Bakersfield Municipal Code Ch. 2.80 Travel Expenses

Sections: 2.80.010 Attendance at conferences—Officers designated to represent city. 2.80.020 Expenses of representatives at meetings—Filing of expense accounts—First-class accommodations. 2.80.030 Use of city-owned vehicle—Record of expenses—Vehicles for mayor and city manager. 2.80.040 Use of private vehicle—Reimbursement. 2.80.050 Council exclusive judge of propriety of expenditures. 2.80.060 Expenditure of travel funds in excess of budgetary allotments not authorized.

A. Public interest, necessity and welfare require the attendance by representatives of the city at meetings and conferences of commissions, departments and officials of the state, of other public agencies and of organizations such as the State Highway Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, the State Chamber of Commerce, the League of California Cities and its subdivisions, other associations of city officials, and other organizations where, in the judgment of such city representatives, matters of interest and concern to the city are likely to be discussed. The city council finds and declares that it is part of the official duties of the officers and employees named in subsection B of this section to attend as representatives of such city, such of the meetings or conferences of the agencies, organizations and officials heretofore named in this subsection or hereafter designated by the council, as in the judgment of the officers and employees are advisable.

B. The officers and employees designated are the mayor, members of the city council, the city manager, the city attorney, and such other officers and employees and members of the administrative staff as the city manager may from time to time direct, and such other city officers and employees as the city council may from time to time designate by resolution or motion to attend particular meetings. (Prior code § 5.24.010)

accounts—First-class accommodations.

A. The expenses of officers and employees in the attendance of any such meetings or conferences shall be a proper charge against the city, and upon the filing of an expense account in the form of a claim by any such officer or employee, and the approval thereof by the council, payment shall be made therefor.

B. Where travel is to be by common carrier as may be specified or authorized by the council, the city auditor is authorized to purchase first-class passage including Pullman accommodations, for the use of the officer or employee, in advance of the trip, upon the filing of a claim by such officer or employee. (Prior code § 5.24.020)

mayor and city manager.

A. Whenever any such officer or employee uses any city-owned vehicle in the performance of any official duty under the Charter or ordinances of the city, such officer or employee shall cause a record to be kept of out-of- pocket expenditures made by said official or employee in the operation of such vehicle, and upon presentation of a claim therefor and the approval thereof by the council, a check shall be issued to reimburse such officer or employee for the amount of such claim as approved.

B. The mayor, as chief executive officer of the city, and the city manager, as chief administrative officer of the city, shall be entitled to either a car allowance similar to that of the city council or the use of a city-owned vehicle in the performance of their official duties within or without the city. If the latter is selected, such city-owned vehicles shall be at their disposal at all times, and they shall likewise be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the operation thereof. (Ord. 4885 § 1, 2017; prior code § 5.24.030)

In the event any officers or employees are requested or authorized by the city manager or the council to use their own personal vehicles in the performance of any of their official duties under the Charter or ordinances of the city, including duties under this chapter, the city council shall allow such amount per mile traveled as in the judgment of the council will reasonably compensate such officer or employee for the use of a vehicle suitable to the particular functions and duties of such officer or employee. (Prior code § 5.24.040)

The city council shall be sole judges and arbiters as to whether any claims submitted by any officers or employees pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or under the Charter or any other ordinances of said city are for expenditures which were incurred for a public purpose and in the public interest. (Prior code § 5.24.050)

authorized.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the expenditure of travel funds in excess of budgetary allotments. (Prior code § 5.24.060)