HomeMy WebLinkAboutAO 24 Use of City Vehicles 03311981 Superseded ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO . 24
TO: Department & Division Heads March 31 , 1981
FROM: Lee Kraft , City Manager
SUBJECT: USE' OF CITY VEHICLES .
I , PURPOSE: The purpose of this Order is to clarify the use of city
vehicles by city employees ; to prescribe the official circumstances
under which city vehicles may be used ; and direct these regulations
to apply to any employee using a city vehicle , on or off the job_
II . CONDITIONS FOR TAKE HOME PRIVILEGE: At the beginning of each
year , no later than January 15 , the City Manager , after conferring
with staff , will publish a separate listing of all those city officials
who are authorized by virtue of position to use a city vehicle for
trips back and forth to work . The standard by which this listing
will be prepared will correlate to the degree of public interest
served by the city employee having a city vehicle assigned for take
home purposes . Where there is no preponderance of evidence to
support a take home policy , then the privilege will be denied . A
legitimate and clear cut need to respond to emergencies, is an
obvious factor to be taken into account; however , an infrequent
• emergency call is not sufficient justification for a take home vehicle .
The first approved take home list is attached hereto .
III . APPROVED USE STANDARDS : An employee once approved by the City
Manager for a take home vehicle , shall use the vehicle during duty
hours , or off-duty hours , for the following purposes only:
A . During Duty Hours :
1 . Driving associated with the official purpose of the employee ' s
job designation is permissible .
2 . Driving to official job-related meetings in the Tri-Cities area
after getting the advance approval of the department head or
the assistant department head , is permissible .
3 . Driving to out of Tri- Cities locations requires the approval of
the City Manager if it concerns a department head; for any
other employee , the department head of that employee is
authorized to grant this permission if the use is for official
purposes .
B . During Off- Duty Hours:
1 . Driving the vehicle to and from home to work is permissible if
the employee is on the City Manager' s approved listing for
such privilege .
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• C . Exceptions Relating to Police Chief and Fire Chief:
1 . These department heads , as heads of emergency service
departments , are theortetically on duty around-the-clock;
hence', during the 8 : 00 A . M . to 5 : 00 P , M . week day
period , these two department heads are privileged to take
their assigned vehicles to such places as their daily
schedules require , but such use shall be " for official use .
only " and shall be subject to the restrictions pursuant to
Section IV herein .
IV . RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF CITY VEHICLES BY CITY EMPLOYEES AT
ALL TIMES : The following uses are specifically forbidden,-
A . . Taking a city vehicle to social or recreational functions , is
forbidden; this restriction shall not apply to the official
physical fitness program for the Fire Department when such an
activity is scheduled away from the station ,
B , Using a city vehicle to take your children (or anybody else ' s)
to and from school , is forbidden .
• C . Using a city vehicle for shopping (including side trips on way
back and forth from work) , is forbidden; this does not apply to
the Fire Department when a city vehicle is used to get provisions
for the departmental kitchen ,
D . Taking a city vehicle home for lunch is not authorized if the
employee lives outside of Pasco city limits , unless it can be
shown that it would be cost effective to the City to do so .
Under these circumstances , it would be necessary to obtain
special permission from the City Manager , in writing , authorizing
a vehicle to be taken home for lunch .
E . Hauling friends or strangers in a city vehicle at any time , is
forbidden , unless there is a direct work- related requirement to do
so , If in doubt , the employee should check with his/her
supervisor ,
F . Joyriding in a city vehicle during duty hours or off-duty hours , is
forbidden .
G . Taking a city vehicle anywhere which has no job-related connection ,
is forbidden . The watchword regarding vehicle use should be , if in
doubt , don ' t use the vehicle ?
H . If not part of the usual and customary duties in a job description ,
using a city vehicle during work hours or off-duty hours requires
the advance approval of the employee ' s department head .
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• V . PENALTIES FOR MISUSE : The penalty for misuse will depend on
the nature of the infraction and can range from a letter of reprimand ,
loss of privilege of taking vehicle home , to outright dismissal of
the employee .
VI . INSURANCE: Employees who by authorization from their superiors ,
use their private vehicle for an official purpose , are covered by the
City ' s liability insurance contract .
VII . PERMISSIBLE EXCEPTIONS (ALL EMPLOYEES) :
1 , If out in a city vehicle at or near the lunch hour , the employee
may stop at the nearest restaurant in town without being in
violation of this Order , or he/she may proceed home to lunch if
within the city limits of Pasco .
i
LFK: pt
attachment
•
MEMORANDUM
• TO: Department & Divison Heads March 31 , 1981
FROM: Lee Kraft , City Manager
SUBJECT: APPROVED TAKE HOME LIST FOR USE OF CITY VEHICLES .
Pursuant to my Administrative Order No . 24 , dated March 31 , 1981 ,
the following empioyees , , by departmental listing , are authorized to
use a city vehicle for take home purposes:
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT (One Emergency Take Home Vehicle Authorized) :
(a) Assistant Public Works Director Whetsler is authorized to take a pick-up
home for utility turn on and turn off emergencies . Mr . Whetsler , as the
occasion demands , is permitted to let other emergency personnel from
the department come to his house and use the pick-up for emergency
call outs . r
FIRE DEPARTMENT (Two Emergency Take Home Vehicles Authorized) :
r
(a) Fire Chief Hager is authorized a take home vehicle , unless he wishes to
• delegate this privilege to Assistant Chief Nelson .
(b) Fire Marshall Fifer is authorized to take a vehicle home .
POLICE DEPARTMENT (One Emergency Take Home Vehicle Authorized) :
(a) Police Chief Vandiver is authorized a take home vehicle , subject to the r
use restrictions of Administrative Order No , 24 . This vehicle shall
have a municipal plate on it and shall be marked with a City Seal and
with the designation " For Official Use Only " as required by law .
PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT (Two Temporary Take Home Vehicles
Authorized during June , July and August , only) :
(a) Recreation Supervisor Whitemarsh is authorized a take home vehicle
during the Summer months of June , July and August , only
(b) Maintenance Supervisor Baxter is authorized a take home vehicle during
the Summer months of June , July and August , only .
FINANCE , CITY ATTORNEY , CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENTS :
(a) No employee is authorized the regular use of a take home vehicle ; ►
exceptions will be dealt with on the merits of a particular case .
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT:
(a ) No employee is authorized the regular use of a take home vehicle , except
the Director is authorized to permit the Environmental Control Inspector to
take a vehicle home when the nature of the inspection work requires it .