ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
5.	CONSIDER APPROVAL OF VEHICLE USE POLICY
Meeting Date:			October 18, 2004	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David A. Berger,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			David Laredo, District Counsel	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Approval: Yes
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: The District maintains several vehicles for use by its staff in connection with District business. This matter clarifies that the General Manager may use a District vehicle in all instances where use of his personally owned vehicle is impractical. This matter does not effect a change in District policy regarding use of vehicles, but is intended to clarify such use as it pertains to the General Manager.

RECOMMENDATION: The Board of Directors approve the following District vehicle use policy interpretation:

The Board authorizes the General Manager to use a District vehicle in those instances where his personally owned vehicle would otherwise be impractical (e.g., driving to an off-road or rough road location, or when needed to transport more than one other person) on District business.

Approval of this matter on the Consent Calendar shall authorize the policy interpretation as stated.

BACKGROUND: The District owns several vehicles that are regularly used by staff in connection with District business. The General Manager Employment Agreement (Section III C, not attached) provides that the General Manager “shall receive a monthly automobile allowance of Three Hundred Dollars ($300) per month, and additional reimbursement for mileage for travel outside of District boundaries as provided in the Personnel Manual.” That Agreement further clarifies that the Board, at its option, may elect to discontinue the monthly auto allowance, and instead provide the General Manager with “exclusive use of a District vehicle for use during business and non-business periods, and for which the District will bear all costs to operate and maintain.”

Neither District policy nor the General Manager Employment Agreement address the question as to whether the General Manager, while receiving the monthly automobile allowance, is also authorized to use a District-owned vehicle in the same manner as those vehicles may regularly be used by staff in connection with District business.

This matter clarifies that the General Manager may use a District vehicle in all instances where use of his personally owned vehicle is impractical. This matter does not effect a change in District policy regarding use of vehicles, but clarifies that such policy applies equally to the General Manager.

IMPACT ON STAFF/RESOURCES: None; this policy applies to use of existing vehicles.

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