Laserfiche WebLink
EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER <br />April 14, 2005 <br /> <br /> City of Eugene <br /> 777 Pearl Street, Room 105 <br /> Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793 <br /> (541) 682-5010 <br /> (541) 682-5414 (FAX) <br /> www.ci.eugene.or, us <br /> <br />HYBRID VEHICLES HELP FLEET SERVICES MEET SUSTAINABILITY GOALS <br />EXCITEMENT ABOUT EUGENE'S FIRST REGIONAL PLA YGROUND GROWS <br />ARBOR DAY BRINGS PEOPLE AND TREES TOGETHER <br />DAVID SEDARIS AT THE HULT ON APRIL 22 <br /> <br />Hybrid Vehicles Help Fleet Services Meet Sustainability Goals <br />On April 12, Fleet Services received 10 new <br />Toyota Prius sedans, the first installment of an <br />order for 12 of the gasoline-electric hybrids. As <br />Fleet implements strategies that maximize <br />efficiency while reducing negative environmental <br />effects, hybrid vehicles will become the standard <br />rather than the exception. The Prius averages <br />60 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city with a <br />slightly lower average of 51/mpg on the highway. <br /> <br />Prior to this delivery, Fleet Services had 15 <br />hybrid sedans in active service, 19 percent of the <br />sedan fleet, excluding patrol cars. Once the new <br />Prius' are processed into service, 34 percent of <br />the sedan fleet will be hybrids. In addition, Fleet Services has one hybrid sports utility vehicle, a Ford <br />Escape. <br /> <br />Fleet Services is using a business tax credit offered by the Department of Energy (DOE) to offset the <br />cost of purchasing hybrid vehicles. The tax-credit equals 25.5 percent of the total certified purchase <br />costs. Fleet previously received a $26,140 credit for six Prius' and one Ford Escape that were <br />purchased in 2004. Unfortunately, the tax credit which Fleet Services has relied upon is diminishing. <br />DOE representatives project that the tax credit will not be available after fiscal year 2006. Therefore, <br />Fleet would like to purchase as many hybrids as feasible before the funding is exhausted. For more <br />information of Fleet's sustainability goals or the purchase of hybrid vehicles, call Fleet Manager Carlos <br />Davis at <br />682-4800. <br /> <br />Excitement about Euqene's First Reqional Pla¥.qround Grows <br />News about the $150,000 Meyer Memorial Trust Grant for RiverPlay and the beginning of construction of <br />Eugene's first regional playground drew all three local television stations, former Mayor Jim Torrey, City <br />Councilor Andrea Ortiz, City Manager Dennis Taylor, other city staff, approximately 25 Eugene Rotary <br />Club members, and half a dozen Eugene school children to the sit this past Monday. Former Mayor Jim <br />Torrey rallied the crowd as he touted RiverPlay as a unique destination playground for Eugene's families <br />- a playground where children of all ages and abilities can learn about the natural and cultural history of <br />the area and have "a lot of fun!" <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 <br />April 14, 2005 <br /> <br /> <br />