2011-01-28 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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MR. TAKABA: They reduced it by about 50% over the last one year. And the ones they allow are more those that respond to emergencies so they don’t have to come in to the office topick up the key or to the motor pool, pick up their car and then respond. They can go on their way to work. MS. PROVALENKO: That’s why I think this should be explained a little bit more. If we eliminate County take home vehicles, and like I was under the impression it was essential services that were allowed to take them home. MR. ARMOUR: Is there much abuse on private use of the cars? MR. TAKABA: I’m not sure about the abuse, but there are some vehicles that really don’t need to be taken home. Some of it was because of vandalism. Like you would park it at the County building and at night somebody would vandalize the vehicle. So in areas that the cars are parked and are high risk, usually the employees are allowed to take it home. But we’ve stopped that. Even that policy has changed. So, in terms of who should take the vehicles home, it’s really restricted now. MS. NICHOLSON: So is this still even an issue? We did get quite a few comments on this, but maybe the policy was tightened up recently. MS. PROVALENKO: And I think there was a perception too that maybe that had been there for a while. MS. NICHOLSON: Well, maybe there’s no harm in keeping it in. MS. PROVALENKO: The way it reads though, eliminate County vehicle. MS. NICHOLSON: How about restrict the use of County take home vehicles. MS. PROVALENKO: Yeah. I think that would be better because in those essential services, those people need to have those vehicles. MS. NICHOLSON: So then, restrict the use of County take home vehicles to essential services? To first responders? MR. MATSUDA: You don’t need to say first responders or anything. MS. PROVALENKO: I think just restrict the use. I think restricting is better. MR. TAKABA: If you make it too specific, you’re going to rule out even police from taking home the vehicles. MS. NICHOLSON: I think we should put number 1 and 3 side-by-side since they are the same. MR. ARMOUR: I think we have some more telecommunications. MS. NICHOLSON: In another section? 27