Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fleet Electrification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Laguna Beach staff report 15-year net gain from electrifying city fleet but short-term costs expected
Summary
City consultants told Mayor Alex Runagi that fleet electrification would likely be a net cost over five years but a net gain over a 15-year horizon; trolley procurement and lease options remain under review.
Mayor Alex Runagi said city staff and a consultant presented updated financial modeling for electrifying Laguna Beach’s municipal vehicles and transit trolleys.
“ The feedback was essentially that over a 5 year period, we would be, we would spend a little bit we'd be a net loss in terms of the cost to do it. But then over a 15 year period, it'd be a net a net gain,” Runagi said. He attributed the near-term loss primarily to the plan’s assumption that the city would buy electric trolleys, and he noted there is currently only one manufacturer of electric trolleys in the market.
Runagi said he asked staff to analyze leasing trolleys as an alternative and to present revised numbers ahead of budget adoption. “My feedback was let's look at how the finances would change if we leased trolleys instead of bought them,” he said.
Runagi framed the fleet electrification initiative as aligned with environmental sustainability goals and long-term cost savings but said the city will revisit the numbers during budget discussions.
No formal procurement decision, contract award, or timetable was announced in the conversation.
