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A. The city council creates the position of ethics officer. The city manager will interview and choose the ethics officer(s) subject to confirmation by the city council. The ethics officer shall serve for a minimum one-year term under contract with the city of Bothell. The ethics officer shall be admitted to the practice of law and shall have sufficient experience and training. The city staff liaison and support for the ethics officer shall be the city attorney. The ethics officer shall act as legal counsel for the city under the direction of the city attorney for administrative purposes but shall perform the duties specified in this code independently and free of interference from city staff and officials. In the event that the currently appointed ethics officer is unavailable or unable to act for any reason, the city manager shall have authority to appoint a pro tem ethics officer to serve as needed.

B. The ethics officer will provide for annual review of this code of ethics, review of training materials provided for education regarding the code of ethics, and advisory opinions concerning the code of ethics. The ethics officer shall also be responsible for the prompt and fair enforcement of its provisions when necessary, and shall at all times maintain the impartiality of the office by revealing information provided to the officer only in the context of rendering opinions to the city and its officials and staff as necessary or in response to legal process.

C. The ethics officer, in addition to other duties, may recommend changes or additions to this code of ethics to the city council designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of processing ethics questions.

D. In rendering opinions under BMC 2.13.070 or 2.13.080, the ethics officer shall consider the intent subsection contained in BMC 2.13.010 and in RCW 42.23.010. (Ord. 2182 § 1 (Exh. A), 2015).