Karen Seimetz, Ethics Officer

ethics@chicagoparkdistrict.com
(312) 742-6416


About the Ethics Officer

The Chicago Park District Ethics Officer is responsible for enforcing the Chicago Park District Ethics Ordinance. The Ethics Ordinance requires all Park District officials and employees to abide by general directives to ensure fair and honest government. Detailed in Chapter 3 of the Chicago Park District Code, the Ethics Ordinance applies to officials, employees, persons doing or seeking to do business with the Park District, persons regulated by the Park District, and persons seeking official action by the Park District.

The Ethics Ordinance covers the following areas: 

  • Gifts and proper disclosure of gifts
  • Prohibited Political activity
  • Campaign contributions
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Solicitation of money for advice or assistance
  • Improper influence
  • Dual employment
  • Nepotism
  • Post-employment restrictions
  • Disclosure of confidential information
  • Purchase of Park District-owned property

The Ethics Officer enforces the Ethics Ordinance by investigating complaints of violations, issuing advisory opinions and providing other ethics advice, and designing and delivering ethics and other types of training sessions.


Confidentiality

Complaints to the Ethics Officer, and investigations and recommendations thereon shall be kept confidential by the Ethics Officer, the General Superintendent, and the President of the Board of Commissioners, except as necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Ethics Officer or to enable another person or agency to consider and act upon the notices and recommendations of the Ethics Officer in accordance with the Ethics Ordinance.

 

Lobbyist Registration

The Ethics Ordinance also contains a now obsolete section on lobbyist registration and other related requirements for individuals engaged in lobbying activity. However, pursuant to ILLINOIS PUBLIC ACT 102-664, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2022, THE ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOBBYIST REGISTRATION AND REGULATION INVOLVING THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT. Therefore, effective January 1, 2022, the Chicago Park District’s lobbyist registration and reporting requirements are superseded by state law and no longer in effect. Lobbyists are no longer required to register with or report their lobbying activities to the Chicago Park District. Instead, anyone engaged in lobbying activities must now follow rules established in State law. Please see the Illinois Secretary of State’s website for more information. https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/index/lobbyist/lobintro.html



List of Vendors

In accordance with the Governmental Ethics Ordinance, the Department of Information Technology provides the following list of current and former contractors who, during the preceding four reporting years, received from the Chicago Park District payments totaling $10,000 or more in any 12-month period. The data source for this list is the Park District's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.