Bill 051139

..Title Amending Title 17 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Contracts and Procurement," by providing for a price preference for hybrid-electric or alternative fuel vehicles when the City purchases vehicles, and by making technical amendments; all under certain terms and conditions. ..Body WHEREAS, In April 1993, in response to recommendations by Mayor Rendell's Private Sector Task Force, the City created the Office of Fleet Management to centralize responsibility for the acquisition, assignment, and maintenance of city vehicles and pieces of equipment at the lowest long-term cost to Philadelphia taxpayers; and WHEREAS, Given the rapidly rising cost of gasoline, many cities and towns across the country have implemented fleet management policies to replace conventional vehicles with hybrid-electric or alternative fuel vehicles; and WHEREAS, Research in alternative fuel and hybrid-electric vehicles was revived in the 1970s due to the 1973 oil embargo. And, after years of pursuing reliable, affordable and practical hybrid-electric vehicles, the first four-door hybrid-electric sedan was introduced to the United States consumer market in 2000; and WHEREAS, Hybrid-electric vehicles have excellent warranties, lower projected maintenance costs (because the combustion engine receives less wear), and as much as 50 percent lower fuel costs than conventional vehicles; and WHEREAS, The EPA has determined that the Philadelphia region fails to meet the federal health standards for both ozone and fine particulates; and WHEREAS, On-road vehicles are a significant source of the Philadelphia region's worst air pollutants. Exhaust from cars and trucks comprise roughly two-thirds of the carbon monoxide and one-third of the pollutants that form ozone present in the air. Vehicle emissions also account for 12% of the especially dangerous fine particulates; and WHEREAS, Alternative fuel and hybrid-electric vehicles produce 30 to 50 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions; and WHEREAS, This Ordinance is enacted to further facilitate savings, reduce fuel consumption, improve air quality, and promote a positive image of Philadelphia as an environmentally-conscious City; now, therefore, THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS: SECTION 1. Title 17 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows: TITLE 17. CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT * * * CHAPTER 17-600. [PURCHASE OF RECYCLED MATERIAL] PROCUREMENT PRICE PREFERENCES §17-601. Definitions. In this section the following definitions shall apply: (1) Reasonably competitive shall mean a price no greater than ten percent (10%) higher than the price at which a comparable product may be purchased. (2) Recycled Material shall mean material which has been separated from the regular solid waste stream and, after processing, returned to the economic mainstream in the form of raw materials or products, but shall specifically exclude internally generated scrap commonly returned to manufacturing processes such as home scrap and mill broke. (3) Alternative Fuel shall mean any fuel other than gasoline, diesel, and other substantially petroleum-based fuels that is less polluting than gasoline or diesel fuel. Alternative Fuel shall include, but is not limited to, natural gas and electricity. (4) Alternative Fuel Vehicle shall mean any motor vehicle powered by alternative fuels. (5) Hybrid-Electric Vehicle shall mean any motor vehicle having an on-board internal combustion engine attached to an electric generator, which results in increased fuel economy. §17-602. Price Preference for [Paper] Certain Products. The Procurement Department shall, wherever the price is reasonably competitive and the quality adequate for the purpose intended, purchase the following: (1) paper and paper products containing recycled materials. (2) Alternative Fuel Vehicles or Hybrid-Electric Vehicles. §17-603. Procurement Specifications. The Procurement Department shall review and revise all produce procurement specifications in order to establish a preference for [those containing recycled materials] the products listed in §17-602, wherever feasible. §17-604. Reports. The Department shall submit an annual report to the Council and the Mayor on its activities in increasing the purchase of the products [containing recycled materials] listed in §17-602. _____________________________________ Explanation: [Brackets] indicate matter deleted. Italics indicate new matter added. ..End