HomeMy WebLinkAboutTLU_Minutes_Meeting_3_1_16_08.pdfMinutes Meeting# 3 Transportation and Land Use January 16, 2008
WTI Offices Start: 6pm
Pat McGowen, David Boggeman, Martin Knight, Brian LaMeres(controller), John Van Delinder(streets
superintendant)
Notes taken by: Hattie Baker
Brian LaMeres: Best way to get something is to put it through the budget process. February 22 would be
for fiscal ‘09. Officially adopted in the second week of August. Capital project will take 5 years to adopt.
CIP has to be updated every year according to new charter.
John V: Public Works has alt fuel of some kind. Some departments are not contributing for different
reasons. We go through state procurement policy to purchase vehicles if over 1 ton. (Brought in bid).
The city can piggy back on state procurement. State awards bid by EPA rating. Parks department bought
same 1 ton as water department for $7,000 less through this method.
David: when do you replace vehicles?
John V: Should every 15 years or 100,000 miles.
John V: Everything we bid out must run on B‐20. If something fails b/c of the fuel they will not honor the
warranty. I drive a 2003 truck on biodiesel only. Street, Forestry, Sign signal, vehicle maintenance.
We’re not necessarily a fleet, it’s departmentalized. City is exempt from fuel taxes so not sure if
Streamline could use our bio‐diesel. .49 cents federal gas taxes (maybe). City road improvements is paid
through gas taxes. We need the gas tax. Bozeman gets $600,000/year for road projects. Money can’t be
used on equipment or personnel but the interpretation is unclear.
David: Could the money be used for bike paths?
*Answer Unclear
John V: I don’t know how much greener we could be by using state procurement.
Pat: Debbie says she requires Alt Fuels but doesn’t sound like it’s an official policy. Would it be
worthwhile to update the city policy so that they use the EPA guidelines?
Brian: In conjunction with it being in the budget process, there could be approval by commission that
says they want departments to purchase certain types of vehicles.
David: Diesel costs more but they get better gas mileage?
John: $6000 more, but can get better. They will outlast a gas engine 2:1.
Pat: So the cheapest bid price wins right now. MPG not factored in unless you use state procurement.
David: Do you replace a vehicle with 1ton‐1ton?
John: That’s departmental.
David: I see building inspectors using large trucks, do they really need it. Diesel or 1 ton is the alternative
fuel.
John: Anything that’s Flex Fuel. E85 we didn’t notice any difference. I don’t know what other stuff you
will see. CNG was pushed here and no one bought it.
Brian: How detailed do you spec out your vehicles?
John: All you say is you buy a 1 ton.
Brian: If you include in the budget process that they have to buy alternative fuel that would be a way of
having them comply.
John: Hoping Story mill will sell undied bio‐diesel at Griffin. They go to Gardiner and mix it and they have
it in Belgrade b/c there is a trucking company that requires them to buy bio‐diesel. If you sell clear diesel
we can do the big work to help with the taxes. We’ve committed to fill up at Griffin if they open up. If it
was available MDT would be required to use it to. We can use all 1500 gallons of our tank at the shops
of bio‐diesel during a snow storm. Get 17 MPG on my duramax diesel and 15MPG in town.
David: What about the issues with diesel not starting, b/c in my experience the last ten years they
always start.
John: Well the sewer and water department keep their vehicles inside, so they shouldn’t have a problem
starting. Fuel efficiency must be considered at the time of the bid.
Martin: Could recommend audit of all vehicles to see if they are fuel efficient. And those that are not
should be retired.
John: All drivers must have CDL’s because of size of vehicle. Anything over 26,000 GVW needs to have a
CDL.
Brian: Is there any federal money out there for these types of purchases?
John: My departments are fees so any new purchase needs to be paid through this.
Pat: Why did traffic signals move from blinking lights to on all night?
John: Our bills doubled after that. We went to full time b/c 2 people were killed. It’s a safety issue. A lot
of cities have reduced to two hour flashing.
Pat: Negative impact is pedestrian safety issue. Main is all green from 8pm – 6am unless a car comes on
a side street. The speed is timed to 22miles.
Meeting Adjourned 7:15pm
Next Meeting: February 20th, 6pm. Alt Vehicles: Story Distributing Representative & Eco Auto Owner