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Home My WebLink About95-080BUTTE COUNTY VEffiCLE USAGE POLICY WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors desires to implement a policy and management system for the use of vehicles which are owned, leased or rented on behalf of the County and to establish a process for Board authorization of vehicles which maybe used in the course of commuting to and from work; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the County to limit the size of the County transportation fleet to the minimum required for the cost-effective delivery of County services, thereby saving County funds; and WHEREAS, the Board recognizes the requirement of certain employees and departments to have access to county-owned vehicles far the conduct of work and emergency response. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Butte County Board of Supervisors as follows: 1. The Board of Supervisors hereby adopts the Butte County Vehicle Usage Policy as set forth in Exhibit "A" attached hereto, to become effective August 1, 1995. 2. The policy implemented by this resolution generally prohibits the use of County vehicles for commuting, absent specific Board action to the contrary. Specifically, the Board understands that certain employees and/or classifications require county vehicles at all times and expects that such employees/classifications be set forth in a schedule to be submitted to the Board for approval, The Board of Supervisors hereby directs department heads to work with the Administrative Office in making requests for employeelclassificatian inclusion in such schedule which the Board anticipates formally approving prior to the effective date of the policy. The Board expects that it will amend such schedule from time to time as necessary. 3. The Board of Supervisors understands that certain employees have been explicitly provided a County vehicle for commuting and that other County employees have been commuting in County vehicles without objection. The Board directs the Administrative Office to meet and confer with appropriate bargaining unit designees concerning the implementation and impact of this policy as to those employees. The Board anticipates that the County vehicle commuting prohibition applicable to such employees may become effective for some or all of those employees after the effective date of this policy. RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Butte, State of California, this 23rd day of__ May , 1995 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Meyer, Houx, Thomas and Chair McLaughlin NOES: None ABSENT: Supervisor Dolan NOT VOTING: None C ' ED McLAUGHL Chair ATTEST: 30HN S. BLACKLOCK, Chief Administrative O#~icer and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors EXHIBIT "A" BUTTE COUNTY VEHICLE, IJ,,SA~,E.,.~„Q.~ICY A~nlicability This policy applies to the use of motorized vehicles owned, leased, or rented by or on behalf of the County of Butte, California. All county personnel, elected and appointed and regardless of level or scope of responsibilities, shall comply with this policy. The Board of Supervisors reserves the right to withdraw the privilege of driving a county vehicle from any individual found in violation of this policy. general Rule County awned or leased vehicles shall be used only for the purpose of conducting authorized county business. The use of county vehicles for commuting, conducting personal business, or for other personal purposes is prohibited except as specifically authorized by the Board of Supervisors. The prohibition on commuting includes a prohibition against using a county vehicle for any portion of the normal trip to or from work. In addition to following the rules, employees must remember that the public's perception of vehicle use is important. Employees are encouraged to avoid any appearance of impropriety, to plan ahead, and to use county vehicles for only those trips necessary in conducting County business. Specific Rules Management Oversight. Department heads hold primary responsibility for monitoring, oversight, and enforcement of this policy within their organizations and for the proper management, operation, maintenance, and security of all assigned county vehicles. Comply with Laws. County vehicles shall be operated in accordance with all safety and legal requirements and traffic rules of the county, municipality, state, and any other jurisdiction in which they are operated. Possess Driver's License. Each driver of a county vehicle shall have in his or her possession a valid California driver's license. Use Safety Devices. Each person in a county vehicle shall use a seat belt (and shoulder harness, if available) while the vehicle is in motion. Carrying Non-County Employees. Employees are prohibited from carrying any person who is not a county employee in a county vehicle unless carrying the person is directly related to county business. Interoffice Vehicle Use. Employees who perform services out of two different offices may, with the approval of the department head, use a county vehicle for transportation between offices. Field Operations--Breaks and Lunch. When in the fiield using a county vehicle for county business, employees may use the vehicle during breaks and lunch as follows: ~ During a break employees may use the vehicle to stop at a retail outlet reasonably convenient to their last or next job site or the route between them to purchasing refreshments for consumption during the break. • Employees working in the field may use the vehicle to drive to and from a lunch site reasonably convenient to their last or next job site or the route between them. Office Operation--Lunch. An employee who has been specifically authorized to use a county vehicle to commute to and from work may use that vehicle to go to and from a lunch site reasonably convenient to the employee's office. Vehicle Take Home Policy for Training. With prior written authorization from the department head, an employee may take a county vehicle home when attending a seminar, training, or workshop. Each authorization shall apply to only one specific seminar, training, or workshop. Personal Business. Personal business which has been historically prohibited by the County, and is further confirmed within this policy includes, but is not limited to, any use for personal convenience, shopping, or transportation, except breaks and Punch in situations as described above. Department File. Departments with assigned county vehicles shall maintain a file which contains any and all documentation required by this policy. Department Supplemental Policy. Department heads may supplement this policy, but any supplement must be in writing, included in the file required above, and may not be less restrictive than this policy. A copy of any such policies shall be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors through the Chief Administrative Office. Emergency_ Situations In a personal emergency situation, an employee may use a county vehicle to respond to the emergency if the employee's personal vehicle is not available. Such use of a county 2 Emergency Situations In a personal emergency situation, an employee may use a county vehicle to respond to the emergency if the employee's personal vehicle is not available. Such use of a county vehicle must be authorized by the employee's immediate supervisor or higher authority and documented in writing no later than one work day after the emergency use. in using a county vehicle for a personal emergency, an employee must recognize that the county reserves the right #o recoup the cost of use from the employee at the same rate per mile that the county reimburses employees for use of personal vehicles on county business. The approving supervisor or higher authority is responsible for bringing this reimbursement policy to the employee's attention before the employee uses the county vehicle for a personal emergency. 3