Tip to city: Guy steamed over policy not going away

Bill Tann is hardly the first Spokane resident to engage in a squabble with the city over money.

But he’s the only one I’ve run into with this particular money problem: Tann is sore that he can’t give more of it away.

Tann is fighting for the right to tip his barista.

Let me explain.

Each weekday, Tann walks his dog, Lucy, and Woof-Woof, the dog of a friend, through Manito Park.

The 62-year-old retired insurance claims adjuster makes a habit of stopping at the rustic Park Bench Café, where he orders a caffeinated beverage.

The cheerful young employees behind the counter often reward the mutts with complimentary dog cookies.

Tann is a generous man. He would love to return the kindness. But the baristas tell him they cannot accept his offerings.

Here’s why: This year the Park Bench is being operated by the Parks Department. That means the workers are city employees. And according to Parks and Recreation Director Mike Stone, staffers are “not entitled to tips, gifts, etc. Their satisfaction comes from serving appreciative customers such as you.”

Stone wrote the above words in response to an e-mail that Tann fired off to Mayor Dennis Hession and members of the City Council.

“Starbucks employees, Rockwood Bakery employees, Rocket Bakery employees, Bittersweet Bakery employees and Cabin Coffee employees are ALL allowed to accept tips,” wrote Tann in his original letter.

“Employees of the Park Bench are not, despite the superb service they offer.

“Justice demands equality with the competition!”

Who said protest was dead?

Tann sent me copies of his correspondence, which I enjoyed so much that I arranged to meet him at the Park Bench on Monday morning.

Hey, I realize policies are policies. I’ve bought coffee in stores that don’t allow their employee servers to receive tips.

And in most instances city workers don’t deserve tips even when they perform well.

Take Spokane’s parking meter enforcers. A more efficient group of predators you will never find.

Yet not once have I ever contemplated rewarding any of them for their ticket-writing, ahem, diligence.

Let me tell you something about Tann.

I met the man almost 20 years ago after he tumbled into a pothole during a walk and eventually accepted an out-of-court settlement from the city for 25 cents.

That’s right, 25 cents.

Assistant City Attorney Rocco Treppiedi didn’t want to give the guy a red cent. But Tann, who wanted $500 for his pain and broken watch, wouldn’t go away.

He filed more than two dozen claims and counterclaims. He hounded Treppiedi. Finally, the exasperated lawyer coughed up a quarter with the provision that Tann give his settlement to charity.

Tann, who has a very keen sense of humor, accepted the terms as a moral victory.

The point is that there’s no predicting how far Tann will take this. When I met him at the Park Bench he was wearing a Starbucks cap and vest. A sign around his neck read: “Starbucks Employees Get Tipped.”

Four women who were ordering drinks at the café window voiced their support for tipping the Park Bench employees.

“I’m a teacher,” said one. “I think they should tip me, too!”

You already get tipped, lady. It’s called “SUMMERS OFF!”

But Tann makes a good case. I always feel tossing some coinage into the tip jar will bring me good karma.

Perhaps a “city employee barista exception” should be made since tipping does go hand-in-hand with the espresso experience.

Well, it does in most cases.

I do not endorse the warped version of gratuity that “Cuppa Joe” Mastel came up with last year when the Spokane County sheriff’s detective exposed himself to an Airway Heights barista.

Then again, that wasn’t tipping.

That was unzipping.