The Sandy City Planning Commission convened on March 5, 2026. The day began with a field trip at 4:00 PM, followed by an executive session at 5:15 PM which included the annual state-required ethics training for commissioners and staff. The regular meeting was called to order at 6:15 PM in the Council Chambers. Seven commissioners were present (Cameron Duncan, David Hart, Ron Mortimer, Daniel Schoenfeld, Steven Wrigley, Jennifer George, LaNiece Davenport). Commissioners Dave Bromley and Craig Kitterman were absent. The Commission addressed five public hearing items and conducted administrative business.
So one of uh the items that we can train on is ethics. Um that's what we're gonna do tonight. So as planning commissioners, you are functioning in a city capacity and have to follow the ethics rules that we all have to follow as well. Uh similar to our public officials uh that are elected, uh any city employees, we all have to follow the same part of that text. And so this is a training that the city puts on for us every year, and so we're gonna share that with you all tonight. Um every year you're also required to provide disclosures to the city. And this will explain the reason why you have this supply those and the ethical reasons for doing so. We'll go through that and uh let me know if you have any questions as we go. I'll refer to this act as the ethics act throughout this training. The state ethics act is found at Utah Code annotated beginning with section ten. The ethics act applies to all Sandy City. Elected officers, which means the mayor and city council members, appointed officers, which uh includes statutory officers like your department directors, and the planning commission, board of adjustment, and other city boards and committees. And it applies to all full and part-time municipal employees. The ethics act does two things. It establishes standards of conduct and it describes conflicts of interest that must be disclosed, some in writing and some must be disclosed verbally. If the gift would tend improperly to influence you to depart from the faithful and impartial discharge of your public duties, or if you know the gift is primarily to reward you for taking official action. The Ethics Act doesn't provide much guidance on what a gift is. The Ethics Act describes two things. First, a substantial economic benefit tantamount to a gift. This phrase includes a loan at an interest rate that is substantially lower than the commercial rate than currently prevalent for some similar loans, and compensation received for private services rendered at a rate substantially more than the fair market value of the services. Those are just two examples. Second, the Ethics Act refers to gifts of substantial value. But the Ethics Act does not define the term substantial value. The Ethics Act then tells us what is not a gift. The following four things are not gifts. An occasional non-pecuniary gift valued at less than $50, an award publicly presented in recognition of public services, any bona fide loan made in the ordinary course of business, and a political campaign contribution. Unfortunately, the Ethics Act does not provide any other guidance. Assume you work for Parks and Rec. The department has decided to request proposals for to purchase new lawn mowing equipment. A friend of yours works for short grass mowing products located in Madison, Wisconsin. Their friend calls and discloses that shortgrass mowing products intends to submit a proposal to the city. And your friend invites you to travel to Wisconsin to inspect and test its law and mowing products. Of course, the city pays your travel to Wisconsin, but while you're in Wisconsin, your friend offers to take you and a coworker to a Green Bay Packers football game. The cost of the tickets is $150 per ticket. Tickets are gifts and you should decline them. It's not always easy to determine what is or is not a gift. So the safest course for you as a city employee is if anyone offers you anything, decline and ask your supervisor. Next, let's talk about private controlled or protected information that you receive or have access to as a city employee. Pursuant to the Ethics Act, you may not improperly use or disclose such information. The term improper disclosure means giving information to any person who does not have the right and need to receive the information. The term improper use means to use the information to further substantially your personal economic interest or to obtain privileges or exemptions for you or others. The terms private, controlled, and protected are defined expressly in the Government Records Access and Management Act, also known as Gramma. The definition of those terms is beyond the scope of this training. So the safest course for you as an employee? Treat all information as private, controlled, or protected, and ask your supervisor before disclosing any information. Now let's talk about using your position at the city. Pursuant to the Ethics Act, you may not use or attempt to use your city position to further substantially your personal economic interest or to obtain privileges or exemptions for you or others. Assume you work for the police department. You own investment property in Sandy City, and there's some vacant property next door. A development is being proposed for the vacant property that you believe will increase the value of your own investment property.