RE 11-11-86.1 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
RESOLUTION NO. 111186.1
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS, APPROVING A TRAVEL
EXPENSE POLICY.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COPPELL, TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
That the City Council hereby approves the attached Trave! Expense Policy.
SECTION 2.
That this resolution shall take effect from and after its final date of passage, and
it is accordingly so ordered.
DULY ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Coppel], Texas, this the
11th day of November, 1986.
APPROVED:
ATTEST:
~Y ~SEC~RETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY OF COPPELL
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
TRAVEL EXPENSE POLICY
The following general procedures for attending conventions, educational
meetings, and business trips shall apply to all departments of the City of
Coppell, including the City Council, City Manager, Department Heads and all
Boards and Commissions.
I. TRANSPORTATION
a. Air travel arrangements are to be made by each department or
agency within budget funds. Air travel shall be by coach class
whenever possible. If coach class is not available, then
business class or first class fare may be purchased.
b. In instances of approved private vehicle use, reimbursement
for mileage at the current IRS maximum rate plus toll and
parking fees.
c. Gasoline Credit Card:
The Department Head may request, in writing, the requisition
for the use of a gasoline credit card. Gasoline credit cards
will only be issued for travel approved in a City vehicle.
Copies of the charge tickets must reflect the City equipment
number and are to be turned into the Department of Finance
along with the credit card on return.
Charges for other than gasoline or emergency repairs will not
be honored.
II. LODGING
Reservations for lodging are to be at the single room rate,
unless approved for double occupancy.
Payment for lodging is to be arranged in advance by individual
departments or agencies.
If room service is charged to the room, the individual is
responsible for reimbursing the City or Agency upon return.
III. MEALS AND MISCELLANEOUS PER DIEM ALLOWANCE
The per diem allowance shall be issued at the rates stated
below. The per diem allowance shall be calculated beginning
with the day of departure and continuing up through one day
after the last day of the meeting, convention, or business
trip.
Delegate & Spouse Delegate Only
1. Employees and Board $65.00 $45.00
Members
2. City Council and $65.00 $45.00
City Manager
IV. LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALLS
One long distance phone call to an individual's home is allowed for
each day of the trip provided the call does not exceed three minutes
and is made from within the United States.
Calls made out of the United States shall be limited to one per
trip and shall not exceed three minutes. Ail calls, including calls
to the offices of the City of Coppell, are restricted to telephone
credit cards.
V. BUSINESS TRIP TRAVEL
Business trip travel shall follow the above procedures with the
exception of advanced expense allowance.
Funds will be advanced in excess of the above per diem rates based
upon an approved disbursement voucher.
If credit cards are used, copies of the charge should be provided
upon return and should be documented as to the business nature of
the trip, names of those ~n the party, and the title of the persons
involved.
Individuals that participate in tournaments shall state persons
involved, the business reason for participating in the tournament
and the title of the person or persons involved in the immediate
group or party.
Expenses for entertainment should show the client's name, title
and company name along with a brief description of the nature of the
business transacted.
VI. NON-ALLOWABLE EXPENSES
Expenses or charges for the following shall be at the expense of
the individual:
a. In-hotel pay television;
b. Dry cleaning and laundry;
c. Health club and spas.
VII. AIRLINE OR OTHER PROMOTIONS
An employee of the City or its agencies shall not participate in
any airline or other promotion offering free trips or tickets if the
funds of the City or its agencies have provided the basis for the
employee to be eligible to participate in the promotion.
If an employee has received or used such a ticket, he or she is
responsible to reimburse the City for the full face value of said
ticket.
Airline reservations shall be made through the City purchase
office.
XIV. UNBUDGETED EMPLOYEE TRAVEL
The Department Head as well as the Agencies' directors shall submit
a memo to the City Manager stating the reason for the travel, the
funding available and the estimated cost involved. A copy of the
approved memo authorizing the travel shall be attached to the
disbursement request.
XV. UNFUNDED EMPLOYEE TRAVEL
The Department Head as well as the Agencies' directors shall submit
an item for the City Council's agenda requesting a budget adjustment
if funds are not available for the requested travel. The nature of
the trip, the title of the position involved, and the estimated cost
should be shown.
Upon approval by the City Council, funds will be provided in
accordance with the travel policy.
XVI. TRAVEL OUT OF STATE
Department Heads are allowed one out of state convention or
training school trip per year as approved in the budget. Requests
for more than one out of state trip shall be approved by the City
Council.
Ail other employees are allowed travel only within the State of
Texas unless the travel has been budgeted, and the City Manager
approves the trip.
XVII. EXPENSES FOR ITEMS NOT STATED IN POLICY
The City Manager's approval must be obtained prior to any
expenditure of funds for items or charges which are not specifically
talked to in the travel policy. Examples might be car rentals,
charter flights, rental of equipment, hire of secretarial services,
etc.
VIII. SPOUSE TRAVEL
Employees, boards, or commission members shall be responsible for
all the expenses of a spouse unless specifically approved for
reimbursement by the City Council.
IX. UNBUDGETED BOARD OR COMMISSION TRAVEL
Request for travel for board or commission members shall be
submitted to the City Council for approval prior to any trip, after
certification by the City Manager that funds are available.
X. TRAVEL WITH THE COUNCIL
The Office of the City Secretary will be responsible for
arrangements for the City Council and Department Heads traveling
with Council for Texas Municipal League meetings and other group
trips with the Council.
XI. AFFIDAVITS OF EXPENDITURES AND RETURN OF UNEXPENDED FUNDS
Upon return to the City, a complete accounting of all expenditures
of City funds is to be filed on the City's or its Agencies' Expense
Statement form. Receipts for hotel bills and registration fees
should be attached to the statement. All unexpended advance funds
(including meals and miscellaneous per diem allowance) should be
returned with the statement. Authorized expenses in excess of
advance funds received will be reimbursed.
XII. PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING TRAVEL APPROVAL AND CASH ADVANCES
The Department Head is responsible for clearing all travel with the
City Manager before proceeding to make arrangements for a trip.
Employees of the City's Agencies shall be responsible for clearing
all travel with the Executive Director of the involved agency.
XIII. BUDGETED TRAVEL
a. City Employees:
Separate DDR's should be submitted to the Finance Department
for (1) lodging expense (payable to the hotel); (2) employee
advance for mileage (when approved) and meal allowance per
diem; and (3) registration or tuition fee (payable to the
convention or school). The checks for the hotel and
registration may either be mailed in advance or hand delivered
by the traveler. Each of the three DDR's should state that the
expenditure is a budgeted item and should provide the trip's
participants, destination, time frame and purpose.
b. Agency Employees:
Shall submit request as described in the agencies' policy for
disbursements.