City OKs ethics exemption

An ethics ordinance change approved Monday will make clear that Denver city officials and employees can accept items of value from within government.

The City Council approved, in a unanimous block vote, an amendment that exempts city officials and departments from being considered “donors” of gifts under restrictions in the ethics code. But it also requires city officials to file new semi-annual public reports listing items received from city government that are worth more than $50.

Council members acted after the Board of Ethics last fall issued an advisory opinion that questioned the providing of freebies, ranging from commemorative items to more expensive things, by agencies or departments when they are seeking contract approvals or other favorable decisions.

But Councilman Kevin Flynn was among those who disagreed with that advice, arguing it was impossible for one part of the city to give a gift to another part. He said Monday that that “the sole purpose of this amendment is to clarify the original intent” of the ethics code.

He said most of the items provided to officials are promotional in nature. Travel paid for by Denver International Airport to take elected officials on fact-finding trips is a reasonable business expense, he said.

Last month, Flynn told The Denver Post that when it came to classifying donors, he considered it “illogical to put city agencies in the same category as contractors and lobbyists who are trying to get multimillion-dollar contracts.”

On Monday night, several colleagues agreed.