Use of City Resources

1. Can I use a City telephone or email to make appointments or take care of other personal matters?
   
   Answer: Generally yes. City telephones or email may be used for calls to meet the demands of daily living. Employee use should be limited and occasional, and should not cost the City money or interfere with City work. For example, an employee may use a City telephone or email to make a doctor's appointment or a lunch date, check in with a family member, or arrange for transportation. Note, however, that supervisors and departments may have more strict policies on telephone and email use for reasons related to specific work situations.
   
   
2. Can I use a City telephone for calls concerning my outside business (that is, a commercial enterprise)?
   
   Answer: No. City equipment is provided to City employees to do their City jobs. This City equipment cannot be used for their private businesses. Any City employee with a private business must use personal or vacation time and personal equipment and supplies for the private business.
   
   
3. Can I use my City computer to send personal e-mails or to look up personal information on the Internet?
   
   Answer: As with the telephone, the Commission interprets the Code to allow an occasional personal email message or brief access to an Internet resource, as long as the use is compatible with personnel rules and management policies. Here again, departments, managers, and supervisors may have more restrictive policies on computer use. Also note that the City does monitor some and has the capability to monitor all computer, e-mail, and Internet use. Remember, too, that personal emails may be subject to public disclosure.
   
   
4. Can I use the City computer to access the Internet to check my personal investments or make an investment?
   
   Answer: You may use your City computer and Internet access to check the progress of your investments in the City's Deferred Compensation Program and to confirm direct deposits. You cannot use City computers to review other personal investments or to transact investment business (for example, trading in stocks, bonds, or mutual funds), or to conduct an outside business. You cannot use City equipment or your position for private gain..
   
   
5. Can our crew use the City truck to drive to a restaurant at lunch time?
   
   Answer: When you are working in the field, you may use a City vehicle to eat at a nearby eating establishment, as long as this use is consistent with management and department policy, and the distance driven is minimal. Use of City vehicles for personal errands is prohibited.
   
   
6. Can I put a flyer for my business on the employee bulletin board at work?
   
   Answer: The Ethics Code prohibits employees from using their positions for private gain. If this is a work-site employee bulletin board, the Commission has said that use of the board for communication between employees is permissible, including offering used personal items for sale or posting notice of a school fund-raiser, but promotion of a private business prohibited. If, however, the bulletin board is available for public use, such as at City-run community centers, employees may use the board subject to the same regulations that the public must follow.

For the Ethics Code regarding Use of City Resources,
see SMC 4.16.070(2)(b) or contact the SEEC for advice.