Tustin Municipal Code Part 5 City Council Badges

A. For the purposes of this Part, the term "badge" shall mean a badge, credentials, or such other form of identification as allowed or provided under this Code or state law.

B. The City Manager is authorized to issue to each member of the City Council a city badge designating the member as a member of the City Council, Mayor pro tem, or Mayor. No member of the City Council shall have more than one badge at any time during such member's term of office.

C. The size, shape, and content of each badge shall not be designed in such a manner that an ordinary reasonable person would be deceived into believing that such badge is authorized for use by a peace officer or that the badge could indicate membership in an organization whose name would reasonably be understood to imply that the organization is composed of law enforcement personnel. The terms "peace officer, "police officer," "police," "law enforcement," or any similar term shall not be used on any badge issued pursuant to the provisions of this Part. The City Manager shall consult with the Police Chief and the City Attorney on the design of any badge proposed to be issued to a member of the City Council.

D. Each badge issued shall have a unique serial or identification number and the City Manager shall maintain records containing the serial or identification number of each badge, the date of issuance, and the name and resident address of the member of the Council to whom the badge is issued.

E. Each member of the City Council to whom a badge is issued shall reimburse the City for the cost of the badge in the event the badge is destroyed through the member's negligence or the badge is lost.

F. The City Manager shall formulate and implement rules and regulations consistent with, and in furtherance of, the provisions of this Part.

(Ord. No. 1329, Sec. 2, 2-20-07; Ord. No. 1342, Sec. 1, 9-18-07)

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Tustin City Code, the City may present to the member of the Council the member's badge or badges (including if applicable a Mayor pro tem badge and/or Mayor badge) upon termination of the members service as a member of the Council. Prior to such presentation, the City Manager shall cause the badge or badges to be affixed permanently to a plaque, within a frame, within lucite, or otherwise presented in a manner that will effectively preclude improper use of the badge.

B. No person shall remove a badge presented from the plaque, frame, lucite, or other presentation material, or wear such badge, or otherwise display the badge unless the badge is displayed in or on the presentation material.

(Ord. No. 1329, Sec. 2, 2-20-07)

It shall be unlawful for any member of the City Council to use the badge for any purpose except as reasonably necessary for identification when acting in an official capacity as a member of the City Council or as the Mayor pro tem or the Mayor. In addition, it shall be unlawful for any person to wear, exhibit, or use the badge with the intent of fraudulently impersonating a city official or of fraudulently inducing the belief that the person is a city official at the time the badge is worn, displayed, or used.

(Ord. No. 1329, Sec. 2, 2-20-07)