HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11j - Purchase of Compressed Natural Gas FuelPurchase Order for CNG Fuel
June 1, 2021
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DATE: June 1, 2021
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tom Tait, Public Works Services Director
By: Jacquelyn Mercado, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT: PURCHASE ORDER WITH CLEAN ENERGY FOR THE PURCHASE OF
COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (“CNG”) FUEL FOR THE CITY’S FLEET
IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $97,000
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
The City primarily utilizes the Clean Energy compressed natural gas (“CNG”) fueling
station located at the Foothill Transit Center to fuel CNG vehicles. The purchase order
contract with Clean Energy expires on June 30, 2021. It is recommended that the City
Council approve a sole source Purchase Order with Clean Energy for the purchase of
CNG fuel for the City’s fleet in an amount not to exceed $97,000.
BACKGROUND
The Public Works Services Department (the “PWSD”) has been strategically replacing
vehicles that meet the City’s Vehicle Replacement Policy criteria with alternative fuel
vehicles such as CNG, Hybrids, and Plug-in Electric vehicles. This has allowed the City
to be compliant with the Air Quality Management District’s mandates that require heavy
duty equipment to be replaced with alternative fuel vehicles, reduces the City’s overall
fuel costs, and reduces the City’s greenhouse gas emissions footprint. The PWSD is
responsible for the purchase of CNG fuel and currently operates a fleet of 14 heavy duty
CNG vehicles, which include three street sweepers, two aerial lift trucks, a dump truck, a
water tanker truck, a sewer jetter vacuum truck, a hydro-excavator truck, and five one-ton
pickup trucks.
DISCUSSION
The PWSD utilizes two local CNG public fueling stations to fuel all City CNG vehicles.
The first station, owned and operated by Foothill Transit, is located less than one-half
mile from the Public Works Service Center. The second station, owned and operated by
the City of Pasadena, is located on Foothill Boulevard just west of the City limits. Clean
Purchase Order for CNG Fuel
June 1, 2021
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Energy is the sole source CNG fuel and service provider for both these fueling stations.
There are no other viable CNG fueling stations in the immediate area. Therefore, utilizing
a sole source purchase order is necessary.
The PWSD has vehicle fueling cards provided from Clean Energy and is invoiced monthly
for fuel purchased at these two stations. It is estimated that the PWSD will use a total of
approximately 29,000 Gasoline Gallon Equivalents (“GGE”) by the end Fiscal Year 2020-
21. This usage is approximately 3,000 GGEs more than the previous year as the PWSD
placed two additional heavy duty CNG vehicles into operation this past year. During the
COVID-19 pandemic, the price per GGE decreased and the City paid on average
approximately $3.05 per GGE, which includes state fuel tax fees, as compared to $3.34
in Fiscal Year 2019-20. The PWSD anticipates that the price per GGE will increase back
to the average of about $3.34 in the coming year as businesses open back up and natural
gas demands increase.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
The request is for the purchase of CNG fuel for the City’s fleet in an amount not to exceed
$97,000. Sufficient funds will be appropriated in the Department’s proposed Fiscal Year
2021-22 Operating Budget for the purchase of CNG fuel.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a
project and is, therefore, exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act
(“CEQA”); and approve a purchase order with Clean Energy for the purchase of
Compressed Natural Gas (“CNG”) fuel for the City’s fleet in an amount not to exceed
$97,000.