Free Coffee No Longer Brews Up Controversy for Public Employees : Ethics: Commission says it’s OK for workers to accept a cup of java, even a doughnut or two, from people doing business with the city.

Hear ye! Hear ye! The Great Coffee Question at Los Angeles City Hall has finally been laid to rest.

By decree of the city’s arbiters of ethics, it was determined Friday that employees may accept a cup of coffee free of charge--and free of moral compunction--from people doing business with the city.

Drink up! members of the city’s Ethics Commission urged. And if you like, down a doughnut or two while you’re at it.

“If you are going to see a friend, you can have a cup of coffee, use the telephone, you can write a note using his pen or sit on his chair,” proclaimed Commissioner Alice Walker Duff.

The weighty issue had been troubling employees since January, when the city’s landmark ethics reform package became law and City Hall minions were made subject to the toughest ethical standards in the nation.

City executives have complained that they have had to refuse a cup of coffee at business meetings because the law strictly bans gifts--of any kind--from contractors, developers and others who have “attempted to influence” city officials.

“We’ve been very concerned about offending our hosts and guests,” said Julia Nagano, director of community relations for the Port of Los Angeles, where business is routinely conducted over a cup of choice Colombian brew. “This certainly will help.”

The commission issued its edict on a recommendation from its executive officer, Benjamin Bycel. In a report to the panel, Bycel advised that restrictions on “normal office hospitalities” are unreasonable.

Bycel suggested that employees be allowed to accept a cup of coffee and other “common refreshments” normally available in an office. He also recommended that employees be able to accept parking validations, office supplies--such as a pencil or piece of paper--and the use of phones, photocopying machines and fax machines.

“I cannot imagine that anyone contemplated that the ordinance would prohibit any type of office hospitality,” Bycel wrote. “To take the matter to an extreme, should a city official be prevented from using a pencil provided in someone else’s office or be prohibited from sitting on a chair?”

The commissioners, having just finished their morning coffee, consented to Bycel’s recommendations, with a few changes. City employees who moonlight as lobbyists, or have businesses on the side, will still have to reject--or pay for--normal office hospitalities even if they are on city business. Also, on the advice of Commissioner Treesa Way Drury, employees can accept parking validations only when on city business.

“I think there is at least a tendency for abuse in that area,” Drury said. But, she added: “How many cups of coffee can you drink?”

The commission, which has yet to move into a permanent office and is still hiring staff, must address questions about tickets to sporting events, meals from city contractors, complimentary trips and other freebies banned by the new law. Duff said the commission’s ruling on free coffee was only the beginning.

“It is important to express that we are doing this so that we can get to the more serious things,” she said.

The commissioners expect to announce their new Office Hospitality Policy next week in a memorandum to all city department heads. Bycel said a small bagel in a plastic bag will be attached to each memo.

“I think it is a wonderful gesture,” Bycel said. “And when we have a real office . . . we will then invite them over for cookies.”