They will need to leave the room entirely, and not talk to any of their colleagues about the matter until the conflict is resolved.

The rule is part of a revised ethics ordinance the council will consider at its meeting this evening.

"We need to be above reproach in what we do with ethics," Municipal Council Vice Chairman George Stewart said Monday.

But some warn that the measure may make it more difficult to get people to serve in the community.

"This is a big step forward. I hope it's not over the line," said Municipal Councilman Steve Turley, who in the last election battled accusations of conflicts of interest.

Typically in Utah, an elected official does not even have to step aside during a discussion in which a conflict of interest arises. He or she merely has to declare the conflict and can still vote.

The proposed ordinance was first presented to the council at its April 9 work meeting. That's when council attorney Neil Lindberg said the old ordinance only applied to members of the Municipal Council. It would not apply to any of the city's boards, and the member only had to just step off the dais and could remain in the room throughout the discussion.

But the proposed ethics ordinance would tighten Provo's rules, making it the state's strongest, said Stewart.

"That is where I want us to be," Stewart said. "I don't know why anybody would settle for anywhere else along that continuum."

While Turley agrees ethical conduct is important - he has recused himself from discussions on issues in which he had a passing interest - he said it would affect city boards severely since the expertise that qualifies people to serve on the board creates conflicts of interest.

Stewart said the ordinance is crafted so that only direct conflicts of interest would trigger the rules - not an indirect one.

dmeyers@sltrib.com

The Provo Municipal Council will meet at 7 p.m. today at Provo City Center, 351 W. Center St.