Fort Worth mayor, city council object to manager’s Aspen trip. Here’s what they said
Fort Worth city manager David Cooke will be forced to recuse himself from all city business pertaining to Sundance Square after a trip to Aspen with its owners raised questions of conflict of interest.
Mayor Mattie Parker and the City Council said in a statement that the trip displayed poor judgment on Cooke’s part, adding that city officials must be held to a higher standard and demonstrate “the highest level of ethics.”
While the statement acknowledged Cooke’s personal relationship with Sundance Square owners Ed and Sasha Bass, it argued he should have displayed more discretion given the numerous contractual relationships between the city and the 37-square block business and entertainment district.
City Attorney Leann Guzman will mediate any further developments in the dispute between Sundance Square and the downtown business and advocacy non-profit Downtown Fort Worth Inc. over a management of a special downtown taxing district, according to the statement.
The city’s director of economic development Robert Sturns instructed both sides to come to an agreement in August, but Cooke, or someone he designates, could still be called upon to mediate if the sides can’t come to an agreement.
Parker said both she and the council expressed their disappointment in Cooke, adding he would need to work hard to restore public trust.
“Public perception matters, and we must go the extra mile to reassure residents and taxpayers removing even the appearance of a gray area,” the statement read.
Cooke and his wife traveled to Aspen, Colorado, on the private jet of Ed and Sasha Bass, around Labor Day weekend.
The city’s ethics code bars city employees and their partners from accepting “any benefit, including a promise of future employment, of sufficient economic value,” from anyone who has a financial interest impacted by the decisions of that city employee.
Cooke’s actions did not violate the city’s ethics policy, according to the statement, however, it went on to say he has a responsibility to, “immediately work to rectify that erosion of trust.”
It’s not clear why Cooke’s action did not violate the city’s ethics policy.
City communication’s director Reyne Telles said the city council made the determination in executive session preventing him from elaborating further on the council’s reasoning, in email to the Star-Telegram.
The city also views Cooke’s travel as a personal trip, so he won’t be forced to reimburse the Basses, Telles wrote.
Only 10 city employees and elected officials have filled out conflict of interest disclosure forms since 2015, according to reporting by the Fort Worth Report.
City Council Member Jared Williams, who represents southwest Fort Worth, was forced to recuse himself from all city business with the Tarrant Area Food Bank after accepting a position as the nonprofit’s vice president for advocacy.
In an interview last week, Cooke said he did not consider the trip a gift, and that he’s taken similar ones with other friends. He said they have had no impact on his decisions as city manager.
“I’m not going to let the public pick who we get to be friends with, and I’m not going to let friendship get in the way of making the best decision for the city either,” he said at the time.
Cooke did not respond to two phone calls, a text message, and two emails requesting comment Tuesday.
In a statement emailed to the Star-Telegram, Sundance Square management CEO Sasha Bass said her company “strongly supports transparency and ethical accountability in all matters at City Hall.”
Bass noted her company and tourism nonprofit Visit Fort Worth were sponsors of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Festival over Labor Day Weekend.
“We agreed to co-sponsor this event both for the promotion of Fort Worth and in honor of Fort Worth’s own Leon Bridges, who was a headline performer,” she wrote.
She added Cooke was invited as a member of Visit Fort Worth’s board and was part of a group of Fort Worth ambassadors that included Visit Fort Worth COO Mitch Whitten, the Hotel Drover’s Craig Cavileer, Dickies Arena general manager Matt Homan, and Chef Tim Love.
“This trip was about enjoying great friends, music, and art while proudly promoting our amazing Fort Worth,” Bass wrote, adding that Cooke is a respected city official and a friend.
Cooke sent an email to city staff Wednesday acknowledging the perceptions about his trip and apologizing for any disruptions it may have caused.
“As the executive of this workforce and a leader in this community, I need to and should be held to the highest of standards,” Cooke wrote.
He promised to do better and said he looked forward to building a stronger community and workforce.
This story was originally published October 4, 2022 at 5:19 PM.
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