Cooke wrote in an email to city staff that the trip was personal, but acknowledged the perceptions and apologized 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 strong community and workforce.

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.

However Mayor Mattie Parker and the City Council said in a statement Tuesday that both the trip and his communication about it to the public displayed poor judgment.

“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.

The statement also asserted Cooke’s actions were not a violation of the city’s ethics code saying the council came to that conclusion after considering the evidence and consulting with city attorney Leann Guzman.

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.

The city declined to explain why Cooke’s actions were not a violation of its ethics policy.

City spokesperson Reyne Telles wrote in an email to the Star-Telegram that the matter was discussed in executive session.

Cooke also won’t be forced to reimburse the Basses for the cost of his travel.

“The travel was related to a personal trip and council has reviewed the situation. The totality of the circumstances were considered when deciding whether the trip violated the Ethics Code. The direction set forth by the Council does not require restitution,” Telles wrote.

Cooke and his wife traveled to Aspen, Colorado, on the private jet of Ed and Sasha Bass, around Labor Day weekend.

The Basses are co-owners of Sundance Square, a 37-square block business and entertainment district in downtown Fort Worth.

The city has numerous contractual agreements with Sundance Square, and has been mediating a dispute between the district and downtown business advocacy nonprofit Downtown Fort Worth Inc. over the management of a special downtown taxing district.

The city forced both sides to resolve their differences, but under city rules Cooke’s office could be called upon to be the final arbiter.

The mayor and council forced Cooke to recuse himself from all business pertaining to Sundance Square, and directed Guzman to mediate the dispute it it gets appealed further.

Sasha Bass said in a statement to the Star-Telegram Tuesday that the trip was meant to capitalize on the public relations success of Fort Worth at festivals like South by Southwest in Austin.

She noted Cooke was one of a number of Fort Worth dignitaries who traveled to Aspen to promote the city at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass festival.

Bass asserted the trip was about enjoying friends, music and art while promoting Fort Worth.

This story was originally published October 6, 2022 8:47 AM.