RES 20-782 - Amending Code of Ethics RESOLUTION NO. 20-782
A RESOLUTION of the City of Federal Way,Washington, Amending
Code of Ethics Section 2.4 — Gift, to allow acceptance of a gift for
charitable and civic events.
WHEREAS,the City Council for the City of Federal Way,Washington established a Code of
Ethics for the City Council,and for Commissioners and/or Board members in Resolution No.91-54;
and
WHEREAS, Section 2.4 of the Ethics Code defines a Gift; and
WHEREAS,the definition of Gift does not allow Council officials to accept offers to attend
charitable and civic events free of charge; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to modify Section 2.4 of the Ethics Code to allow
admission to,and the cost of food and beverages consumed at events sponsored by or in conjunction
with a civic, charitable, governmental, or community organization as identified below.
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FEDERAL WAY,
RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 2.4 of the Federal Way Ethics Code shall be modified as follows:
2.4 Gift
A rendering of money,property, services, discount, loan forgiveness,payment of
indebtedness, reimbursements from or payments by persons, other than the City of
Federal Way for travel or lodging or anything else of value in return for which legal
consideration of equal or greater value is not given and received, excluding:
(a) Things of minimal value. Minimum value shall be defined as gifts that do not
exceed $20 per occasion or$50 from a single source in any given calendar year.
(b) Any contribution under chapter 42.17 RCW(Disclosure—Campaign Finances—
Lobbying—Records).
Resolution No. 20-782 Page I of 3
(c) Any informational material transferred for the purpose of informing the recipient
about matters pertaining to official City business, and that is not intended to
financially benefit the recipient.
(d) Any symbolic presentation not intended to financially benefit the recipient.
(e) Things of value not used and that, within thirty(3 0) days after receipt, are
returned to the donor or delivered to a charitable organization without being
claimed as a charitable contribution for tax purposes;
(f) Things of value received in the normal course of private business or social
interaction or from family that are not related to public policy decisions or City
actions.
(g) Payments of enrollment and course fees and reasonable travel expenses
attributable to attending seminars and educational programs sponsored by a bona
fide nonprofit professional, educational, or trade association or charitable
institution are exempt. As used in this subsection, "reasonable expenses"are
limited to travel, lodging, and subsistence expenses incurred the day before
through the day after the event.
(h) The acceptance of a gift on behalf of the City pursuant to City Council rules
regarding acceptance of gifts.
(i) Admission to,and the cost of food and beverages consumed at, events sponsored
b or in conjunction with a civic, charitable, governmental, or community
organization._
Section 2. Severability.If any section,sentence,clause or phrase of this resolution should be
held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other section, sentence,
clause, or phrase of this resolution.
Section 3. Corrections. The City Clerk and the codifiers of this resolution are authorized to
make necessary corrections to this resolution including, but not limited to, the correction of
scrivener/clerical errors, references, resolution numbering, section/subsection numbers and any
references thereto.
Sccttoii.4. ratification.Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the effective date of
this resolution is hereby ratified and affirmed.
Resolution No. 20-782 Page 2 of 3
Section 5.Effective Date.This resolution shall be effective immediately upon passage by the
Federal Way City Council.
RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FEDERAL WAY,
WASHINGTON this 18th day of February, 2020.
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY:
�1
JIM FE LL, MAYOR
ATTEST:
S COURTNI: -'MC, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
J. RYAN CALL, C ATTORNEY
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: 02/12/2020
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 02/18/2020
RESOLUTION NO.: 20-782
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