Consultant conflicts of interest.
Sarasota Code § 2-363
in effectSec. 2-363. - Consultant conflicts of interest.
(a)
Prohibiting contracts where conflicts are found to exist. The city shall not engage in contracts with consultants or professionals whose prior record, work history, and experience indicate ongoing business relationships that may be substantially in conflict with the duties and services that will be required by the city.
(b)
Standards and regulations for the determination of potential conflicting contractual obligations. The city manager or designee is authorized to develop standards and regulations for the prospective determination of potential conflicting contractual obligations that may impair the performance of the professionals or consultants solicited by the city. The standards and regulations shall set forth appropriate requirements based upon the nature and scope of the services that are to be procured and shall be narrowly tailored so as to not unduly restrict competition, while assuring the city of undivided loyalty and services of the highest quality. The standards and regulations may require, but shall not be limited to, the inclusion of the following in a request for proposals, invitation for bids, announcement or other solicitation, or contract for professional or consulting services:
(1)
An affidavit providing that the professional or consultant is not currently engaged or will not become engaged in any obligations, undertakings or contracts that will require the professional to maintain an adversarial role against the city or that will impair or influence the advice or recommendations provided to the city;
(2)
The disclosure of all potentially conflicting contractual relationships and the full disclosure of contractual relationships deemed to raise a serious question of conflicts.
(c)
Consequences for violation of ethical standards. In addition to any other penalty or consequence provided for in law or this division, any professional or consultant submitting false information to or on behalf of the city, disclosing or releasing information concerning an actual or planned procurement activity which information is deemed confidential, or is otherwise not known to the general public, or otherwise repeatedly failing to comply with the city's ethical standards and regulations, shall be deemed to be in violation of this division and shall be subject to prosecution, state ethics complaints, reporting to professional or licensing authorities, contract cancellation, suspension and/or debarment, as the city deems appropriate.
(Ord. No. 26-5588, § 2, 3-2-26)
Source: City of Sarasota, Florida, Code of Ordinances and Zoning Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/sarasota/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIITHCO_CH2AD_ARTVIFIPUSA_DIV3PRCO_S2-363COCOINFetched: 11/14/2026