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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Comm. No. 1051/Res. No. 546-08 <br /> March 11, 2008 <br /> Page 2 <br /> <br /> <br /> Council Member Donald Ikeda asked the following questions: <br /> <br /> 1. When will the resolution take effect? <br /> 2. Are there any SUVs, buses, vans, or four-wheel-drive vehicles that have 35 mpg now? <br /> (Council Member Ikeda supports the intent, but is concerned that the Council is putting in <br /> rules that the County cannot abide by. If the federal law doesn't take effect until 2011, <br /> then the Council may be jumping the gun.) <br /> 3. How does this affect the buses? <br /> 4. What about cost? (County purchases are usually based on cost. Council Member Ikeda is <br /> concerned that fuel-efficient vehicles will cost a lot more. He wants to make sure that the <br /> purchases are cost-efficient.) <br /> <br /> Chair Hoffmann responded to Council Member Ikeda's questions as follows: <br /> <br /> 1. The County already has a continuous program for purchasing vehicles as they go bad <br /> and/or need to be replaced. The resolution can take effect right away, but if the funds are <br /> not available, then it would take effect in the beginning of next fiscal year when the new <br /> budget is in place. <br /> 2. There are 35 mpg vehicles already on the road, such as the Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda <br /> Insight, Toyota Prius, and Toyota Yaris. These all exceed the 35 mpg standard, but they <br /> are not SUVs. (Council Member J Yoshimoto clarified that there are hybrid SUVs that <br /> can get about 30 mpg on the highway.) <br /> 3. The resolution only addresses passenger vehicles that are small cars, not buses. There are <br /> federal standards being worked on that would provide for a type of vehicle that would <br /> probably have an electric or hybrid motor. The federal government is working on making <br /> sure those are coming, as well as the federal funds that would be made available in the <br /> future. For instance, the federal funds that Senator Inouye achieved for the statewide bus <br /> fleet. By 2010-2011, we may begin to see the advent of those buses. <br /> 4. Cost figures were not available, but the hybrid vehicles mentioned in No. 2 are very cost- <br /> effective. This is why the requirement for an analysis report has been included in the <br /> resolution. There are several car manufacturers in the U.S. that provide cost-effective cars <br /> to governmental agencies, like counties and municipalities. The County is going to save <br /> money in the long run. <br /> <br /> Council Member J Yoshimoto stated that he owns a Honda Civic Hybrid that gets 47 mpg driving <br /> to Kona. He also stated that the payback period is about four to five years, and that there is a <br /> federal tax credit available for those who purchase a hybrid vehicle. Council Member Yoshimoto <br /> asked if the requirement for 35 mpg was based on the average of combined vehicles. Chair <br /> Hoffmann clarified that the intent of the resolution is that each vehicle is to have 35 mpg. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> FESC Report No. 01 <br />