Vineyard City Council delays adoption of code of conduct, approves closed session on personnel matter

City Attorney Jamie Bikesley presented an overview of open-meetings and ethics requirements and the council discussed a proposed Code of Conduct (Ordinance 2025-01) before voting to continue the ordinance for further work and moving into a closed session to discuss an individual's character or health.

Bikesley told the council that “as you all know, the city council is a public body. You're subject to the open and public meetings act, and that means all of your meetings have to be conducted openly and you have to deliberate openly when you act.” She reviewed notice requirements, minute and recording rules, the criminal penalty for violations and the city’s ethics-disclosure process, including that the city will circulate new disclosure forms and that disclosures will be posted on the city website. She also summarized the Municipal Officers and Employees Ethics Act and the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) as they relate to confidentiality and records.

The council then discussed the…