Council reviews proposed code of conduct updates, including social-media rules and attorney access

The Sunnyside City Council’s rules committee presented proposed revisions to the council code of conduct at the study session, proposing updated language on procedural roles, council-to-staff communications, limits on direct access to the city attorney, social-media guidelines and anti-harassment provisions.

Deputy Mayor Gebaughn led the presentation and explained several changes intended to harmonize the code with the council rules of procedure. He proposed standardizing references to the presiding officer as the “chair,” and clarified that the code should be read in conjunction with the council’s rules of procedure and the Sunnyside Municipal Code. On legal advice, Gebaughn proposed wording encouraging council members to first consider whether legal requests could be routed through the city manager to reduce duplication and cost, while preserving limited direct access to the city attorney for matters such as issues involving the city manager or potential conflicts of interest. “The city attorney's primary obligation is to the city of Sunnyside as a municipal corporation,” he said, adding that the city attorney should provide “impartial, legally sound guidance consistent with laws, city ordinances, and adopted policies.”

Councilors debated the practical effect of routing inquiries through the city manager. Councilor Hart argued the manager should decide which department receives inquiries and cautioned against council members contacting staff directly; Councilor Vasquez raised concerns that routing all requests through the manager could delay time-sensitive responses. The council discussed a middle path of requiring the manager to be copied on direct department inquiries to preserve accountability while allowing timely responses.

The draft also includes a new social-media and electronic-communication section that reminds members that city business communicated over personal platforms may be public records under the Washington State Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) and urges members to identify personal opinions as not official city positions. The code would prohibit harassment, discrimination, and retaliation and direct complaints to the city manager or designated authority under existing city procedures. Revisions add conflict-of-interest language consistent with RCW 42.23 and propose standards for consequences, including training, reprimands, removal from committee assignments and other nonlegal sanctions.

Committee members and the mayor emphasized the document is a set of behavioral expectations, not a legally binding contract; councilors were invited to send suggested edits to the deputy mayor before a formal motion. The council did not adopt final changes at the study session and requested additional review on several items, including attorney access protocol and the social-media wording.