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West Covina council orders repeal-and-replace of 25-year-old standing rules, directs code of conduct update
Summary
Council directed staff to draft a new code of conduct and updated standing rules after extensive council debate about office hours, badge access, confidentiality, ADA accommodations and enforcement; staff said a proposed replacement will return to council for adoption in early 2026.
The City Council on Dec. 16 voted to direct staff to prepare a replacement for the city's 25-year-old standing rules and to develop a code of conduct that clarifies decorum, office hours, badge access, use of city facilities, confidentiality and consequences for violations.
Assistant City Manager Roxanne Lerma told the council staff had reviewed standing rules adopted in 2000 and municipal code provisions and recommended a repeal-and-replace approach. The request grew from recurring concerns raised at recent meetings about councilmembers' interactions with staff and each other, public disruptions, and the absence of a clear, modern enforcement mechanism.
Council members asked for specific provisions: appointment-only office hours and limits on after-hours badge access to city facilities; prohibition on using city copy machines for large personal print runs; clear confidentiality obligations and code-specified consequences for violations; and a requirement that communications to staff flow through the city manager as part of the city-manager form of government.
Council also discussed ADA accommodations for elected officials and staff. The city manager and city attorney agreed to include legal review and training in the staff-led work plan and to ensure any code language complies with state and federal law.
"We should probably just repeal and replace completely and then elaborate on not only the items identified," the acting city manager said, describing sample language drawn from other cities and JPIA (insurance/training partner).
Next steps: City staff said they will return with draft standing rules and a code of conduct at a future meeting (targeted for January/February 2026), including recommended hours, enforcement mechanisms, and input from the city attorney and HR. Staff also said it will coordinate required trainings for staff and elected officials and will prepare recommended language regarding reasonable accommodations and confidentiality.
Representative quotes: "I want to make sure that the badge is on there as well," Mayor Lehi Lopez Villara said, referring to limiting after-hours access.
"We will also coordinate that we're truly capturing not only the direction the council would like us to head, but to check off those legality boxes as well," Assistant City Manager Roxanne Lerma said.
What to watch next: The council will review the draft code and standing rules, consider specific consequences for violations and receive legal input on ADA and confidentiality issues before any formal adoption.
