A. Purpose. The Bellevue city council has adopted a code of ethics for members of the city council and council-appointed public bodies to promote public confidence in the integrity of local government and its fair operation. This code of ethics will provide the basis for education and training for city officials, both elected and appointed, to ensure that the highest standards and best practices with regard to ethics will be followed.

B. Intent. The citizens and businesses of Bellevue are entitled to have fair, ethical and accountable local government that has earned the public’s full confidence. It is further the intent that city officials be permitted to fulfill their duties to represent the public to the greatest extent possible unless circumstances exist where such engagement is impermissible. Nothing in this chapter is intended to reduce, limit, or restrict the pool of available candidates for service on the council or service on council-appointed public bodies, all of which are either part-time or volunteer positions. It is in the public interest to ensure that barriers to citizen public service are not created by the provisions of this chapter. In keeping with the city of Bellevue’s commitment to excellence, the effective functioning of democratic government therefore requires that: