Conflicts of interest.
San Antonio City Code § 2-43
in effectSec. 2-43. - Conflicts of interest.
(a) Definitions. For purposes of this rule:
(1) An action is likely to affect an economic interest if it is likely to have an effect on that interest that is distinguishable from its effect on members of the public in general or a substantial segment thereof; and
(2) The term client includes any business, financial or professional relationship to which a duty of care, confidence, trust or privilege applies.
(b) General rule. To avoid the appearance and risk of impropriety, a city official or employee shall not take any official action that they know is likely to affect the economic interests of:
(1) The official or employee;
(2) Their parent, child, spouse, or other family member within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity;
(3) Their outside client;
(4) A member of their household;
(5) The outside employer of the official or employee or of their parent, child (unless the child is a minor), spouse, or member of the household (unless member of household is a minor);
(6) An entity in which the official or employee knows that any of the persons listed in subsections (b)(1) or (b)(2) holds an economic interest as that term is defined in section 2-42;
(7) An entity which the official or employee knows is an affiliated or partner of an entity in which any of the persons listed in subsections (b)(1) or (b)(2) holds an economic interest as defined in section 2-42;
(8) An entity for which the city official or employee serves as an officer or director or in any other policy making position unless they meet all of the following conditions:
a. The person, as a duty of office or job assignment, serves on such board as a representative of the city;
b. The person receives no remuneration, either directly or indirectly, for their service on such board; and
c. The primary nature of the business entity is either charitable, nonprofit, or governmental; or
(9) A person or entity with whom, within the past twelve (12) months:
a. The official or employee, or their spouse, directly or indirectly has:
1. Solicited an offer of employment for which the application is still pending;
2. Received an offer of employment which has not been rejected; or
3. Accepted an offer of employment; or
b. The official or employee, or their spouse, directly or indirectly engaged in negotiations pertaining to business opportunities, where such negotiations are pending or not terminated.
(c) Benefits to previous employers. A city official or employee may not, within twelve (12) months of beginning their employment or service with the city, participate in the making or awarding of a contract or any other matter benefiting a person or business entity that formerly employed the city official or employee during the previous twelve (12) months.
(d) Recusal and disclosure. A city official or employee whose conduct would otherwise violate subsection (b) or (c) must recuse themselves. From the time that the conflict is, or should have been recognized, they shall:
(1) Immediately refrain from further participation in the matter, including discussions with any persons likely to consider the matter; and
(2) Promptly file with the city clerk the appropriate form for disclosing the nature and extent of the prohibited conduct.
In addition:
(3) A supervised employee shall promptly bring the conflict to the attention of their supervisor who will then, if necessary, reassign responsibility for handling the matter to another person; and
(4) A member of a board shall promptly disclose the conflict to other members of the board and shall not be present during the board's discussion of, or voting on, the matter.
(Ord. No. 2013-05-09-0317, § 2(Att. B), 5-9-13; Ord. No. 2018-06-21-0491, § 1(Att. A), 6-21-18; Ord. No. 2024-05-02-0274, § 1(Att. A), 5-2-24)
Source: City of San Antonio, City Code, City Charter and Unified Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/san_antonio/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH2AD_ARTIIICOET_DIV2PROFEM_S2-43COINFetched: 10/27/2026