Plano City Council members will be allowed to openly endorse or oppose political candidates in future elections after approving a change to the city's code of conduct.

The policy update, which council members passed unanimously on Wednesday, removes restrictions on council members using the “influence or prestige” of their offices to endorse or oppose political candidates. Those same restrictions regarding endorsements remain in force for city employees, as determined by state law.

The council had considered a version of the proposal in May, but council members at the time voted to table a vote on the ordinance until after the June 10 council runoffs.

The ordinance updating the policy included other amendments that City Attorney Paige Mims said were crafted to make city policy more consistent with state law.

Council OKs funding for fire training facility design, other items


Plano City Council also approved a nearly $1.4 million contract to design a fire training facility near where McDermott Drive meets Robinson Road in northwest Plano.

The fire training facility would cost an estimated $12.5 million—funding that voters approved in a May 6 bond referendum.

The council also approved about $3 million for a contract to stabilize failing slopes along Russell Creek Drive. The project is expected to last eight months, and will install a pedestrian bridge that will cross the creek and connect trails on the north and south sides.

Another $635,874 expenditure was approved to replace 18 hail-damaged police vehicles.