Mayor Tom Leppert and two top City Council officers want to implement wide-ranging new ethics rules at City Hall, from limits on campaign contributions to requirements that lobbyists register publicly.

A memo to council members Wednesday, signed by Mr. Leppert, Mayor Pro Tem Elba Garcia and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway, also included a call for modernizing Dallas' outdated system of campaign finance reporting.

Some council members reacted cautiously to some of the specific proposals, particularly the call for campaign donation limits.

But Mr. Leppert, who took office amid a ripening corruption scandal at City Hall, said he hoped to shore up the council's ethics policies and reinforce public trust in the way the city operates.

"I am just identifying things that we can do to strengthen policies and procedures, transparency, the kind of things that fall under the category of ethics," Mr. Leppert said.

The memo comes less than three months after Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill was charged with taking bribes from developers and former council member James Fantroy was charged with fleecing the coffers of a local college.

Mr. Leppert alluded to those federal indictments as he called on council members to "set the tone from the top" when it comes to ethical behavior.

"With recent events and the continuous challenges of public office, it is imperative that we constantly identify opportunities to improve our ethical climate and to strengthen our policies and procedures," the memo stated.

The mayor characterized the memo as the beginning of a discussion, and council members would have to approve any new ordinances in a formal vote, so any changes could be months or years away.

The memo identified five areas where Mr. Leppert, Dr. Garcia and Mr. Caraway want to see rules tightened or changed:

• Campaign finance disclosure: Implement by the next election cycle an electronic database of campaign contributions. The system will be modeled on the city of San Antonio's campaign finance Web site. It will increase transparency of contributions because the public will be able to search who is giving how much to which candidates.

• Campaign contribution restriction: Restrict donations to council candidates from people who have or will have business before the council for a period of time around the election cycle. Mr. Leppert suggested a contribution limit of three months before and after a campaign but added that he wants more input on the issue before a policy is set.

• Tickets: Tighten policies regarding free tickets for staff and council members to sporting or cultural events that occur at city-owned venues or are supported with city funds.

• Lobbyist registration: Create a system of registration for individuals who lobby the council or staff. None is currently required.

• Solicitation of donations: Create a policy governing "special event" donations that council members seek. Such donations are frequently solicited for charitable events or functions within a member's district.

Council member Pauline Medrano said that Mr. Leppert is right to begin a broad discussion about the city's ethics policies.

But she has questions about some of the proposals, particularly when it comes to campaign finance limitations and the acceptance of tickets.

"I would have to see what time frame he's talking about [for campaign contributions] because sometimes you don't know about a [zoning] case if it's going to come up in nine months or six months," she said.

Council member Dave Neumann, a small-business owner, also sounded a note of caution about strict limits on contributions.

"The process by which you get good people to serve is expensive. [A new policy] needs to be even-handed to incumbents and challengers," he said.

City Manager Mary Suhm, meanwhile, said any policies that improve transparency and public trust are good for the city.

She said that city employees do receive tickets to some events as part of their jobs. The city is required to audit events that receive city funds.

City employees have traditionally received tickets to the State Fair of Texas. But free tickets aren't greasing the skids at City Hall, Ms. Suhm said.

"I don't think there's bushels of Mavericks tickets being handed out," she said.

Ms. Suhm said it's a good idea to make lobbyists register but added that those who frequent City Hall are already known to staff.

"I know who's lobbying when they show up," she said.

One of those familiar faces is Willie Cothrum, whose downtown lobbying firm Masterplan rarely misses a City Council meeting.

Mr. Cothrum said that if the registration requirements aren't onerous, he won't oppose them.

"I don't have a problem with the registering, and I don't have a problem with paying some sort of reasonable fee to do it," he said.

The problem would be if he is required to publicly register every time he takes an issue before a staff or council member, he said. For one thing, it's too time consuming. For another, it could sink confidential real estate deals, he said.

Mr. Leppert acknowledged there are bound to be disagreements over how various policies will be written and what the final rules will be. That's why he wants to begin the discussion now.

The mayor said he would begin holding sessions with council members to discuss potential ethical dilemmas or conflicts that have come up in past councils or in councils for other cities.

Those sessions will be led by "nationally recognized leaders in the area of public ethics," the memo stated.

The mayor added that each council member should have a chance to provide feedback. But talk must ultimately lead to city ordinances that would codify policies and create consequences for violations, he said.

"This is designed to get us to that. It is a discussion at this point, but it is clearly aimed at trying to get some solutions on the table," Mr. Leppert said.