Council discussed the ethics ordinance and potential changes at a Wednesday meeting. Action will be taken later this summer.
“This is something I’ve been wanting to talk about for several years, but something worth doing right is going to take some time,” Mayor Linda Anthony said. “We’re not starting from scratch, rather we are building on past councils’ recognition that even though it’s not required to have an ethics ordinance, West Lake Hills residents would like to see one.”
The original ethics ordinance was adopted in 2007. Recently, the city hired Jack Gullahorn, an attorney involved primarily in ethics work, to conduct a study of the old code and draft potential changes.
The draft provided a variety of options for the council to pursue, such as creating an ethics committee made up of members of the public.
“My belief is the public wants the government to be as responsive and ethical as it can be,” Gullahorn told council members. “Cynicism is high right now and that flows all the way down.”
The draft also listed the key topics to be considered:
- The purpose clause
- The definition of “city official”
- Conflicts of interest
- Gifts and benefits
- Other provisions of significant recommended change
- Proposal for a West Lake Hills public ethics board or modification to the current process.
Anthony said she would also like to refine language indicating required, continued ethics training for city officials and employees.
Development proposals for Westlake Drive land now being accepted
The council unanimously approved the request for proposals for the sale of city land at 110 Westlake Drive.
A draft of the request for proposals was discussed at the May 9 meeting. City staff made the changes recommended by City Council before bringing it back for approval.
The 2.46 acres of land will be sold for residential development only. There will be a maximum of five new homes allowed, all utilities will be required to be underground and there will be a $1.4 million minimum bid for the property. Traffic impact, noise and light levels are also elements that will be considered in developers’ proposals.
Developers will have until mid-September to submit proposals.
The proposals will be submitted online for the public to view and how the options are discussed will depend on how many proposals are received. They could be considered at a City Council meeting or a specially scheduled town hall meeting where residents will have the opportunity to speak.
