Ethics Code

The City of Scottsdale Code of Ethical Behavior ("Ethics Code") became effective on July 1, 2006. The Ethics Code applies to all elected and appointed City officials. This page gives an overview of some of the key requirements of the Ethics Code, as well as forms that all City officials must complete and submit.

Background

The Code of Ethical Behavior ("Ethics Code") was adopted by the City Council as Ordinance No. 3675 (Scottsdale Revised Code Sections 2-47 through 2-58 ) on May 2 and became effective July 1.

Download Ordinance No. 3675  (PDF)

The Ordinance also includes Section 2-243, which makes the Ethics Code applicable to appointed boards and commissions. Exhibit A to the Ordinance is entitled "City of Scottsdale-Sampling of Public Service Ethics Laws Applicable to City Officials” and Exhibit B is the “Personal Interest Disclosure Form”.

Legal requirements

The Ethics Code requires that all elected officials (Mayor and City Council members) and appointed officials (board, commission, task force members) perform certain acts before engaging in official duties. The required actions are described below and are accompanied by the form developed for each.

Agreement to comply with all laws and Ethics Code

Subsection 2-48(c) of the Scottsdale Revised Code (SRC) provides that:

(c) As a prerequisite for exercising any power of office, each city official is required to read and agree in writing to comply with the provisions of [the constitution and laws of the United States of America, the constitution and laws of the State of Arizona, and the charter, laws, and policies of the City of Scottsdale applicable to city officials] and this ethics code, as well as to participate annually in continuing education workshops regarding public service ethics.

The form to be executed to comply with this requirement is available below:

Download Ethics Agreement Form  (PDF)

Personal Interest Disclosure Form

SRC 2-49(f) provides that:

(f) As a prerequisite for exercising any power of office, a city official is required to read, complete, and submit to the city clerk the Personal Interest Disclosure Form, shown below, before participating in her or his first meeting and before January 31 of every year of continued service to the city.

The Personal Interest Disclosure Form to be executed to comply with this requirement is available below:

Download Personal Interest Disclosure Form (PDF)

Ethics Training

At the same time the City Council adopted the Ethics Code in Ordinance No. 3675, it passed and adopted Resolution No. 6879, which is the Public Service Ethics Program for City Officials ("Ethics Program"). The Ethics Program requires that Public Service Ethics Training ("Training") be provided to the Mayor and members of the City Council "no later than within thirty days of being sworn into office and to all other City officials (board, commission and task force members) no later than ninety days of being sworn into office; and once a year thereafter for as long as the City officials serve the City."