If your brother asks you to advise him about the planning process and possibly represent him before the City Council, what should you do?

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Maintaining professional boundaries is essential when a planner helps a family member with a public decision. You should provide neutral, general information about how the planning process works, without taking on a client relationship or advocating for a specific outcome before decision-makers. In this situation, you can explain the typical steps, roles, and timelines—such as how a rezoning request is reviewed, what public hearings look like, and where to find application materials—while declining to give detailed, case-specific guidance or to represent him before the City Council. If he needs formal, strategy-level advocacy or legal advice, the appropriate path is to refer him to a private attorney or the proper professional channels. This approach keeps your professional integrity intact and avoids any appearance of favoritism or conflict.