2026-11 O - Amend Chapter 1 Section 1.02.129 and 1.04.003(b) - Code of Conduct_Town Council and Board & CommissionsTOWN OF PROSPER, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-11
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF PROSPER, TEXAS, AMENDING
DIVISION 5, "RULES OF CONDUCT," OF ARTICLE 1.02, "TOWN
COUNCIL," OF CHAPTER 1, "GENERAL PROVISIONS," OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF THE TOWN OF PROSPER, TEXAS, BY ADDING A NEW
SECTION 1.02.129, "CODE OF CONDUCT FOR TOWN
COUNCILMEMBERS"; AMENDING SUBSECTION (b), "CONDUCT OF
MEMBERS," OF SECTION 1.04.003, "CODE OF CONDUCT FOR TOWN
BOARD, COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS," OF DIVISION 1,
"GENERALLY," OF ARTICLE 1.04, "BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND
COMMITTEES," OF CHAPTER 1, "GENERAL PROVISIONS," OF THE
CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE TOWN OF PROSPER, TEXAS, BY
CLARIFYING SAID CODE OF CONDUCT AND BRINGING IT INTO
CONFORMITY WITH THE TOWN COUNCIL'S CODE OF CONDUCT;
PROVIDING FOR REPEALING, SAVINGS AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSES;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Town of Prosper, Texas ("Town"), previously has adopted a Code of
Ethics for Town councilmembers as well as board, commission and committee members, among
others; and
WHEREAS, the Code of Ethics generally requires that all public officials, officers and
employees of the Town, and all members of Town -appointed boards, commissions and
committees, be independent, impartial and responsible only to the people of the Town; and
WHEREAS, the Code of Ethics generally does not address meeting protocols related to
behavior of Town Councilmembers and members of boards, commissions and committees, and
it is the desire of the Town Council to do so; and
WHEREAS, on or about May 27, 2025, in Ordinance No. 2025-19, the Town Council
adopted a Code of Conduct for all members of Town boards, commissions and committees; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council believes that a Code of Conduct is appropriate for members
of the Town Council as well, and further, the Town Council desires to ensure that any Code of
Conduct it adopts is congruent with the Code of Conduct for the members of Town boards,
commissions and committees, thus providing clear guidance to all elected or appointed members
who hold Town offices; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council has further determined that a uniform Code of Conduct is
in the best interests of the Town and the members of the Town Council as well as the members
of all Town boards, commissions and committees.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF
PROSPER, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1
The findings set forth above are incorporated into the body of this Ordinance as if fully set
forth herein.
SECTION 2
From and after the effective date of this Ordinance, Division 5, "Rules of Conduct," of
Article 1.02, "Town Council," of Chapter 1, "General Provisions," of the Code of Ordinances of the
Town of Prosper, Texas, is hereby amended by adding a new Section 1.02.129, "Code of Conduct
for Town Councilmembers," to read as follows:
"ARTICLE 1.02 TOWN COUNCIL
§ 1.02.129. Code of Conduct for Town Councilmembers.
All Members of the Town Council:
(1) shall treat Town residents, Town staff, members of the public, and one another
with dignity and respect at all times;
(2) shall not engage in any form of abuse, harassment, discrimination, intimidation,
the use of indecent or insulting words or expressions toward another Town
Councilmember, staff member or member of the public;
(3) shall assist in preserving order and decorum and shall neither by conversation nor
otherwise delay or interrupt the proceedings nor refuse to obey the orders of the
presiding officer or the rules of the Town Council;
(4) shall confine discussion to the question under debate, avoid discussion of
personalities and indecorous language, and refrain from personal attacks and/or
verbal abuse;
(5) when desiring to question Town administrative staff, shall address questions to the
Town Manager who shall be entitled either to answer the inquiries or to designate
some member of Town staff for that purpose;
(6) shall neither berate nor admonish Town staff members;
(7) when recognized by the presiding officer, shall not be interrupted while speaking
unless called to order by the presiding officer, unless a point of order is raised by
another Town Councilmember, or unless the speaker chooses to yield to questions
from another Town Councilmember;
(8) shall cease speaking immediately if called to order by the presiding officer and
shall not continue speaking until the question of order is determined. If ruled to be
in order, the Town Councilmember shall be permitted to proceed. If ruled not to be
in order, the Town Councilmember shall remain silent or make additional remarks
to comply with rules of the Town Council;
(9) shall confine questions to the particular matters before the Town Council and in
debate shall confine their remarks to the issues before the Town Council; and
Ordinance No. 2026-11, Page 2
(10) may be subject to removal if they violate any federal or state law or Town
ordinance.
§ 1.02.130 through § 1.02.160. (Reserved)."
SECTION 3
From and after the effective date of this Ordinance, Subsection (b), "Conduct of Members,"
of Section 1.04.003, "Code of Conduct for Town Board, Commission and Committee Members,"
of Division 1, "Generally," of Article 1.04, "Boards, Commissions and Committees," of Chapter 1,
"General Provisions," of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Prosper, Texas, is hereby
amended to read as follows:
"ARTICLE 1.04 BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
Sec. 1.04.003 Code of Conduct for Town Board, Commission and Committee
Members.
(b) Conduct of Members. All Members:
(1) shall treat Town residents, Town staff, members of the public, and one another
with dignity and respect at all times;
(2) shall not engage in any form of abuse, harassment, discrimination, intimidation,
the use of indecent or insulting words or expressions toward another Member, staff
member or member of the public;
(3) shall assist in preserving order and decorum and shall neither by conversation nor
otherwise delay or interrupt the proceedings nor refuse to obey the orders of the
presiding officer or the rules of the Town
(4) shall confine discussion to the question under debate, avoid discussion of
personalities and indecorous language, and refrain from personal attacks and/or
verbal abuse;
(5) shall neither berate nor admonish Town staff members;
(6) when recognized by the presiding officer, shall not be interrupted while speaking
unless called to order by the presiding officer, unless a point of order is raised by
another Member, or unless the speaker chooses to yield to questions from another
Member;
(7) shall cease speaking immediately if called to order by the presiding officer and
shall not continue speaking until the question of order is determined. If ruled to be
in order, the Member shall be permitted to proceed. If ruled not to be in order, the
Ordinance No. 2026-11, Page 3
Member shall remain silent or make additional remarks to comply with rules of the
Town;
(8) shall confine questions to the particular matters before the body and in debate shall
confine their remarks to the issues before the body; and
(9) may be subject to removal if they violate any federal or state law or Town
ordinance."
SECTION 5
All provisions of any ordinance in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed to the
extent they are in conflict. Any remaining portion of conflicting ordinances shall remain in full force
and effect.
SECTION 6
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason,
held to be unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not
affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The Town of Prosper hereby
declares that it would have passed this Ordinance, and each section, subsection, clause or phrase
thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses,
and phrases be declared unconstitutional.
SECTION 7
This Ordinance shall become effective after its passage.
DULY PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF
PROSPER, TEXAS, ON THIS 10TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026.
APPROVED:
David F. Bristol, Mayor
ATTEST:
Michelle Lewis Sirianni, Town Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
TERN
Terrence S. Welch, Town Attorney
Ordinance No. 2026-11, Page 4