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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAO 24 Use of City Vehicles 03311981 Superseded ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO . 24 TO: Department & Division Heads March 31 , 1981 FROM: Lee Kraft , City Manager SUBJECT: USE' OF CITY VEHICLES .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 . 2 • 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 . 3 • 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 .