The Finance Committee met 02/10/2024. The item they spent the most time discussing was the request to accept a $134,180 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant to be used for the purchase of an electric vehicle and the installation of a charging station. After initially being recommended for approval, this item had been referred back to the committee for a second look by Alderperson Chad Doran (District 15) who had some questions about the proposal.
After reviewing Alderperson Doran’s questions, the committee voted unanimously to recommend the item for approval.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
The city had originally wanted to use this grant to offset the cost of installing solar panels on the roof of the public library; unfortunately, doing that did not meet the grant requirements. As a result, city staff then requested that it be put toward the purchase of an electric vehicle and the installation of a charging station in the city parking garage in the Yellow Parking Ramp.
Although he referred the item back to the committee, Alderperson Doran was not able to attend the meeting. He was, however, able to submit his questions via email to Director of Parks Recreation and Facilities Dean Gazza ahead of time, and the committee reviewed the questions and answers in that email exchange. They also went over additional questions the committee members had.
The electric vehicle purchased would replace a different vehicle in the City of Appleton’s fleet that was up for replacement. While the city has some hybrid vehicles, this fully electric vehicle would serve as an opportunity for city staff to gain experience with electric vehicles, figure out what the overall cost and maintenance for them is like, and determine if it served a beneficial role in the city’s fleet. Using grant money for the purchase meant that this would not need to be done with taxpayer dollars.
Director Gazza said that they expected to use this vehicle for routine trips around Appleton, not for things like hauling equipment, plowing, or taking long trips and noted that this would allow the city to decrease its CO2 emissions.
Faith Technologies had recommended that the city install a double charging station because it would be overall more economical than installing a station with only a single charging port on it. City staff was investigating the cost and had not yet determined if they would install a double charging station, a single charging station, or a couple single charging stations at different locations.
Staff expected the vehicle’s life to be 10 years and at least that much for the charging station. There was an expectation that charger technology would change and when/if the vehicle was replaced the charger would be upgraded to match the new vehicle. It was noted that the cost of installing the charger, as well as the ancillary design and engineering costs, would be covered by the grant.
The committee voted 5-0 to approve the request to use the grant dollars for an electric vehicle and charging station.
View full meeting details here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1274642&GUID=18B9C91D-FB9D-41FA-A5C9-E6D57DF317D5
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