Agenda Item Wording:
title
Resolution approving grant for vehicles - Approve Resolution No. 2026-29 authorizing the application accepting the requirements set for by the San Joaquin Valley Air pollution Control District Public Benefit Grants Program for alternative fuel vehicle purchases.
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Agenda Date: 06/15/2026
Prepared by:
Ben Litwack, Public Works Manager, 559-713-4671, ben.litwack@visalia.gov
Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, 559-713-4052, nick.bartsch@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council approve Resolution No. 2026-29 authorizing submittal of a grant application and accepting the requirements set for by the San Joaquin Valley Air pollution Control District Public Benefit Grants Program for alternative fuel vehicle purchases at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility (WRF).
Summary:
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s Public Benefit Grants Program provides funding for public agencies to purchase new electric, plug-in hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicles to support cleaner public fleets. Eligible applicants include cities, counties, special districts, public educational institutions, and other qualifying public agencies within the SJVAPCD boundaries that agree to a three-year contract period and retain ownership and operation of the vehicles during that term. The Public Works Department intends to use the grant to purchase five electric golf carts for the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility, including two for Mechanical Maintenance and three for Operations. The two carts in Maintenance will become permanent parts of the fleet since one is a viable replacement and the other to serve a growth position. The other three carts are being purchased as surplus because grant funds are available and will not be counted as permanent parts of the fleet until they are needed for growth positions or to replace a cart that needs to be retired. he carts will support daily operations and maintenance activities by helping staff move efficiently throughout the facility while transporting tools and equipment, with the grant expected to fund the full purchase cost.
Background Discussion:
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is currently offering the Public Benefit Grants Program. The purpose of this program is to fund the purchase of new electric, plug-in hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicles for public agencies to promote clean air alternative-fuel technologies and the use of low- or zero-emission vehicles in public fleets.
The applicant must meet several different criteria to be eligible for submission of the grant application. Some these criteria include, being a public agency such as cities, counties, special districts; public educational institutions, or any other public agency as defined by Government Code section 6252, including those agencies provided for in Article IV and Article VI of the California Constitution, that are located within the geographic area of the SJVAPCD (see attached map for boundaries), commit to a three (3) year contract period, and own and operate the vehicle(s) for the full term of the contract.
The Public Works Department intends to purchase five electric golf carts at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility. Two carts will be allocated to the Mechanical Maintenance division, one for a previously scheduled replacement of an older unit and one to equip a new position that was added in fiscal year 2025. Three carts will be allocated to the Operations division to increase the size of its golf cart fleet from 5 to 8. These additional carts will allow staff to rely less on three older units which are beginning to require more maintenance due to their age. Using the three newer carts instead of the older carts will extend the service life of the older carts. The three additional carts will also serve to increase the fleet size so all operators have will an available cart when there are more than five are working in a shift.These vehicles will be used by the WRF staff to quickly move from location to location while transporting tools and equipment to perform various operations and maintenance tasks. The grant will fund the entire purchase of these vehicles. Staff intends to purchase all five carts from California Turf Equipment & Supply Inc. by utilizing Sourcewell Account # 091024-JCS. Upon Council approval of the grant application and subsequent approval by the SJVAPCD, staff will return to Council with a request to accept the grant funds and approve a purchase agreement for the carts.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs: The two Mechanical Maintenance carts will cost a total of $39,305.17. One of the Mechanical Maintenance carts currently has $11,000 budgeted in the Wastewater Fund 431 Capital Budget in FY26 under VH0304. Staff originally intended to transfer funds as necessary to cover the additional cost of the cart. $19,600 is being proposed in the next Capital Budget for the 2nd Mechanical Maintenance cart in FY27. The three carts in Operations will cost $56,028.25 total and are not currently budgeted.
The Public Benefit Grants Program will fund up to $20,000 for each new vehicle, with a maximum funding of $100,000 per calendar year. This will completely cover the cost of all 3 units.
Prior Council Action:
May 20, 2024: Council approved resolution 2024-22 approving the application accepting the requirements set forh by the SJVAPCD Public Benefits Program for alternative fuel vehicles to aid in the purchase of 4 vehicles for the Parks and Recreation Department.
Alternatives: Reject staff’s recommendation and not adopt Resolution 2026-269 for the application of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Public Benefit Grants
Program.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve Resolution No. 2026-29 authorizing submittal of a grant application and accepting the requirements set forth by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Public Benefit Grants Program.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 06/15/2026
Attachments:
Draft Resolution 2026-29
Grant Application - Hauler Elite XL
Grant Application - Hauler Pro
Golf Cart Quotes
Map of SJVAPCD Boundaries
Purchase Guidelines
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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