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April 22, 2003
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SUBJECT: |
Resolution to Support Clean Fuel Vehicles as a Priority for the City of Sunnyvale Fleet |
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REPORT IN BRIEF |
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The City of Sunnyvale has received a request from the American Lung Association of Santa Clara County to adopt a Clean Fuel Vehicle Resolution for the City of Sunnyvale fleet. The policy would propose that when feasible the City would identify and give preference in its vehicle procurement to the acquisition of the lowest emission vehicles available, practical, and reasonably cost competitive for a given application. The policy also encourages the use of grant funding, when available, to help such vehicles become reasonably cost competitive. Public safety and emergency vehicles shall be exempt from this policy. Staff believes that such a resolution is consistent with the current policy and practices of the City of Sunnyvale. The City already considers zero/low emission and alternative fuel vehicles when purchasing any new fleet vehicle, especially if grant funding is available. In addition, staff believes that the adoption of this policy resolution will strengthen the City's competitiveness in applying for future grant funds which may be made available to purchase low and zero emission vehicles. Therefore staff recommends that City Council adopt the Clean Fuel Vehicle Resolution. |
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BACKGROUND |
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The City of Sunnyvale has received a request from the American Lung Association of Santa Clara County to adopt a Clean Vehicle Resolution for the City of Sunnyvale fleet. The resolution proposes that when feasible the City would identify and give preference in its vehicle procurement to the acquisition of the lowest emission vehicles available, practical, and reasonably cost competitive for a given application. The policy also encourages the use of grant funding, when available, to help such vehicles become reasonably cost competitive. Public safety and emergency vehicles shall be exempt from this policy.The American Lung Association has conducted research concluding that air pollution contributes to lung and other types of cancer and respiratory tract infections, exasperates asthma, and worsens chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles contribute to 60 percent of the smog forming pollutants in California. Through the Clean Vehicle Resolution, the American Lung Association believes that cities can play a significant role in reducing mobile source pollution because they are significant users of vehicles and equipment, and regularly purchase such. In addition, City fleets are uniquely positioned to utilize clean fuel vehicles because of access to central refueling stations and high levels of short trips. Staff believes that such a resolution is consistent with the current policy and practices of the City of Sunnyvale. The City already considers zero/low emission and alternative fuel vehicles when purchasing any new fleet vehicle, especially if grant funding is available. In addition, staff believes that the adoption of this policy resolution will strengthen the City's competitiveness in applying for future grant funds which may be made available to purchase low and zero emission vehicles. |
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EXISTING POLICY |
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The following documents contain policy direction on this issue: Air Quality Element C.4: Reduce emissions from City of Sunnyvale fleet vehicles. Air Quality Element C.4.b: The City will evaluate the development and implementation of a program to introduce and expand the use of alternative, cleaner fuels in its fleet of vehicles. |
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DISCUSSION |
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The City already considers zero/low emission and alternative fuel vehicles when purchasing any new fleet vehicle, especially if grant funding is available. The City currently owns and operates five electric vehicles, twenty-nine natural gas vehicles, and three gas/electric hybrid vehicles. Further, five additional natural gas vehicles are scheduled for delivery within the next few months. The resulting total of forty-two alternative fuel vehicles represents 14% of the licensed motor vehicle fleet owned and operated by the City of Sunnyvale. In addition, the City also owns and operates one piece of solar powered equipment and eight pieces of electric powered equipment. The majority of these vehicles were purchased through a variety of grants provided by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Transportation Fund for Clean Air. The grants help public agencies acquire low emission, alternative fuel vehicles. Mayor Julia Miller sits on the Board of Directors for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. A wide variety of low emission vehicles in many applications are now available from many manufacturers. However, because of changing state policy regarding manufacturer requirements, it is uncertain what types of vehicles will be available in the future and at what cost. It may become more difficult and expensive to acquire low emission vehicles in the future. For this reason, no numerical requirements regarding the number of low emission vehicles and/or the percent of vehicle emissions reduced have been included in the resolution. The resolution proposes that when feasible the City would identify and give preference in its vehicle procurement to the acquisition of the lowest emission vehicles available, practical, and reasonably cost competitive for a given application; or where funding is available to assure that such vehicles are reasonably cost competitive. Staff believes that such a resolution is consistent with the current policy and practices of the City of Sunnyvale. |
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PUBLIC CONTACT |
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Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City's official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City's web page, and the availability of the report in the Library and the City Clerk's Office. |
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ALTERNATIVES |
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RECOMMENDATION |
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Staff recommends Alternative #1. |
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Prepared by: Dieckmann Cogill, Transportation Planner Public Works Department |
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Jack Witthaus
Transportation and Traffic Manager
Gene Waddell
Marvin A. Rose
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Approved by: Robert S. LaSala City Manager |
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Attachments |
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