§ 602.402. Prohibited representations and appearances, petitions for exemption.

(a)

Representations against the City. It shall be a violation of this Chapter for an elected official or employee of the City or an independent agency, otherwise than in the proper discharge of his or her official duties, to represent any other person or entity against the City or an independent agency, or to receive any proceeds from any such representation.

(b)

Appearances before City Bodies. It shall be a violation of this Chapter for an elected official or employee of the City or an independent agency, otherwise than in the proper discharge of his or her official duties, to appear before any City department, agency, board or commission, except on behalf of the City or on behalf of himself, herself, or his or her parents, spouse or child.

(c)

Board and Commission Members. Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to any appointed official who is not an elected official or employee, except subsections (a) and (b) do apply as to matters against and appearances before that appointed official's own board, commission or agency, and to departments or agencies over which that appointed official's board, commission or agency has jurisdiction.

(d)

Petitions for Exemption. An officer, employee or appointed official subject to the prohibition of this section who believes his or her representation will not interfere with the full and faithful discharge of such person's official duties may submit a written petition for relief from this section to the Jacksonville Ethics Commission. The Chair of the Jacksonville Ethics Commission shall appoint a committee of not less than three Ethics Commissioners to rule upon the petition for relief. The decision of whether to grant relief from this section shall be made in accordance with the policy set forth in F.S. § 112.316 and the opinions interpreting § 112.316 issued by the Florida Commission on Ethics. Said petition for relief shall be set on the agenda of a public meeting within 20 business days of receipt of the petition, and ruled on at the conclusion of the meeting. Nothing in this provision shall be construed to require the disclosure of any information protected by the attorney-client privilege or the waiver of such privilege.

(e)

Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect, or in any way interfere with, any state or federal law.

(Ord. 2018-822-E , § 3)

Editor's note

Ord. 2018-822-E , §§ 2 and 3, amended the Code by repealing former § 602.402, and adding a new § 602.402. Former § 602.402 pertained to activities of officers and employees in matters affecting the City, and derived from Ord. 97-890-E; Ord. 2011-232-E; and Ord. 2014-457-E.