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Ethics Opinion Summary October 22, 2008 Page 2 QUESTIONS AND BRIEF ANSWERS Based on the above facts, the employee reques ted an advisory opinion on four questions under the Code of Ethics for Public Officials in the C ity of Roseville: 1. While giving the presentati on, may the employee wear attir e that clearly identifies the employee’s employment by the City and status as a public official? Answer : Yes. Although the employee’s attire was purchased with public funds, and identifies the employee’s status as a public official, the employee will not obtain personal or private gain, i.e., anything of value, from wearing the attire. The employee may benefit by wearing the attire because th e attire bolsters the employee’s credibility during the presentation. This benefit, howev er, is intangible a nd not a benefit that clearly falls within the prohibition of S ection 3(C) and (J). 2. In the employee’s capacity as a public official, may the employee solicit civic organizations for financial contributions to help defray the employee’s personal travel and lodging expenses? Answer : No. If the employee approached civic organizations in the employee’s public official capacity and solicited funds for th e employee’s personal trip, the employee’s action would violate the Code of Ethics, Section 3(J), in that the employee would be using public office for personal gain. In ad dition, the employee’s solicitation of funds for personal use may cause the appearance of impropriety and may call into question the employee’s future actions, or inactions, as be ing based on an orga nization’s decision to donate, or not to donate, f unds to the employee. The ap pearance of impropriety and perceptions of favoritism or reprisal are incomp atible with the City’s best interests and contrary to preserving an employee’s inde pendence of judgment and action. (Preamble) 3. In the employee’s capacity as a priv ate citizen, may the employee solicit civic organizations for financial contributions to help defray the employee’s personal travel expenses? Answer : Yes, provided that certain precautions are taken. The Code of Ethics does not prohibit a citizen, who is acting strictly in th e capacity of a private citizen, from asking civic organizations for donations to help pay for a personal trip. However, even when acting in a private capacity, that employee mu st exercise care and take meaningful precautions to ensure that the employee’s public office is not being used for private gain and to avoid the appearance of impropriety.