The City’s Motor Pool currently contains 89 light duty vehicles varying from police cars to heavy-duty pickup trucks.  These vehicles are used daily to maintain city services and are essential to keep the city functioning.  On average, the city has replaced three to four vehicles per year, with most of those being police related.  At our current rate, it takes over 25 years to completely turn over the fleet.  Keeping vehicles in operation for that length of time increases maintenance and fuel costs significantly. 

Motor Pool staff were charged with finding ways to reduce costs and improve vehicle uptime and safety.  Utilizing the Sourcewell Purchasing Program, staff requested that Enterprise Fleet Management review the City’s fleet for a potential lease opportunity.  After several months of discussions, Enterprise recommended a phased approach where the city would leverage an open-ended lease program. Under the program, the city would lease 73 vehicles phased in over a 5-year period.  Most vehicles would be turned over every two years except for police vehicles which would be on a 3-to-4-year cycle.  The cost for the first year to transition to the program is approximately $376,000 and will be offset by $221,000 generated from the proceeds from selling our current vehicles as well the savings that will be realized from decreased maintenance costs and better fuel economy.  It is estimated that the city will save nearly $350,000 over the course of the first 5 years of the program. 

The Motor Vehicle FY 2024 operating and capital outlay funds contain adequate funding for this year’s lease.  Future years will budget accordingly based on the plan.