[Adopted 8-18-2015 by L.L. No. 9-2015]
[Amended 7-18-2023 by L.L. No. 8-2023]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
GREEN VEHICLE
Refers to any vehicle that employs technology that reduces
fuel consumption or emissions and shall include, but is not limited
to, vehicles that have electric drive trains (EVs), hybrid-electric,
and hybrid vehicles that use both a rechargeable energy storage system
and combustible fuel (HVs).
HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle, licensed for use on roadways, having a
manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating greater than 14,000
pounds.
LIGHT-DUTY TRUCK
Any motor vehicle, with a manufacturer's gross vehicle
weight rating of 6,000 pounds or less, which is designed primarily
for purposes of transportation of property or is a derivative of such
a vehicle, or is available with special features enabling off-street
or off-highway operation and use.
MEDIUM-DUTY VEHICLE
Any vehicle having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight
rating of 14,000 pounds or less and which is not a light-duty truck
or passenger vehicle.
PASSENGER VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle designed primarily for the transportation
of persons and having a design capacity of 12 persons or less.
ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE
Refers to any vehicle that does not produce greenhouse gas
emissions while driving, per the US Environmental Protection Agency's
Fuel Economy and Environment rating methodology in which a vehicle's
tailpipe carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are rated in grams per mile
for combined city and highway driving.
It is the policy of Ulster County:
A. To purchase, lease, or otherwise obtain the most energy-efficient
and cost-effective vehicles possible that meet the operational needs
of the County.
B. To purchase vehicles that are appropriately sized for the purposes
for which they are intended.
C. To manage and operate its fleet in a manner that is energy efficient
and minimizes emissions.
D. That all County employees in Ulster-County-owned vehicles at any
time, or in personal vehicles while on County property during work
shifts, shall not allow a vehicle to be left to idle for any period
of time greater than five minutes. This policy shall not apply during
times of emergency response or for vehicles which require longer idling
periods for equipment operations needs.
[Amended 7-19-2022 by L.L. No. 3-2022; 7-18-2023 by L.L. No. 8-2023]
In order to accomplish the goals stated in §
131-4 above, the following policies shall be implemented:
A. Include a minimum efficiency standard in miles per gallon (or gallon
equivalent) for each vehicle class for which the County has a procurement
specification for and include such a standard in any new vehicle procurement
specification.
B. Include a minimum emissions standard for each vehicle class for which
the County has a procurement specification for and include such a
standard in any new vehicle procurement specifications.
C. Ensure a minimum of 20% of the fleet by 2025 are green vehicles with
at least 20% of those being zero-emission. Thereafter, annually, 100%
of passenger and light duty truck vehicles purchased, leased or otherwise
obtained will be zero-emission vehicles where technically feasible.
Zero-emission vehicles that qualify in another vehicle weight class
may, for the purposes of this requirement, qualify as a passenger
vehicle on a one-vehicle-for-one-vehicle basis.
(1) Additionally, ensure:
(a)
All fleet passenger and light-duty truck vehicles are zero-emission
by 2035.
(b)
All transit fleet vehicles are zero-emission by 2035.
(c)
All non-road equipment is zero-emission by 2035, where technically
feasible.
(d)
All fleet medium and heavy-duty vehicles are zero-emission by
2040, where technically feasible.
D. Review all vehicle procurement specifications and modify them as
necessary to ensure that the specifications are written in a manner
flexible enough to allow the purchase or lease of green vehicles.
E. Review every new vehicle purchase request and modify them as necessary
to ensure that the vehicle class to which the requesting vehicle belongs
is appropriate for the duty requirements that the vehicle will be
called upon to perform.
F. Review the fleet inventory taken in §
131-3 above to identify older vehicles that are used infrequently (or not at all), as well as those vehicles that are disproportionately inefficient, and schedule their elimination or replacement.
G. Implement a program that will train County employees to drive efficiently
and utilize efficient operating techniques such as route optimization.
H. Reduce motor vehicle use by the utilization of fleet-management software,
optimizing vehicle use, the selection of the right vehicle for the
employees' tasks, and encourage transit use, bicycle riding,
walking, and ride sharing and telecommuting where feasible.
I. Maximize efficiency of the vehicles by having them regularly maintained
and checking tire pressure and keeping them aerodynamic (putting racks,
ladders and tools on vehicle roofs only when necessary).
J. Procure and utilize zero-emission vehicles when their use is appropriate
to the application.
K. Purchase the right size vehicle for the job.
L. Keep apprised of the technological advances and product innovations
for fleet vehicles, such as, but not limited to, the use of low-rolling-resistance
tires and using nitrogen to inflate tires.
The County Executive may request a waiver of the purchase requirements of §
131-5 of this article by resolution of the County Legislature if he/she determines that such a waiver is in the best interest of the taxpayers and residents of Ulster County. No such waiver shall take effect unless such a resolution is deemed passed with a majority of the County Legislature voting in the affirmative.