influence government decisions in which they have a material financial interest, or where they have an organizational responsibility or personal relationship which may give the appearance of a conflict of interest.
In accordance with the law, members shall disclose investments, interests in real property, sources of income, and gifts, and they shall abstain from participating in deliberations and decision-making where conflicts may exist.
7. Gifts and Favors
Members shall not take any special advantage of services or opportunities for personal gain, by virtue of their public office, that are not available to the public in general. They shall refrain from accepting any gifts, favors or promises of future benefi ts which might compromise their independence of judgment or action or give the appearance of being compromised.
8. Confidential Information
Members shall respect the confidentiality of information concerning the property, personnel or affairs of the City. They shall neither disclose confidential information without proper legal authorization, nor use such information to advance their personal, financial or other private interests.
Accurate and timely i nformation is key to knowledgeable decision- making and quality public policy. Members are to share information with others on the Council in accordance with the law and keep staff informed, through the City Manager, to avoid surprises.
9. Use of Public Resources
Members shall not use public resources not available to the public in general, such as City staff time, equipment, supplies or facilities, for private gain or personal purposes.
10. Representation of Private Interests
In keeping with their role as stewards of the public interest, Council Members shall not appear on behalf of the private interests of third parties before the Council or any Commission, Committee, Board or proceeding of the City, nor shall members of Commissions, Committees or Boards appear before their own bodies or before the Council on behalf of the private interests of third parties on matters related to the areas of service of their bodies.
11. Advocacy
Members shall represent the official policies of the City Council, Commission, Committee or Board to the best of their ability when designated as delegates for this purpose. When presenting their individual opinions or positions, members shall explicitly state they do not represent their body or the City of Chino, nor will they allow the inference that they do.
City of Chino
Code of Conduct for Council Members, Commissioners, Committee Members and Board Members
3 12. Policy Role of Members
Members shall respect and adhere to the council -manager structure of Chino city government as outlined by the City's Municipal Code. In this structure, the City Council determines the policies of the City with the advice, information and analysis provided by the public, Commissions, Committees and Boards, and City staff. The roles of each party are to be respected.
Except as provided in the Chino Municipal Code, members therefore should not interfere with the administrative functions of the City or the professional duties of City staff; nor should members impair the ability of staff to implement Council decisions. Members are to refrain from attempting to direct City staff.
13. Long-Term Strategic Planning
A strategic plan serves as a long-term roadmap to prioritize, strategize, and budget to meet the City’s organizational goals. It is a plan of action that defines the City’s Mission, Vision, and Goals that outlines a long- term blueprint for achieving these goals. Additionally, it creates alignment across the City as well as within departments.
Council Members are to establish a Council consensus on goals and priorities and to focus on those. They are to utilize long-range plans to provide big picture context that is realistic and achievable.
14. Independence of Commissions, Committees and Boards
Because of the value of the independent advice of Commissions, Committees and Boards to the public decision- making process, members of the Council shall refrain from using their position to unduly influence the deliberations or outcomes of Commission, Committee and Board proceedings.
15. Positive Workplace Environment
Members shall support the maintenance of a positive and constructive workplace environment for City employees and for citizens and businesses dealing with the City.
Members shall recognize their special role in dealings with City employees in order to not create the perception of inappropriate direction to staff. Concerns about staff are to be communicated to the City Manager. Staff is not to be criticized in public.
16. Implementation
As an expression of the standards of conduct for members expected by the City, the Chino Code of Conduct is intended to be self-enforcing. It therefore becomes most effective when members are thoroughly familiar with it and embrace its provisions.
For this reason, standards of conduct shall be included in the regular orientations for candidates for City Council, applicants to Commissions, Committees and Boards, and newly elected and appointed officials. Members entering office shall sign a statement affirming they read and understood the City of Chino Code of Conduct. The Code of City of Chino
Code of Conduct for Council Members, Commissioners, Committee Members and Board Members
4 Conduct is to be signed annually by members of each applicable body. It is to be reviewed annually by the City Council to ensure continued commitment to the Code of Conduct and to consider potential amendments.
17. Compliance
The City of Chino Code of Conduct expresses standards of conduct expected for members of the Chino City Council, Commissions, Committees and Boards. Members themselves have the responsibility to assure that standards of conduct are understood and met and that the public can continue to have full confidence in the integrity of local government.
Failure to comply with this Code of Conduct may result in the City Council imposing sanctions against the alleged violator. These sanctions may include the following:
reprimand, formal censure, loss of seniority and/or loss of committee assignments. In the case of Commissioners, Committee Members or Board Members, the City Council may also remove the alleged violator from the position.
The City Council may consider sanctions against a member (Council Member, Commissioner, Committee Member or Board Member) if one or more Council Members ask that the City Council consider such action. The recommended sanction(s) must be approved by a simpl e majority vote of the non -accused Council Members in order for a sanction or sanctions to be imposed.
18. Validity of Council, Commission, Committee or Board Action A violation of this code shall not be considered a basis for challenging the validity of a City Council, Commission, Committee or Board action.