G-04-03-25-13F3 - 3/25/2004ORDINANCE NO. 0 - 01j- D3 -J5 -/3F3
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 5.08 OF THE HUMAN
RESOURCES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL,
CONCERNING USE OF CITY -OWNED MOBILE TELEPHONES; AND
PROVIDING FOR A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND REPEALING
CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK,
TEXAS:
I.
That Section 5.08 of the Human Resources Policies and
Procedures Manual of the City of Round Rock, Texas, is hereby
amended to read as follows:
5.08 USE OF CITY -OWNED MOBILE TELEPHONES
PURPOSE To establish policy and procedures related to the acquisition and use of City- owned
mobile telephone.
POLICY
GENERAL
CRITERIA
It is the policy of the City of Round Rock that mobile telephones are a tool to
enhance productivity. Employees are fully responsible for the cost-effective use
and care of the tool.
Like all other City assets and resources, mobile telephones are acquired with public
funds to enable City employees to transact City business in the most efficient and
cost effective method possible. Employees have no legitimate expectation of
privacy when using this resource.
As a general rule, the following employees are eligible for City -owned mobile
telephones:
•
•
Employees who serve in public safety capacities and who by job title and
responsibility routinely serve or are subject to serve in command or field
coordinator roles for actual incidents or rehearsals for incidents that may
threaten public safety and well-being.
Employees with whom immediate and direct telephonic communications
are necessary in the performance of their job responsibilities and
organizational duties. Radios should be the first method of communication
with other City employees who also have access to a radio.
Employees with assigned duties and responsibilities that require mobile
communication access and where a mobile telephone provides economic
or functional benefits over and above other means of mobile
communications.
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RESPONSI-
BILITIES Departments are responsible for:
• Reviewing established criteria in order to determine which employees have
legitimate business needs to have a mobile telephone assigned to them.
• Submitting requests for mobile phones and other equipment from
Purchasing Requests must include appropriate information relating to
charging of accounts.
• Ensuring employees protect and maintain all mobile phones.
• Returning all mobile phone equipment to Purchasing when an individual is
reassigned or terminates employment. Purchasing will be responsible for
reassigning equipment as needed.
Initiating requests to maintain a limited number of mobile telephones to be
routinely assigned to their work crews on standby. Logs detailing the name
of individual who checked out the telephone and the date(s) used should be
maintained.
Coordinating the audit process between purchasing and employees selected
for routine audits of monthly bill(s).
Administering disciplinary actions as outlined in this policy to employees
who violated this policy and/or an administrative directive regarding Use
of City -Owned Mobile Telephones.
Employees are responsible for:
Ensuring that the mobile telephone is to be used with few exceptions for
City business. Personal calls should be limited to issues related to health,
safety, or farnily emergency issues.
The repair or replacement cost of the unit in the event that the telephone is
damaged, lost, or stolen due to negligence on the part of the employee.
Using radios or the radio feature as the first method of communications
with other City employees who also have access to a radio.
Complying with routine requests to review monthly bill(s) as part of the
affected department or Finance Department audit or control process review.
Maintaining and operating the mobile telephone and associated equipment
consistent with all manufacturing guidelines and City directive.
Purchasing Division is responsible for:
• Purchasing and assigning mobile telephones and numbers,
Maintaining a perpetual inventory of all mobile phones,
Maintaining appropriate records,
Maintaining telephone and mobile phone contact information on
employees,
Maintaining a supply of mobile phones that may be checked out by an
individual who occasionally goes into the field or travels from the office
and must maintain contact with the office,
• Ensuring resolutions to problems related to service and equipment,
• Reviewing monthly bills of mobile telephone utilization and conducting
routine audits on a monthly basis, and
• Coordinating auditing activities with specific department as needed.
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ENFORCEMENT
RELATED POLICIES
EFFECTIVE
DATE
The city recognizes that short periodic personal calls (less than 3 three minutes) are
reasonable to check on a family member, change a doctors appointment or follow-
up on personal business needing immediate attention. During routine audits, a
personal call greater than three minutes in duration or more than 3 calls daily to or
from the same number may be deemed a violation of this policy and subject to
disciplinary action.
Violation of this policy and/or a related administrative directive will be grounds for
disciplinary actions, up to and including termination.
The following shall be general rule for discipline:
• First offense, an oral warning and reimbursement of actual cost;
• Second offense, beginning of progressive disciplinary process of a written
reprimand, and reimbursement of actual cost;
• Third offense, 1 day suspension without pay and reimbursement of actual
cost;
Fourth offense, further disciplinary action up to and including termination.
However, if the violation is judged to be excessive, regardless of whether it is the
first offense or higher, the employee shall be disciplined accordingly, up to and
including termination.
5.03 Ethical Standards
5.13 Use and Care of City Property
8.06 Performance Management Process
Administrative Directives
March 25, 2004
II.
A.. All ordinances, parts of ordinances, or resolutions in
conflict herewith are expressly repealed.
B. The invalidity of any section or provision of this
ordinance. shall not invalidate other sections or provisions
thereof.
C. The City Council hereby finds and declares that written
notice.of the date, hour, place and subject of the meeting at which
this Ordinance was adopted was posted and that such meeting was
open to the public as required by law at all times during which
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this Ordinance and the subject matter hereof were discussed,
considered and formally acted upon, all as required by the Open
Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended.
Alternative 1.
By motion duly made, seconded and passed with an affirmative
vote of all the Council members present, the requirement for
reading this ordinance on two separate days was dispensed with.
READ, PASSED, and ADOPTED on first reading this d`_54/)day
of ` II�, vl� , 2004 .
Alternative 2.
READ and APPROVED on first reading this the day of
, 2004.
READ, APPROVED and ADOPTED on second reading this the
day of
ATTEST:
, 2004.
CHRISTINE R. MARTINEZ, City Sec r ary
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DATE: March 19, 2004
SUBJECT: City Council Meeting - March 25, 2004
ITEM: *13.F.3. Consider an ordinance amending Section 5.08 of the Human
Resources Policies and Procedures Manual, concerning use of city -
owned mobile telephones. (First Reading)
Department: Human Resources
Staff Person: Teresa Bledsoe, Human Resources Director
Justification: These revisions provide policies that are consistent with the best
practices and assure the proper use of equipment purchased with City
funds. It also reduces City liability and exposure.
Funding:
Cost: N/A
Source of funds: N/A
Outside Resources: N/A
Background Information:
Public Comment: N/A
The Council adopted the current Human Resources Policies
and Procedures Manual in November 2000. Policies and
procedures are updated when business necessity reflects a
need for such revisions.