Policy No.: 200.003
Resolution No.: RR46-07
Date Approved: 06/25/2007
Supersedes the following Resolutions & Policies: N/A

Policy

(Approved by the Board of Park Commissioners.)

Purpose:

The Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma (Metro Parks Tacoma) is accountable to its citizens for its use of public dollars. The limited financial resources of Metro Parks Tacoma must be wisely used to ensure adequate funding to support the services, public facilities, and infrastructure necessary to meet the community’s present and future needs.

Metro Parks Tacoma employees are routinely required to use information processing equipment when performing their jobs; this Information Technology (IT) Policy is meant to establish a policy for legal, ethical and cost-effective use of IT resources, to encourage use that enhances employee productivity, and to prohibit inappropriate use.

This policy establishes guidelines for appropriate use of Metro Parks Tacoma’s computer network, desktop computer systems and associated peripheral equipment, software, electronic communications and Internet access. This policy shall apply to all Metro Parks Tacoma departments, divisions, employees, volunteers, contractors and others who have been provided access to computer systems or other IT resources owned by Metro Parks Tacoma.

Policy Requirements:

Section I.

Metro Parks Tacoma owns and maintains computer systems and other hardware, a computer network infrastructure, software applications and licenses and other technology resources to assist in conducting its legitimate business operations. Use of all such technology resources, whether by employees, volunteers, contractors, or others who may have been granted access, shall conform to all applicable federal, state and local laws.

Section II.

The Board of Park Commissioners reserves the right to inspect and monitor any and all data stored on computer systems owned by Metro Parks Tacoma or transmitted over its network. This further includes the right to review, copy, disclose, modify or delete data, including information transmitted by electronic mail. The Executive Director may authorize a designee to conduct random and requested audits of employee data and accounts in order to ensure compliance with policies and procedures, to investigate suspicious activities that could be harmful to the organization, to assist in the evaluation of performance issues and concerns, or to identify productivity issues. Internet and e-mail communications may be subject to public disclosure and the rules of discovery in the event of a lawsuit. There is no inherent right to privacy in an employee’s use of Metro Parks Tacoma’s technology resources.

Section III.

The Board of Park Commissioners authorizes the use of computing and technology resources to carry out legitimate Metro Parks Tacoma business. The Board grants authority to the Executive Director to establish IT procedures for general use of computer resources owned and maintained by Metro Parks Tacoma. Such procedures cannot address every possible situation, but shall include the following general guidelines and information:

A. General use and access

B. Electronic mail (e-mail)

C. Internet

D. Ownership and use of Software

E. Policy Acknowledgement

All employees, volunteers, or contractors with access to MPT-owned technology resources shall be provided a copy of established IT procedures and shall be required to acknowledge in writing their receipt of same.