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Tualatin adopts food, beverage and apparel policy to comply with state ethics guidance
Summary
The council adopted Resolution 5924-25 to allow the city manager discretion to authorize food, beverage and apparel expenditures within adopted budgets after a May 2025 Oregon Government Ethics Commission advisory opinion restricted officials from accepting city-paid items without a formal policy.
The Tualatin City Council voted to adopt Resolution 5924-25, a food, beverage and apparel policy for elected and appointed city public officials intended to align local practice with a May 2025 Oregon Government Ethics Commission advisory opinion.
City Attorney Kevin McConnell explained that the advisory opinion effectively prohibits elected and appointed officials from accepting city-paid food or other items of value unless there is a formal policy or contract authorizing the expenditures. "This is the most exciting agenda item of the night," McConnell said, explaining the policy is intended as budget guidance and a complement to the city's financial policies manual.
McConnell said the policy permits the city manager, within lawful budget parameters, to authorize expenditures for food, beverage and apparel for council meetings, board and commission meetings, and city events outlined in the policy. He described the approach as a commonly used workaround among Oregon cities that avoids the need to amend officials' compensation packages and the tax complications that could arise from doing so.
A motion to adopt Resolution 5924-25 was made and seconded; roll-call votes were recorded as 'aye' and the resolution passed. The policy will be administered by the city manager consistent with the financial policies manual and adopted budgets.
