November 14th, 2022
City of Goleta City Council
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, CA 93117
Via Email to [email protected]
Re: November 15th Agenda, Item D.1 – Green Fleet Policy
Dear Mayor Perotte and Councilmembers,
Community Environmental Council (CEC) supports the staff recommendation of adopting the Green Fleet Policy. Prioritizing zero-emission vehicles first, then plug-in hybrids, hybrids, and lastly internal combustion engine vehicles is a sound policy that will ensure Goleta procures vehicles with the lowest emissions possible. The total cost of ownership analysis and exemption process will allow zero-emission vehicles to be appropriately evaluated considering their lower fueling and maintenance costs.
The County of Santa Barbara adopted a policy to only procure ZEV sedans a couple years ago, and in 2022 expanded this policy to cover SUVs and trucks. As a Central Coast Community Energy member, Goleta can access special electric vehicle rebates and charging station funding for member agencies. CCCE also plans to launch a member agency Transportation Electrification advisory service that can help Goleta with their ZEV planning and purchasing in early/mid 2023.
The Inflation Reduction Act has passed new tax credits for fleets. While further analysis is needed, it appears that tax exempt entities like Goleta may qualify for direct pay (cash refunds) of tax credits1 of $7,500 for light duty and up to 30% and $40,000 for medium and heavy-duty ZEVs, without the domestic battery sourcing requirements of the consumer tax credit.
Finally, many fleets are now electrifying police/sheriff vehicles with EVs like the Ford Mach-E and Tesla Model 3 and Y.2 These vehicles are seeing significantly reduced total cost of ownership due to the high annual mileage of public safety vehicles as well as the
1 Holland and Knight Law https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2022/10/the- inflation-reduction-act-provisions-and-incentives-for-local 2 Police1 https://www.police1.com/patrol-cars/articles/debunking-the-top-10-electric-vehicle- myths-in-law-enforcement-ZS6aznRjxfRNTHZp/
lower cost of integrating police technology in electric vehicles. Goleta should work with the County of Santa Barbara to pilot EVs in the police fleet.
CEC strongly supports the Green Fleet Policy and is available to help in any way as Goleta transitions the fleet to zero-emission vehicles.
Sincerely,
Michael Chiacos
Director of Climate Policy
Oppositions to Agenda Item “D.1 22-523 Adoption of Green Fleet Policy. Page - 1
DAVID GAUGHEN
7456 Evergreen Drive
Goleta, CA 93117
Telephone: (805) 985 – 7229
Email: [email protected]
November 15, 2022
To: The Mayor and Council Members
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, CA 93117
Subj: Oppositions to Agenda Item “D.1 22-523 Adop tion of Green Fleet Policy and Authorization to Directly Negotiate,” meeting date November 15, 2022
Dear Madam Mayor and Council Members:
RECOMMENDATIONS
Under “ALTERNATIVES” of the Staff Report, please elect to: 1) Take no action on the Green Fleet Policy followed by postponing this entire effort until new revenues result from the passing of Measure B2022, 2) Direct staff to bring each individual vehicle purchase to Council for award, and 3) Offer City employees requiring a pool vehicle the standard IRS mileage rate of $0.625/mile to drive their personal vehicle while conducting City business.
DISCUSSION
I was under the impression that the City was experiencing extreme financial hardship which justified placing Measure B2022 on the General Election ballot. Furthermore, I believe the General Fund is used in part to pay for the City’s grossly underfunded pavement rejuvenation program. As such, I prefer to have City roads rejuvenated as a critical priority as compared to the non-critical funding of additional pool vehicles for City employees. Additionally, I have no problem supporting the combustion vehicles identified for public works which will most assuredly be used to support the City’s critical infrastructure needs.
Respectfully,
David Gaughen