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Traverse City commission begins review of ethics ordinance; seeks ad hoc and public input
Summary
City attorney outlined options for an ethics ordinance at a Feb. 10 study session; commissioners signaled support for a broadly applicable policy, recommended an ad hoc group to draft language using model guidance, and by consensus asked staff to make prior closed-session material about a vendor contract public.
City officials on Feb. 10 opened a study-session conversation about creating or updating a municipal ethics ordinance, with the city attorney recommending a community‑specific approach and the commission directing staff to pursue an ad hoc drafting process and broader public outreach.
"What I hope for tonight is that we can have, kind of just a broad conversation," City Attorney Lauren Trevulao told commissioners as she summarized research into ethics codes across Michigan. She recommended an ordinance tailored to local priorities and urged the group to treat an ethics code as a "shield and not a sword" — designed to protect the public interest rather than to be used to attack political opponents.
Trambulao urged caution on placing detailed enforcement mechanics in the city charter and recommended instead a charter-level statement (for example, that the city shall have an ethics ordinance) supplemented by a flexible ordinance and administrative procedures that can be updated. The attorney also recommended a universal scope — applying to elected officials, appointed members, volunteers and staff — while recognizing that…
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