Instructions and General Information
The City of Tampa Ethics Code, Section 2-511, mandates disclosure of non-City employment/private business entity by July 1
st
of each year. On January 27, 2006, the Ethics Code was amended to require that all employees must have approval by their
department director (or the approval of the Mayor for Department Directors) of any non-city employment or active participation
in a private business entity (Section 2-512). The definition of a private business entity is provided on the front of this form.
Further clarification is provided below.
As provided in Section 2-512: “In determining the acceptability of such employment or activity, the department director shall
review all factors relevant to the successful and fair operation of city business, including but not limited to, potential conflict with
business hours, misuse of confidential information, or impairment of the performance of the city employee’s duties and
responsibilities. If the department director determines such non-city employment or engagement in a private
business entity is prohibited, that decision shall be automatically appealed to the Ethics Commission for review. All
department directors must obtain prior approval from the Mayor before accepting non-city employment or actively participating in
any business entity. The mere ownership of stock in a privately held or publicly traded company shall not constitute active
participation in that business entity. Serving as an officer, director, or owning a controlling financial interest therein shall
constitute active participation.” Section 2-502 defines “controlling financial interest” as the “ownership, directly of indirectly, to ten
(10) percent or more of the outstanding capital stock in any corporation or a direct or indirect interest or position in a business
entity sufficient to allow him or her to control its operation.”
• Name, Address, and Telephone Number of non-city employment/private business entity:
In the event that the paycheck or other remuneration is issued or received with a name different than the name of the
business, specify this name as well as the name commonly known as the name of the business. This includes situations
where the business uses a fictitious name, assumed name or D/B/A (short for “doing business as”). It is the employee’s
responsibility to ensure that the name of the non-city employment/private business entity is fully disclosed and fully
understood. Sworn police and fire employees, in the event that the business operates from their own home address, are not
required to disclose that address or telephone number on this form and should enter “Personal Residence” for the address to
maintain confidentiality permitted by state law. Sworn police and fire employees are not required to disclose extra-duty
positions when these positions are supplied and scheduled through their departmental programs.
• Brief description of the purpose and activities of the non-city employer/private business entity; Position; Relationship
in and to the business; Nature and extent of any ownership interest in the business:
These sections are provided for the employee to further disclose information that permits the approval of the employee’s non-
city employment/private business entity. Include information that would answer the following questions:
• What is the purpose and activity of the non-city employer/business entity, such as to sell products, make investments,
buy or sell real estate?
• Does the non-city employer or business entity have now, or in the past, any contract with, render any services to, submit
any bids to contract with the city or any of its agencies or departments? Does the employee have a role in this process or
make any decisions regarding these contracts on behalf of either the city or the non-city employer/private business
entity?
• Does the non-city employer or business entity purchase, rent or lease realty, goods, or services to the city or any of its
agencies or departments? Does the employee have a role in this process or make any decisions regarding these transactions
on behalf of either the city or the non-city employer/private business entity?
• What position will the employee hold? Will the position cause the employee to improperly use confidential information that
is available to the employee only because of their position with the city? Would the position impair or reasonably be
expected to impair the employee’s ability to make fair and independent judgments in performance of their city duties and
responsibilities? Would the employee’s involvement with non-city employment/private business entity cause the employee to
misuse his city position in any manner, such as co-workers or subordinates thinking they should buy a product that the
employee promotes or use services from a certain firm or business?
• Will the number of hours and the hours of the day that the employee participates affect or conflict with the employee’s ability
to perform city assigned duties? Employees are prohibited from performing non-city work during their city work hours and
are prohibited from the use of city property, such as telephones, computers, copiers, vehicles, etc., for personal use/gain or
any non-city purpose.
• Will the employee or any member of his or her immediate family or close personal relation receive any substantial benefit or
profit from any contract or obligation entered into between the city department for which the employee works and the non-
city employer or private business entity in which the employee is or may be involved?
• Does the employee have any active professional licenses, certifications, and/or permits and does the employee actively
engage in or plan to actively engage in any activity requiring its use?
Approval of the participation in non-city employment/private business entity does not relieve an employee of responsibility for
continued compliance with the City of Tampa Ethics Code. Prior approval of the participation may be removed at any time should
activity by the employee or by the non-city employer/private business entity or any additional information result in a revised
determination.