C. Enforcement. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-6-110, any former City official or employee who knowingly violates the provisions of this Section may be liable in a civil action brought by the District Attorney, the City Attorney, or by a special prosecutor authorized by the City Council, for a fine of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per violation, in addition to such other penalties or remedies as may be available. Sec. 1-6-108. No nepotism. A. All hiring decisions shall be made on the basis of merit and in accordance with the City's Personnel Rules and Procedures, which establish limits and guidelines on the employment of relatives, in order to avoid problems associated with supervision, safety, or morale. B. City officials and employees shall not influence or attempt to influence the awarding of a City contract to or execution of a City agreement with a relative as defined in Section 2 of the City's Personnel Rules and Procedures. Sec. 1-6-109. Whistle blower protection. To the extent not otherwise prohibited by State law, City officials and employees shall not use or threaten to use any official authority or influence to discourage, restrain or interfere with or to effect a reprisal against any person, including but not limited to a City official or employee, for the purpose or with the intent of preventing such person from acting in good faith to report or otherwise bring to the attention of the City or other appropriate agency, office or department, any information that, if true, would constitute a gross waste of City funds, a gross abuse of authority, a specified and substantial danger to public health or safety due to any act or omission of an City official or employee, or the use of a City office or position or of City resources for personal gain. Sec. 1-6-110. Enforcement. A. This division expresses standards of ethical conduct expected for City officials and employees. As an expression of such standards, this division is intended to be self-enforcing for the most part. City officials and employees themselves have the primary responsibility to assure that ethical standards are understood and met, and that the public can continue to have full confidence in the integrity of government. It will be most effective when City officials and employees are thoroughly familiar with the expressed standards and embrace them. B. A violation of this division shall not be considered and shall not constitute a basis for challenging the validity of any decision by the City Council or any other body or agency of the City. C. All suspected violations of this division that also pertain to provisions of the Political Reform Act (California Government Code section 81000 et seq.) should be reported to the Fair Political Practices Commission of the State of California. D. All suspected violations of this division that may independently constitute criminal offenses, including those outside of the purview of the Fair Political Practices Commission, should be reported to the office of the Orange County District Attorney.
City of Irvine Candidate Handbook
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