City Council Agenda Report
TO: Mayor Clauzel and Members of the City Council
FROM: Fernando Ulloa, City Manager
BY: Mike Willett, Public Works Director
MEETING DATE: July 15, 2025
ITEM NO: 6.7
SUBJECT: Approve Contract to Mercury Associates, Inc. for a Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Comprehensive Fleet Study via Equalis Group Cooperative Purchasing Agreement.
RECOMMENDATION
Motion to Approve Contract to Mercury Associates, Inc. for a Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Comprehensive Fleet Study via Equalis Group Cooperative Purchasing Agreement.
BACKGROUND
In April 2023, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation, which mandates that public agencies transition their medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to zero-emission models, with defined annual compliance targets and extended reporting requirements through CARB’s TRUCRS portal. Local government fleets are required to continue reporting annually through April 2045, with vehicle data uploads applicable to both newly acquired and existing fleet assets.
The City of Patterson is entering its third year of TRUCRS compliance and remains on track to meet current regulatory requirements. However, the ACF’s increasing purchasing requirements necessitate a comprehensive, multi-year transition strategy to continue alignment with evolving mandates--covering fleet composition, infrastructure needs, and budget forecasting.
Other California public agencies have initiated similar efforts:
· Nevada County engaged Mercury Associates to conduct a Zero-Emission Vehicle Transition Plan covering its entire fleet of approximately 296 vehicles, including 91 medium- and heavy-duty units subject to ACF. The study evaluated vehicle replacement timelines, infrastructure investment, and lifecycle cost modeling. · The City of Lodi, developed a Fleet Electrification Master Plan calibrated to ACF mandates, with a phased implementation schedule, utility coordination, and budget projections
· Shasta Regional Transportation Authority (SRTA) procured a zero-emission fleet rollout plan via a technical services agreement to ensure bus fleet compliance with both state and federal regulations
These agencies have utilized cooperative procurement agreements or streamlined RFP processes to expedite fleet electrification analysis and planning, validating this approach as practical and cost-effective.
Conducting a similarly thorough ZEV Comprehensive Fleet Study-through a cooperative purchase with Mercury Associates-will equip Patterson with a legally defensible, financially sound, and operationally feasible roadmap to meet its ACF obligations while integrating strategic fiscal and infrastructure planning.
ANALYSIS
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation, mandating that public agencies transition their medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to zero-emission alternatives. Agencies must demonstrate long-term compliance planning, submit ongoing reports through the Truck Regulation Upload, Compliance and Reporting System (TRUCRS), and meet progressive benchmarks toward full fleet electrification.
The City of Patterson is entering its third year of TRUCRS compliance. While current regulatory requirements have been met, the ACF rule is expanding in scope and complexity, prompting cities to adopt data-driven, forward-looking fleet transition plans to remain in compliance and address overall infrastructure needs to accommodate fleets. To proactively manage this process, staff recommends the development of a comprehensive Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Master Plan.
To that end, the City proposes to contract with Mercury Associates, Inc., a nationally recognized fleet management consultant, to deliver the following scope of work:
· A comprehensive inventory and condition assessment of the City's existing fleet · Forecast modeling for vehicle replacement cycles, charging infrastructure needs, and long-term lifecycle costs
· Identification of grants, incentives, and cost-control strategies to support the transition · Recommendations to align internal operations, procurement processes, and staff training with regulatory compliance
· A phased, defensible transition strategy that ensures ongoing ACF compliance while maintaining operational efficiency
Mercury Associates is an authorized vendor through the Equalis Group Cooperative Purchasing Agreement (Equalis Group cooperative contract #COG-2122), enabling the City to procure these professional services in accordance with California Government Code § 6500 et seq. and the City’s adopted purchasing policies.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed study will be completed for a proposed cost of $98,470. Funding for this project was appropriated in the FY 2025-2026 Budget and will be drawn from a combination of Enterprise Funds, Assessment Districts, and the General Fund, consistent with the diverse composition of the City’s fleet.