Sec. 602.101. - Legislative intent and declaration of policy; aspirational goals.

It is declared to be the policy of the City of Jacksonville that all officials, officers and employees of the City of Jacksonville and its independent agencies are public servants of the people and hold their positions for the benefit of the public, and that imposing ethical standards upon officials, officers, and employees of all of these agencies serves an important public purpose and serves the public welfare. These public servants shall perform efficiently and faithfully their duties under the laws of the federal, State, and local governments. Such officers and employees shall strive to meet the highest standards of ethics consistent with this Code, regardless of personal considerations, recognizing that maintaining the respect of the people must be their foremost concern. This Code shall serve not only as a basis for discipline of public servants who violate these provisions, but also as an aspirational guide for conduct. The City of Jacksonville consolidated in 1968 in an attempt to create a more responsible government. Since that time, various provisions from State and local law have been created or adapted to guide the ethical behavior of local public servants. This Code coordinates existing laws, adds new provisions outlining guidelines for appropriate behavior, and includes new substantive provisions which impose higher standards and expectations on public servants. Although the people of Jacksonville have learned from and responded to past mistakes, there should be an aspiration to much higher standards. Ethics is defined as the study of the general nature of morals and moral choices to be made by the individual in his or her relationships with others. Ethics is more than the avoidance of criminal behavior. It is a commitment for public servants to take individual responsibility in creating a government that has the trust and respect of its citizens. There needs to be a proactive approach in strengthening the emphasis on ethics and in guiding City officers and employees in upholding them. To preserve and maintain the integrity of responsible government and its decision-making process, the City of Jacksonville believes it is necessary that the identity, activities and expenditures of certain persons who engage in efforts to influence officers and employees of the City on matters within their official cognizance, either by direct communication or by solicitation of others to engage in such efforts, be publicly and regularly disclosed. The provisions and requirements of this Code shall apply to every person who attempts to influence government action, unless such person is clearly exempt herefrom by an express provision hereof. With the above in mind, the City of Jacksonville hereby adopts the following goals for the City ethics program: (a) Promulgate and implement a comprehensive approach to ethics and integrity in Jacksonville government. (b) Promote public confidence in public officers and employees and the ethical operation of government. (c) Promote and ensure compliance with local, State, and federal ethics law. (d) Centralize laws and regulations on the ethical conduct of City officers and employees. (e) Heighten knowledge and understanding of the laws and ethical principles which are the inherent obligations of City officers and employees. (f) Establish a system to train City officers and employees to encourage compliance with these standards and to also provide for periodic review, education and certification on ethics. (g) Enact an Ethics Officer system that will continue to evolve and update our City's ethics program and to provide guidance and education to all City departments. (h) Educate City officers and employees to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Through this comprehensive code and the above-stated goals, the City will strive to elevate the level of ethics in local government, to provide honest and responsible service to the citizens of Jacksonville, and to maintain the confidence and trust of the public that this government serves. (Ord. 97-890-E, § 1; Ord. 2008-839-E, § 1)