2.04.110 Ethics and decorum.
(1) State Ethics Law. Council members will review and observe the requirements of the state ethics law (ORS 244.010 through 244.179).
(2) Conflict of Interest. In every case in which a council member is faced with a potential conflict of interest or actual conflict of interest, as those terms are defined by ORS 244.020, the nature of the conflict must be disclosed during the public meeting and recorded in the minutes. If an actual conflict of interest exists, the council member, after disclosing the nature of the conflict, shall remove themselves from the meeting and refrain from participating in both the discussion and vote on the issue.
(3) General Ethical Standards. Council members shall maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct and assure fair and equal treatment of all persons, claims and transactions before the council. Council members are to refrain from:
(a) Disclosing confidential information or making use of special knowledge or information before it is made available to the general public.
(b) Making decisions involving business associates, customers, clients, and competitors.
(c) Requesting preferential treatment for themselves, relatives, associates, clients, coworkers, or friends.
(d) Taking actions which benefit special interest groups at the expense of the city as a whole.
(e) Engaging in repeated violations of these council rules of procedure.
(4) Decorum. In general, council members shall conduct themselves so as to bring credit upon the government of the city of North Bend by respecting these rules of procedure and the rule of law, ensuring nondiscriminatory delivery of public services, and keeping informed concerning the matters coming before the council.
(a) Council members shall preserve decorum during meetings, and shall not, by conversation or action, delay or interrupt the proceedings or refuse to obey the orders of the presiding officer or these rules of procedure.
(b) Members of the city staff and all other persons attending meetings shall observe the council’s rules of procedure and adhere to the same standards of decorum as council members.
(c) The presiding officer shall preserve decorum during meetings and shall decide all points of order, subject to appeal of the council.
(d) Any person or persons who disrupts a meeting, making it impossible for the meeting to be conducted, shall be removed from the room if the sergeant-at-arms is so directed by the presiding officer. In case the presiding officer should fail to act, any member of the council may obtain the floor and move to require enforcement of this section; upon affirmative vote of the majority present, the sergeant-at-arms shall be authorized to remove the person or persons, as if the presiding officer had so directed. Before the sergeant-at-arms is directed to remove any person from a council meeting for conduct described herein, that person should be given a warning by the presiding officer to cease their conduct. A warning is not required, but will generally be given to provide the person an opportunity to correct their behavior.
(e) All members of the council and city staff are to refer to council members and the mayor by their title and last name during council meetings and work sessions. (Ord. 2052 § 1, 2021)