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Council accepts hearing examiner's recommended disposition in code of ethics complaints; motion passes 4–1
Summary
After hearing brief statements, the council voted 4–1 to accept the hearing examiner's findings and recommended disposition in an ethics complaint filed by Council member Annie Kurtz; Kurtz recused herself from the vote as an interested party.
The council on Tuesday considered the hearing examiner’s March 13, 2026 decision in code of ethics complaints filed by Council member Annie Kurtz against two former council members.
Kurtz read a prepared statement explaining why she pursued the complaints, saying inconsistencies between moderation of a social media page, citizen complaints and records produced for the investigation prompted her to seek an objective review. “Filing an ethics complaint is serious… I chose to act by seeking an objective assessment of all of the information,” she said.
The hearing examiner had concluded there was probable cause and opened a formal investigation; the examiner’s recommended disposition included language cautioning that it can be perilous for sitting council members to host or moderate discussions on city issues on social platforms. After a brief council deliberation, a motion to accept the hearing examiner’s findings, conclusions and recommended disposition carried 4–1. Council member Kurtz stepped away from the dais and did not vote as an interested party. The council directed staff to prepare a formal decision memorializing the vote for the next meeting.
Public comment during the citizen‑comment period echoed concerns about social media and public records burdens; resident Jed Spencer asked the council to strike a balance between engagement and administrative costs of public‑records obligations.
