City staff says CARB fleet report is overdue; council directs staff to return with compliance plan
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Summary
Staff briefed the council on the Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) rule from California Air Resources Board, said the city's required ACF inventory/reporting was not submitted, and council asked staff to return with a plan and research on grants and procurement options.
City staff told the Sierra Madre City Council on May 13 that the city’s reporting required under the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) regulation is overdue and that submitting detailed fleet inventory information is now a priority.
What staff said: An analyst reported that the ACF requires that beginning in 2024 a portion of new fleet purchases be zero‑emission vehicles and that the city must file annual reports and keep specific inventory data. The analyst said staff identified missing inventory elements such as license plate numbers, gross vehicle weight ratings, odometer readings, planned replacement years and charger locations, and noted the city has not submitted the ACF report that was due in April 2024.
Penalties and exemptions: Staff warned that CARB has authority under state law to impose administrative penalties “up to $10,000 per day” under the California Health and Safety Code; staff also said certain vehicles are exempt, including emergency response vehicles and some heavy utility vehicles, but that exemptions require proper documentation in the reporting process.
Council action and schedule: After a lengthy discussion about staffing, grants, infrastructure and procurement paths, the council voted to continue the item to the next meeting (May 27) and directed staff to return with a clear plan to complete the overdue ACF reporting, to identify near‑term rebate and grant opportunities, and to outline an approach for a longer‑term fleet and charging infrastructure strategy. Several council members asked staff to consult regional partners and other cities for examples and to assess options such as leasing, pooled purchases through regional councils of governments, and staging infrastructure investments.
Context and constraints: Staff noted the city currently has two level‑2 chargers at City Hall and that past purchases (including four vehicles bought with ARPA funds) were made under short timelines; staff flagged the need to inventory vehicles more completely and to consider an equipment replacement fund or a longer‑term capital plan so the city can meet ACF milestones while managing costs and charging infrastructure needs.
What did not happen tonight: the council did not adopt a detailed fleet electrification plan, approve infrastructure expenditures or commit new staff resources tonight. The vote continued the matter to a near‑term meeting so staff can supply required reporting and options for complying with CARB rules.
