Donations policy to be reviewed

Ed Koch and Judy Odierna

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2002 | 11:23 a.m.

Whether it's a trunk-load of teddy bears or a new Cadillac, Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald says elected officials should have more input on gifts and donations received by the city.

"We have no policy on gifts," Boggs McDonald said. "In the city of Las Vegas anything goes. It's dangerous to go about that way."

Boggs McDonald is proposing a resolution that would require any gift or donation worth more than $25,000 to be brought before the City Council to be rejected or accepted. Anything less than $25,000 could be accepted by the city manager.

The council postponed action on the proposal Wednesday because Boggs McDonald was attending a National League of Cities Meeting in Utah. The item will return before the City Council on Dec. 18.

If approved at the next council meeting, the resolution not only would provide more accountability, but also could put a crimp in Mayor Oscar Goodman's track record of giving and accepting large gifts.

In October, Goodman received a $100,000 contract to endorse Bombay Sapphire gin. Goodman also recently was provided with free use of a new black 2003 Cadillac Seville STS from John Tomaras of Cadillac of Las Vegas. Goodman says he intends to use the vehicle when conducting official city business. The list price for that model is $55,600, according to a salesman at the Cadillac of Las Vegas West dealership.

Goodman gave $50,000 from the gin endorsement contract to the city to address homelessness and gave the other half to the Meadows School, which is run by his wife. Asked how the endorsement contract might have fared if the council had voted on whether to accept it, Goodman said: "I don't know who would turn down such a gift."

Goodman said the Cadillac gift might not be affected by the resolution because "it is a loan, not a gift. After 4,000 miles, it goes back" to the dealer.

Tomaras said he gave the city the car in hopes of getting publicity rather than favors since his two dealerships are located just outside the city limits.

Boggs McDonald said an unresolved question about the liability associated with the Cadillac is one example of why the pros and cons of any major gift should hashed out by the council before the gift is accepted.

"Is the city liable if there is an accident (involving the Cadillac) or is it the individual driving the car?" she asked. "Without a formal acceptance these things are unknown unless something bad happens."

City officials have acknowledged that there is no formal contract or paperwork for the Cadillac, and even Tomaras isn't sure what would happen if there was a collision.

"I would imagine the city is insured on it or whoever is driving the car has insurance," Tomaras said. "I also have a body shop."

McDonald said it was her experience as a member of the Metro Police Fiscal Affairs Committee and not Cadillac donation last month that prompted her gift policy suggestion. "At every single agenda (for the Fiscal Affairs Committee) there is a formal line item to accept or reject the donation," she said. "Whether it be teddy bears, cash or bikes it is always disclosed and there's always a formal action."

Boggs McDonald also pointed to a $10 million gift that was rejected by New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani last October for the World Trade Center relief fund because the donation came from Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, who had made critical statements about U.S. foreign policy.

"I'm sure they would have loved to have had $10 million in their general fund but in the same breath they had to send it back," Boggs McDonald said.