Travis County Commissioners Court
November 24, 2009,
Item 11
Number 11.
consider and take appropriate action on a new program: Travis County wheels, accept donation of items for the program and add the bikes to the asset inventory.
ms.
noel?
>> yes, we would like for you to approve this new program, Travis County wheels, accept a donation of the items for this program, and add the bikes to the asset inventory.
this program is a very good program for Travis County to try to get employees to use an alternative mode of transportation other than a county vehicle.
it will help improve the air quality in Travis County by us being less dependent on automobiles and improve an employee's health as well.
as you know, Travis County is designated as near -- fire non-attainment for ozone and this program is a step in the right direction and shows that Travis County is a leader in fighting ozone.
i'm available to answer any questions that you may have about this program.
what about the liability or the waiver?
i had to leave last week before I got to hear the -- the answers.
>> there was a new liability release and waiver of liability form that the county attorneys put together.
>> and it says?
>> which should have been delivered to you this morning.
it is a very long one.
i can -- I have a copy of it right here.
>> I don't have it.
>> okay.
>> I think we got it at 4:53 yesterday.
>> I believe that the way it was discussed last week, it was actually the waiver that the county attorney's office landed upon is actually less expansive than the prior one.
>> basically what does it say?
>> I believe that the waiver essentially goes to any use for non-business purposes.
that -- that a user of the bicycle, if they are using it for lunch as opposed to using it to go to a meeting, is waiving liability.
>> okay.
so it's for non-county use.
it.
>> can be used for county use as well, the discussion with regard to the waiver was -- went to the type of waiving one can do when using a county vehicle of any type, whether it's a vehicle or a bicycle, when -- but perhaps if you would like we could go back and I think this is more of an executive session issue.
>> yeah, I may need to -- I may need to do that before I can vote.
>> okay.
then we will -- we will chat with our lawyers again.
it does say in number 8 the person executing the waiver agrees to reimburse Travis County for any damage caused to any bike element, lock or other equipment that the person may use.
i guess one big question was what happens if -- if let's say that the -- that the employee unintentionally runs into a person or a vehicle or stuff like that.
we chatted about that.
i can't recall the answer.
let's just chat with legal again briefly in executive session today.
the other thing is that the request is that we put this in place on a pilot basis, maybe a year later, take a look at it and see what impact this had.
>> uh-huh.
i think from a policy standpoint I would like to state that with regard to the waiver, it is my intention and hope that we don't treat bicycle use more stringently than we treat vehicle use by county employees on -- on business runs.
>> my only concern is I want to focus on the people who are going to be using the bikes.
you know, what happens to them -- if something should happen.
how we're going to deal with the effects of a person getting hurt more than anything else.
>> you seem to be eager to chat with the court, can you wait until we go into executive session with the other items.
>> I absolutely can, judge.
>> we may have a few questions for you then.
>> sure.
>> okay.
thank you.
e.m.s.
people next door?
thank you, ms.
noel.
they are sitting in the audience out there.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 1:40 PM
