HomeMy WebLinkAboutWS Item 01 - State Statutes(,) � ITEM s
MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ROGER NELSON, CITY MANAGER*
MEETING DATE: AUGUST 15, 2000
SUBJECT: WORKSESSION - REVIEW OF STATE STATUTES
CONCERNING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND DISCUSSION
OF COUNCIL/BOARDS TRAVEL POLICY
This work session item is in response to several requests from Council Members for
clarification of the State of Texas' statutes regarding conflicts of interest and the City's
travel policy for City Council Members and Boards and Commissions Members. John
Boyle will present the conflicts of interest portion of the work session.
At this time, there is no travel policy specifically tailored to the City Council or Boards
and Commissions. The City has a travel policy that applies to its employees; however,
that policy does not provide clear direction with regards to City Council travel. The City's
involvement in the upcoming session of the legislature and the increased involvement
with sister cities in Mexico and Austria make this an opportune time to discuss the
development of a Council/Boards travel policy.
Staff has reviewed policies from other jurisdictions and there is very little similarity
between the policies. In Southlake, the policy is quite detailed with regards to the trips
each Council Member is allowed to take in any given year. In Richland Hills the policy
does not specify what meetings may be attended, but leaves the travel of the Council,
City Manager, Boards and Commissions up to the discretion of the City Council.
Under the current arrangement, the Council's travel is coordinated by the City Secretary,
the City Manager or the department setting up the Council event. For example, the trip
to Austin for Highway 114 last winter was coordinated by Public Works, the trip to
Austria earlier this summer was done through the CVB and TML this fall is being
coordinated through the City Manager's Office.
A single coordinating point for Council/Board travel is one of the items that needs to be
considered. In addition, guidelines for when a trip is official business and should be
covered under the policy, when it is appropriate for a spouse's expenses to be included,
when it is appropriate to exceed the per diem for meals and what incidental expenses
should be covered are all issues that need to be addressed.
What is being recommended at this time is a general discussion about the issue during
the work session and the appointment of a sub -committee to develop a Council/Boards
travel policy based upon the comments from Council and the information received from
other jurisdictions.
RN
August 9, 2000 (12:58PM)