The citizens and businesses of Poway are entitled to responsible, fair and honest local government which has earned the public's full confidence for integrity. The proper operation of democratic government requires that decision-makers be independent, impartial, and accountable to those they serve.
Accordingly, the Poway City Council has adopted this Code of Ethics to:
1. Describe the standards of behavior to which its leaders aspire;
2. Provide an ongoing source of guidance to City officials in their day-to-day service to the City; and
3. Promote and maintain a culture of ethics.
This Code of Ethics builds upon the City of Poway's Ideals, which include:
• Open and Honest Communication at All Times;
• Mutual Respect; and
• Honor of the Public Trust as Stewards of the Community.
Elected officials, officers, employees, members of committees and commissions, and volunteers shall comply with the laws of the nation, the State of California and the City of Poway in the performance of their public duties. These laws include, but are not limited to:
the United States and California constitutions; the Poway Municipal Code, laws pertaining to conflicts of interest, election campaigns, financial disclosures, employer responsibilities, and open processes of government; and City ordinances and policies.
The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to set a standard of conduct for all elected officials, officers, employees, members of committees and commissions, and volunteers for the City of Poway. The Code will be reviewed and evaluated periodically. 20 of 24 ATTACHMENT C February 4, 2025, Item #9
Resolution No. 056
We maintain Open and Honest Communication at All Times
• I am honest and forthright with my fellow officials, the public and others, even when it is uncomfortable to do so.
• I encourage diverse public engagement in our decision-making processes and support the public's right to know.
We maintain Mutual Respect
• I treat my fellow City officials, staff and the public with patience, courtesy and civility, even when we disagree on what is best for the community . • I promote consistency, equity and non-discrimination in public agency decision-making.
We Honor the Public Trust as Stewards of the Community
• I am a steward of the public trust.
• I understand that the community expects me to serve with dignity and respect for my office, as well as to be an agent of the democratic process acting in the public interest. • I avoid actions that might cause the public to question my independent judgment. • I do not use my office or the resources of the City for personal or political gain. • I am a prudent steward of public resources and actively consider the impact of my decisions on the financial and social stability of the City and its residents . • I understand that as an elected official, or as a representative appointed by the City Council, I cannot act on behalf of, or commit the City to any action or policy that has not been authorized by the City Council.
• I am prepared to make decisions in the public's best interest based on the merits and substance of the matter at hand, and to take responsibility for my actions, whether those decisions are popular or not.
We will hold ourselves as individuals and the City of Poway organization as a whole accountable for acting consistently with this Code of Ethics. 21 of 24
Adopted June 6, 2006
Amended October 16, 2012
February 4, 2025, Item #9
RESOLUTION NO. 25-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
POWAY, CALIFORNIA, CENSURING COUNCILMEMBER
ARTHUR (TONY) BLAIN FOR VIOLATIONS OF COUNCIL
POLICIES, POWAY MUNICIPAL CODE, AND RELATED
MISCONDUCT
WHEREAS, the City of Poway is a municipal corporation and general law City in the state of California;
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court has long recognized the practice of censuring legislative body members, which has been more commonly observed at the state and local level, and as early as 1833 (Houston Community College System v. Wilson (2022) 595 U.S. 468,475);
WHEREAS, public officials have the authority to censure an individual member of a legislative body (Braun v. City of Taff (1984) 154 Cal.App.3d 332, 347-348); WHEREAS, in addition to this common law authority, section of 2.04.100(0) of the Poway Municipal Code ("PMC") also expressly authorizes the City Council to censure an individual member of the City Council, by majority vote, for any violations of the PMC, including but not limited to the other provisions of section 2.04.100;
WHEREAS, a censure is one approach of distancing the public agency from inappropriate and/or unlawful behaviors that interfere with the agency's ability to conduct the public's business and protect its employees and the public;
WHEREAS, PMC section 2.04.1 O0(A) states that "the professional and personal conduct of members of the City Council must be above reproach and members should take steps to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Members shall refrain from abusive conduct, personal charges or verbal attacks upon the character or motives of other members of the Council, commissions, boards and committees, the staff or public;" WHEREAS, Councilmember Blain's (1) attempts to engage in vote trading with Councilmember De Hoff, (2) threating to take adverse action, including initiating a recall, against Councilmember De Hoff if he did not vote as Councilmember Blain desired, (3) apparently following through on that threat, and (4) threatening an applicant for the open City Council seat with the same adverse action, is improper, abusive, unprofessional, unbecoming of a Councilmember, and likely felonies under the California Penal Code 86 (see, Attachment A to the February 4, 2025 agenda report);
WHEREAS, Councilmember Blain's attempts to use law enforcement against members of the public in response to their negative, but non-threatening, emails to his official City email account, and informing members of the public to never email his official City email account again or he will call law enforcement, is an abuse of City and County resources, improper, abusive, unprofessional, unbecoming of a Councilmember, and likely unlawful under the First Amendment and otherwise (see, Attachment B to the February 4, 2025 agenda report); WHEREAS, such abusive, unprofessional, threatening, reckless, potentially felonious and otherwise unlawful behavior not only poses legal risks to the City and Councilmember Blain 22 of 24 ATTACHMENT D February 4, 2025, Item #9
Resolution No. 25-
personally, but also has the potential to compromise the City's reputation, strategic objectives, relationships with staff, current and potential outside consultants and contractors, and erode the public's trust in its leadership;
WHEREAS, the conduct discussed above qualifies, at a minimum, as the appearance of impropriety, and likely actual impropriety (i.e., illegal conduct), in violation of PMC section
2.04.1 00(A);
WHEREAS, the conduct discussed above also qualifies as abusive conduct against Councilmember De Hoff, now Councilmember Pikus, and several members of the public, in violation of PMC section 2.04.100(A);
WHEREAS, the conduct discussed above and evidenced in Attachments A and B also violates the City's Code of Ethics, available on the City's website at https://poway.orgl4941Code of-Ethics, as Councilmember Blain's conduct failed to maintain open & honest communication, mutual respect, or honor the public trust; and
WHEREAS, the subject member, Councilmember Tony Blain, was given an opportunity to be heard prior to a vote on the censure, which the Council provided during the City Council's February 4, 2025, regular open session meeting.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Poway as follows:
SECTION 1: That the above recitals are true and correct, and are incorporated herein by this reference, as if set forth fully herein;
SECTION 2: The City Council hereby finds that Councilmember Blain has violated PMC section 2.04.100 with the unlawful and abusive conduct described in the recitals above, the February 4, 2025 agenda report regarding the proposed censure, and Attachments A and B thereto.
SECTION 3: The City Council hereby finds that Councilmember Blain has violated the City's Code of Ethics with the unlawful and abusive conduct described in the recitals above, the February 4, 2025 agenda report regarding the proposed censure, and Attachments A and B thereto
SECTION 4. Councilmember Blain is hereby censured for these violations of PMC section
2.04.100 and the City's Code of Ethics.
SECTION 5. Councilmember Blain is directed to refrain from taking any adverse, punitive, or other retaliatory action against any person who participated or whom he perceives participated in this censure.
SECTION 6. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
II
II
II
23 of24 February 4, 2025, Item #9
Resolution No. 25-
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Poway, California on this 4th day of February, 2025 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAINED:
ABSENT:
DI SQUALi Fl ED:
Steve Vaus, Mayor
ATTEST:
Carrie Gallagher, City Clerk
24 of 24 February 4, 2025, Item #9