Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Tory A. Newman, Director, Department of Public Works
Subject: Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Grant Funds from the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County’s Transportation Fund for Clean Air Program for the Purchase of Zero-Emission Vehicles
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing the County Executive Officer to accept a $380,496 grant from the City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) of San Mateo County's Transportation Fund for Clean Air program to subsidize the purchase of zero-emission vehicles.
body
BACKGROUND:
On January 26, 2021, this Board adopted Resolution No. 077960, the Government Operations Climate Action Plan (GOCAP), a comprehensive strategy to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from County operations and achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. A key emissions reductions strategy is to transition light to mid-duty County fleet vehicles to zero-emission vehicles by 2035, which is anticipated to reduce County-generated emissions by 13.6 percent. On September 23, 2020, the Governor signed Executive Order N-79-20, requiring 100 percent of new light-duty in-state vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2035 and medium and heavy-duty sales by 2045.
Furthermore, California Air Resources Board (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleets Regulation (ACF) requires 100 percent of vehicles over 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) purchased, leased, or rented by state and local government agencies to be zero-emissions vehicles by 2030. To support this transition, the Department of Public Works (Department), in partnership with the Sustainability Department, has been pursuing a range of strategies, including identifying and applying for grant funding opportunities to offset the cost of acquiring zero-emission vehicles.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is authorized under California Health and Safety Code Sections 44223 and 44225 to levy a fee on motor vehicles registered within its jurisdiction, a portion of which is dedicated to the Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) program. In accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 44241(d), not less than 40 percent of those monies are allocated to the TFCA 40% Fund for projects that reduce air pollution from motor vehicles and implement transportation control measures. The City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) of San Mateo County serves as the administering agency for San Mateo County's TFCA 40% Fund and is responsible for administration of those funds, including expenditure plan development, project oversight, report preparation and submittal, and audit support.
The Department applied for and was awarded a $380,496 TFCA grant from C/CAG for its Public Works Fleet Electrification project, including $227,940 for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and $152,556 for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
DISCUSSION:
The TFCA program provides grant funding for projects that reduce air pollution from motor vehicles and support transportation control measures. Acceptance of these funds will help advance the County's fleet electrification efforts and reduce emissions associated with County operations.
The Department will use the grant funds to purchase nine (9) zero-emission vehicles in Vehicle and Equipment Services and five (5) zero-emission vehicles in Facilities. These vehicles will replace internal combustion engine vehicles and support the County's ongoing transition to a zero-emission fleet. The purchase of zero-emissions vehicles and equipment supports the GOCAP transportation emissions reduction objective of having 100 percent of all County light to mid-duty vehicles be electric by 2035. The project will also help the County meet the requirements of CARB ACF requiring 100 percent purchases of zero-emissions vehicles over 8,500 pounds GVWR by 2030 and Governor’s Executive Order N-79-20 requiring 100 percent of new light-duty in-state vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2035 and medium and heavy-duty sales by 2045.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Transitioning to EVs supports community health by reducing pollution and emissions generated by County fleet vehicles. Removing internal-combustion engine vehicles, which produce higher levels of emissions and pollutants, can help reduce local rates of asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and other acute health and quality of life impacts.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department was awarded $380,496, including $227,940 in Fiscal Year 2025-26 and $152,556 in Fiscal Year 2026-27. Funds will be distributed on a cost-reimbursement basis and will subsidize the purchase of zero-emission vehicles. Any remaining project costs will be funded through the Department of Public Works’ existing Vehicle Replacement Funds. There is no Net County Cost associated with acceptance of this grant.
Attachment: Funding Agreement