Council pauses proposed five‑year fleet lease with Enterprise, asks staff for clearer costs

CFO Ryan Martin presented a proposed master lease and related agreements with Enterprise Fleet Management that would cover 73 non‑public‑safety vehicles and several addenda. Martin said the five‑year lease cost is roughly $2.8 million compared with an estimated $2.9 million the city would otherwise spend, and staff highlighted expected maintenance and fuel savings as primary benefits.

Councilors pressed for specifics: how Enterprise handles vehicle sale/delivery fees, whether insurance and self‑insured replacement costs would rise with newer vehicles, the assumed interest rate on leases, and how department savings offset near‑term increases in Parks and Facilities costs. Martin said the sample interest estimate was about 3.25% on an example vehicle and that parks and facilities would see an increase of about $200,000 and $175,000 respectively over five years, while public works would see substantial savings because it already replaces vehicles more frequently.

Given remaining confusion about the charts and several dollar items, the council voted 8‑0 to continue the ordinance to a date certain so staff can return with refined cost breakdowns by department and clearer documentation of fees and accounting treatment. Mayor and members emphasized they want clearer, consistent visuals and a demonstration of where short‑term budget increases would be covered before any final authorization.

Next steps: Finance and the City Manager will provide a department‑level cost breakdown, clarification of vehicle sale/delivery fees and insurance implications, and a recommended funding strategy for any interim budget impacts.