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Larimer County Commissioners today approved a ground-breaking Fleet Services Operations Policy in support of implementing ‘entrepreneurial support services management’ practices at Larimer County. The policy approved today provides guidance to transition Larimer County's internal Fleet Services Department into a utility governed by a governing board called the Fleet Customer Advocacy Board (CAB) which provides the oversight and guidance to guide the delivery of Fleet Services. “The change to the entrepreneurial model is huge for Larimer County. Under this model, the delivery of fleet services will be driven by the customer for the customer. Through the CAB, customers will be able determine what services they wish to buy and how the services will be delivered”, says Drew Davis, Public Works Business Analyst.

 

The transition to the utility model required rewriting the Fleet Operations Policy from ‘the ground up’ to reflect how business will be done under the utility model and to adopt fleet management industry best practices. A Larimer County team spent a year drafting the revised fleet operations policy which is expected to increase the cost effectiveness and efficiency of the delivery of fleet services. Public Works Director Marc Engemoen says the project included lots of input, “We tapped quite a few people in the organization for input. This is about putting Larimer County’s internal customers in the driver’s seat.” The Policy goes into effect on January 1, 2013, however some changes will be transitioned in to make it easier on customers.

A key element of the change was the ‘chartering’ of the Fleet Services CAB. The CAB represents the customers and in partnership with the Fleet Services Department will manage the catalog of fleet equipment, services, associated costs, and the service level agreements developed with customers. The Fleet Services Department remains the sole source for the acquisition, repair, maintenance, replacement, and disposal of all fleet equipment and collaborates with customers to develop a catalog of fleet equipment and associated rates. The catalog provides a preferred selection of fleet equipment that represents the majority of equipment classes used by the County. Customers will use the catalog to select replacement and new fleet equipment. The policy also: establishes minimum usage targets and requirements for owning vehicles and equipment; encourages the use of tele-meetings, public transportation, and alternatives to driving to meetings; and, encourages commercial rental and leasing in-lieu of ownership.

 

 Larimer County’s Support Services group (those County services offered to internal customers) has worked on this concept for several years. The Facilities and Information Management Division is also piloting this model for delivery of their services.

 

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