Drafter
Clerk 02/02/2015
Title
A MOTION requesting the preparation of a fuel savings report related to reduced county agency expenditures for fuel use.
Body
WHEREAS, fuel prices, which constitute a significant cost element of county agency budgets, have declined dramatically in recent months, and
WHEREAS, the recent 2015/2016 Biennial Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 17941, included fuel price assumptions pegged to mid-2014 prices, and
WHEREAS, fuel price declines have occurred across the range of fuel types, including gasoline, diesel, natural gas, oil and jet fuel, each of which county agencies rely on to a greater or lesser extent, and
WHEREAS, actual fuel expenditures are likely to be substantially less than approved budgeted amounts, resulting in the potential for significant savings across agencies, and
WHEREAS, opportunities exist for utilizing more climate-friendly fuels for county operations, using potential savings from fuel price declines, and
WHEREAS, the 2010 County Energy Plan included a table describing, by agency, volumes of fuel consumption by type of fuel, and
WHEREAS, the council has an interest in capturing those savings to apply them to rate stabilization and service needs, and
WHEREAS, as a result of the reduction in fuel prices, appropriation authority exists in the 2015/2016 Biennial Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 17941, in excess of actual needs of agencies, and those amounts should be made available for other important county purposes;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The executive is hereby requested to create a fuel savings report. That report should:
1. Update the 2010 County Energy Plan, table (Appendix C, P21) describing 2009 Fuel sources, by agency and fuel type;
2. Describe the potential for utilizing some portion of fuel cost savings to support measures intended to reduce the carbon footprint of county government operations, such as utilization of alternative fuels that are climate-friendly, support for energy conservation strategies in facility construction and operation, or other such strategies. The report should also describe the potential for applying some portion of savings to rate stabilization and service needs;
3. Based on a review of fuel costs addressed the update to the County Energy Plan, identify projected reduction in fuel expenditures due to lower fuel costs;
4. Describe the potential impact of applying savings to rate stabilization, operational reserves; and
5. Recommend a procurement strategy, such as fuel purchasing contract considerations, fuel storage potentials or other approaches that would extend and lock in potential savings over an extended period, in light of potential fluctuations or reversals in the current direction of fuel prices.
B. The report should be accompanied by proposed supplemental appropriation ordinances to reduce expenditure authority consistent with identified lower fuel costs.
C. The executive must file the report and ordinances required by this motion by May 1, 2015, in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy with the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to all
councilmembers, the council chief of staff, the policy staff director and the lead staff for the transportation, economy and environment committee, or its successor.