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JACKSONVILLE, FL
About Jacksonville
Population: In 1996 Jacksonville exceeded 1 Million for the first time.
Web site: www.coj.net
About the Jacksonville Ethics Code
Jacksonville has a strong commitment to ethics in city government.
Ethics is defined as:
"The study of the general nature of morals and moral choices to be made by the individual
in his or her relationships with others."
Ethics is more than the avoidance of criminal behavior. It is a commitment for public
servants to take individual responsibility in creating a government that has the trust
and respect of its citizens.
In May, 1999, the Jacksonville City Council passed a new Ethics Code. This code was
proposed by the Mayor's office and endorsed by the Jacksonville Ethics Commission.
Highlights of the Ethics Code
- The Ethics Code establishes, for the first time, aspirational goals for the conduct of city employees. It establishes proactive goals for the development of ethics in city government. Therefore, the concept is not just avoidance of criminal behavior but the creation of a government that has the trust and respect of its citizens.
- The Ethics Code creates an Ethics Officer who will have duties to encourage compliance with the Code, coordinate ethics training and also develop citywide programs for the attainment of the aspirational goals of the Code. Additionally, each city department will have an ethics officer.
- The Code establishes ethics training for all city employees and the "Ethics in Government Program" which will be provided for elected officials.
- The Code assembles all current ethics related ordinances into one location within the Jacksonville Ordinance Code for easy reference and training.
- The Code incorporates existing state law provisions on financial disclosure and gifts and makes them applicable to additional categories of city employees, including all appointed employees.
- The Code creates a new campaign ethics law for city employees.
- The Code places restrictions on city employees who have other employment or interests which may cause a conflict of interest and requires all appointed employees to participate in official investigations.
- The Code expands lobbying registration requirements to include those who lobby city officers or employees.
- The Code expands the role of the Jacksonville Ethics Commission in monitoring compliance with training requirements and financial and gift disclosure reporting requirements.
Exciting developments in Jacksonville
Jacksonville hosted the NFL SuperBowl in 2005. This was a huge undertaking and bodes well for the future of this city. Interestingly, Jacksonville is the smallest city to ever host the SuperBowl, perhaps highlighting it's especially attractive climate, location, and facilities.
