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staff performance should only be made to the city manager through private co esponc <br />conversation. Comments about staff in the office of the city attorney should be ade di <br />the city attorney. Appointed officials should make their comments regarding taff to <br />manager or the Mayor. <br />Do not get involved in administrative functions <br />Elected and appointed officials must not attempt to influence City staff on the <br />appointments, awarding of contracts, selecting of consultants, processing f d <br />applications, or granting of City licenses and permits. [See Code of Ethics] The Sur <br />Charter, Section 807, also contains information about the prohibition of Counci inti <br />administrative functions. <br />B or <br />y to <br />city <br />ng of <br />)ment <br />in <br />Check with City staff on correspondence before taking action <br />Before sending correspondence, Councilmembers should check with City staff to see if a official <br />City response has already been sent or is in progress. Board and commission m mbers all not <br />send correspondence except as authorized under the City's policies gover ing vol nteers. <br />(Council Policv 7.2.19, Boards and Commissions.) <br />Limit requests for staff support <br />Routine secretarial support will be provided to all Councilmembers. The C uncil E cutive <br />Assistant opens all mail for Councilmembers, unless a Councilmember request other <br />arrangements. Mail addressed to the Mayor is reviewed first by the city man ger wh notes <br />suggested action and/or follow-up items. <br />Requests for additional staff support - even in high priority or emergency situati ns - s uld be <br />made to the city manager who is responsible for allocating City resources in or er to m ntain a <br />professional, well-run City government. <br />Do not solicit political support from staff <br />Elected and appointed officials should not solicit any type of political s pport (11 nancial <br />contributions, display of posters or lawn signs, name on support list, etc.) from Ci staff. ity staff <br />may, as private citizens with constitutional rights, support political candidat s but II such <br />activities must be done away from the workplace. <br />3 Elected and Apaointed Officials' Conduct with the Public <br />"If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the orld, a that <br />his heart is no island cut off from other lands, but a continent that joins t them. " <br />Francis Bacon <br />3(a). In Public Meetings <br />Making the public feel welcome is an important part of the democratic proc ss. No igns of <br />partiality, prejudice or disrespect should be evident on the part of individual me bers to ard an <br />individual participating in a public forum. Every effort should be made to be fair and im rtial in <br />listening to public testimony. <br />Be welcoming to speakers and treat them with care and gentleness. Wh7e ques 'ons of <br />clarification may be asked, the official's primary role during public testimony is to isten. <br />"I give many public presentations so standing up in front of a group and using a icropho e is not <br />new to me. But I found that speaking in front of Council was an entirely different xperien . I was <br />incredibly nervous and my voice was shaking. I think the reason was because e issu was so <br />personal to me. The Council was going to take a vote that would affect my fami y's daily life and <br />my home. I was feeling a lot of emotion. The way that Council treats peo le durin public <br />hearings can do a lot to make them relax or to push their emotions to a higher le el of int sity." <br />183 <br />