The Sunnyvale Housing and Human Services Commission on Oct. 22 voted to receive the city’s Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials as presented in the staff report, choosing not to make modifications at the meeting.

Commissioner Weiss moved to receive the code as presented; Commissioner Davis seconded. The motion carried on a roll-call vote with all present commissioners voting yes and Chair Friedlander absent.

Commissioners asked staff to clarify several administrative and ethical questions before the code is finalized. Commissioners sought guidance on whether a commissioner with a personal interest may step aside, sit with the public and then speak as a member of the public, and whether certain gift-related items should be worn only at city events. City staff said financial conflicts require recusal under existing conflict-of-interest guidance and that the city attorney could provide case-specific advice; staff also said they would consult the city clerk and report back on whether commissioners must sign a form associated with the code.

Commissioners discussed permissible ways to share information with colleagues without violating the Ralph M. Brown Act. Commissioners were advised that, when a commissioner wants information to be distributed to the whole commission, it is safest to route documents through city staff so distribution is handled formally and avoids serial communications between commissioners.

The motion taken at the meeting was recorded as Alternative 1 in the staff report: receive the Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials as presented in Attachment 1. No substantive changes to the code were adopted at the meeting; staff committed to follow up by email with clarifications on the signature requirement and any relevant city clerk guidance.

The commission’s action was procedural (receipt of the code) rather than an adoption of new text or a recommendation to City Council; staff noted the report was being presented to give the commission an opportunity to review and, if desired, formulate a recommendation for council in the future.