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Committee debates fleet replacements and airport fee parity amid sustainability push
Summary
Members reviewed vehicle replacement options and favored hybrids/EVs for city-used vehicles where practical, discussed mileage-based replacement and considered increasing airport fuel flowage fees to match state averages. Staff noted limited facility charging infrastructure for long-range tourism vehicles.
The Finance and Personnel Committee spent a portion of the Oct. 21 meeting reviewing the vehicle replacement plan, fleet-use criteria and airport operations.
Committee members urged replacing some city vehicles with hybrids or EVs where daily use is limited to within city limits. "If you're not driving around the city, they should all be EV vehicles," a committee member said, arguing it is a low-hanging fruit for emissions reductions. Staff clarified that certain roles (field staff and police interceptors) require specialized vehicles; for tourism and some administrative fleet, hybrids were suggested as a compromise when charging infrastructure or range is a concern.
Fleet maintenance and fuel-cost estimates were prepared by lead mechanic Brian Gebhardt and assistant public works director Brad Hopwood. Members also questioned replacing a 2016 Ford Fusion and whether mileage-based replacement (rather than age) should drive the schedule.
On airport operations, one committee member cited a summer airport rates and charges survey showing state averages higher than Middleton's current fuel flowage fee (10¢/gal); the member suggested reviewing parity and whether to add FBO rent/fees as budgeted revenue when an FBO charges fees in future years. Staff recommended evaluating competitive impacts and consulting the airport commission.
What happens next: staff will supply mileage and cost breakdowns, evaluate hybrid/EV options for specific fleet roles and take airport-fee recommendations to the airport commission for further analysis.
