ELK GROVE, CA - The Elk Grove City Council unanimously approved a revised Code of Ethics earlier this month, shifting the city’s guiding principles for elected officials, commission members and staff toward what city officials state is a more positive and inclusive approach.

The updated code replaces the original 2005 version and was crafted with input from the city’s Diversity and Inclusion Commission at the request of Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen. The new version affirms ethical behavior rather than emphasizing punitive measures.

“It was important to have that diversity and inclusion lens to update and revise this,” Singh-Allen said. “Clearly our city has grown, we are much more diverse and having the lens of everyone in the commission weigh in on this is important because having that input is important.”

Commission members described the previous document as overly negative and centered on discouraging bad behavior rather than promoting positive civic conduct.

“What we noticed is that the tone of the code of ethics seemed to be somewhat negative and seemed to focus more on poor behavior versus trying to affirm positive actions that the council as well as commission members and staff could take,” said Diversity and Inclusion Commissioner Tina Lee-Vogt. “We took this role very seriously.”

Lee-Vogt said the commission aimed to develop a document that encourages ethical action in an empowering way.

“We tried to have an approach that could really affirm the approach that people can take to uphold their oath and their duty… just trying to make people understand that their role is important but did it in a positive way,” she said.

Diversity and Inclusion Commissioner Brent Burfield echoed the sentiment. 

“I wanted to exemplify positive aspects: Let’s be proud of the work we are doing instead of the negative aspects.”

The council’s vote to adopt the revised code also included a resolution to repeal the prior version, officially replacing the 2005 framework with the newly drafted one.

Councilmember Rod Brewer praised the update for its comprehensive and aspirational tone.

“I like the update and approach because it is aspirational,” Brewer said. “It doesn’t just have the onus on just the council. It is on everyone who serves the city in any shape or form.”

Singh-Allen compared the tone of the new code to messaging used in schools. 

“When you go to classrooms, you want to have positive words, not negative words,” she said. “It’s what you can do, what you should do, not the don’ts. It’s a different way of looking at things.”