Keys to the Kitchens
If someone performed an act of heroism for their city (say, defeating SARS in hand-to-hand combat), a key to the city is sort of a lame gift. Hey, no-one ever locks it. Better gifts: a) pass to park anywhere, even in the middle of a highway or on a sidewalk; b) keys to everyone’s kitchens, meaning our hero is entitled to enter anyone’s home in the middle of the night and make a sandwich.
c) Free diner food within city limits forever. Our hero should not have to pay for coffee or get hustled away from the counter after twenty minutes.
Another one might be the ability to commandeer vehicles at will, sort of like Grand Theft Auto except with everyone happy to have their car taken by such a great hero.