Using a loophole in the popularly passed Amendment 41 that limits gifts politicians may accept
from lobbyists and special interests, the Loveland City Council passed an ordinance Dec. 19,
2006 exempting itself from the Amendment. The most well known provisions of Amendment 41,
the annual $50 gift limit from any one person in one year, was cleverly replaced by the ambiguous
term "occasional."
According to the authors of Amendment 41 who spoke with LovelandPolitics.com, the City of
Denver and other home rule cities were exempted from Amendment 41 limits on gifts from
special interests since they already have stricter limits in place. The Loveland ordinance is clearly
contrary to the intent of Amendment 41 and leaves the door wide-open for members of city
government to continue enjoying free meals and entertainment at lobbyists' expense. Greeley and
Ft. Collins have chosen to comply with the Amendment that passed by a landslide last
November. On the advice of City Attorney John Duval and City Manager Don Williams at the
November 21, 2006 meeting, the City Council decided to quickly enact the toothless ordinance
that primarily prohibits bribery and other obvious criminal activity already illegal but exempts them
from Amend. 41 limits. COMMENT ON BLOG
from lobbyists and special interests, the Loveland City Council passed an ordinance Dec. 19,
2006 exempting itself from the Amendment. The most well known provisions of Amendment 41,
the annual $50 gift limit from any one person in one year, was cleverly replaced by the ambiguous
term "occasional."
According to the authors of Amendment 41 who spoke with LovelandPolitics.com, the City of
Denver and other home rule cities were exempted from Amendment 41 limits on gifts from
special interests since they already have stricter limits in place. The Loveland ordinance is clearly
contrary to the intent of Amendment 41 and leaves the door wide-open for members of city
government to continue enjoying free meals and entertainment at lobbyists' expense. Greeley and
Ft. Collins have chosen to comply with the Amendment that passed by a landslide last
November. On the advice of City Attorney John Duval and City Manager Don Williams at the
November 21, 2006 meeting, the City Council decided to quickly enact the toothless ordinance
that primarily prohibits bribery and other obvious criminal activity already illegal but exempts them
from Amend. 41 limits. COMMENT ON BLOG
| Compare the differences - Amendment 41 City Ordinance Read A Comparison |
| Loveland City Council Votes "End-Run" Around Gift Limits Approved by Voters |
| LovelandPolitics.com |
| Mayor Pro Tem Pielin took exception to resident Roger Hoffmann's comments to the Council of describing the ordinance as an "end-run" |
| Councilmembers Steve Dozier and Dave Clark (below)quietly await instructions from the City Attorney before voting to exempt themselves from gift limits of Amendment 41. Dozier stated, "I really don't care either way" after a resident requested the word occasional be changed to annual |
| Councilwoman Jan Brown said almost nothing but voted for the End-Run. |
Two members of the public spoke to Council against the tricky loophole ordinance that passed unanimously.
The Mayor entertained comments from Council that appeared supportive of a change but Gene Pielin and Walt Skowron spoke emphatically
against changing the ordinance by pretending the voters also allowed the loophole therefore they must also be in favor of the Loveland City
Council exempting itself from the annual gift limits and other reform measures in Amendment 41.
One speaker pointed out all federal officials manage to live under similar gift limits the Loveland City Council finds so objectionable.
The Mayor entertained comments from Council that appeared supportive of a change but Gene Pielin and Walt Skowron spoke emphatically
against changing the ordinance by pretending the voters also allowed the loophole therefore they must also be in favor of the Loveland City
Council exempting itself from the annual gift limits and other reform measures in Amendment 41.
One speaker pointed out all federal officials manage to live under similar gift limits the Loveland City Council finds so objectionable.