City Council took a step toward creating an ordinance to establish a city ethics commission Thursday night to ensure transparency of all branches and employees in city government.

Using models similar to nearby third-class cities, council unanimously approved the recommendation of a special ad hoc committee to see to the creation of an ordinance establishing the commission.

“We have discussed this process falling into place and being another tool for transparency and good government,” said Council President Randall J. Allison.

The code of ethics is closer to being accomplish with goals of holding government accountable, said Councilman Joel Henderson.

The commission will be charged with writing a code of ethics that applies to the city government, he said.

The commission would enforce the code and give quarterly reports in terms of progress of researching the code. After that, the enforcement of the code would begin, he said.

The commission comprises five city residents with no other elected or appointed connections to the city. Three would be appointed by council and two by the mayor. The terms would be for three years and would be staggered.

No consent from the mayor or council would be needed, because the commission is responsible for all government officials to obey the code, Henderson noted.

“It will have recommendations for expenditures but has no authority to spend money,” he said.

Meetings will be recorded by audio, he added.

To address any rumors in the city, the ordinance is not in response to any specific occasion in the city, Henderson said.