Located between Southern California cities Malibu and Santa Barbara on the Pacific Ocean, the City of Ventura provides a wide range of services to more than 109,000 residents. The City's operating philosophy not only embraces cost efficiencies, but also focuses on sustainability efforts.

In 2007, Ventura's City Council adopted the Green Initiative, the first of many steps toward the City's goal of becoming a national model for sustainability. Since its adoption, the City has completed a Greenhouse Gas Inventory, as well as joined the Sierra Club Cool Cities Program and ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability (an association of more than 1,200 local government Members who are committed to sustainable development).

As part of its green initiative to become more environmentally friendly, the City partnered with Alert Communications in 2008 on a pilot program aimed at increasing fuel efficiency and reducing exhaust emissions in city vehicles. The City mounted specially equipped Networkfleet global positioning system (GPS) units it purchased from Alert Communications to diagnostic ports in seven of its fleet vehicles.

The Networkfleet device is connected to the Vehicle Harness connector in each vehicle. In addition to their remote mapping feature, the Web-based Networkfleet GPS units quickly pinpoint vehicles with excessive speeds or idle times, report potential diagnostic problems in vehicles, improve efficient routing of services to the community, and provide mileage/hour information that is used to notify users when vehicles are due for normal maintenance, thus reducing repair costs and vehicle downtime.

These technologies help the City meet its Safe Driving Policy, Fuel Conservation Plan, preventive maintenance schedule, no-idle policy, and the City's green initiatives to protect Ventura's environment.

The City operates a 425-vehicle fleet composed of a wide range of models, including Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, Toyota, International, Sterling, Freightliner, Caterpillar, Onan, John Deere, Toro, Kubota models; BMW motorcycles; and Seagraves and Pierce fire apparatus. The City's Public Works, Police, and Fire departments utilize vehicles to service the public. Fleet Services' onsite garage maintains all city vehicles and equipment and maintains fueling sites.

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Pilot Test Results in Improved Performance

The two-month pilot resulted in impressive savings, including four vehicles using 30-percent less fuel compared to the same time period the year before. One vehicle used 50-percent less fuel.

"This is a great tool that complements operational efficiencies and the safety of employees," said Mary Joyce Ivers, CPFP, fleet and facilities manager in the City's Public Works department. "The maintenance alerts help notify the Fleet Maintenance supervisor prior to any major repairs or mechanical ­failures."

Fleet Services' mission "is to provide all City departments with safe, reliable, environmentally friendly vehicles and equipment at economic and competitive rental rates and to provide all City departments and the public with the highest level of service," Ivers said.

Networkfleet can be set up in some states that would eliminate the need to have vehicles physically smog-tested. It also provides information on the most efficient routes for delivery of the City's Public Works services to the community. One example of more efficient routing involves the pothole repair truck being able to plan its daily routes to maximize the number of pothole repairs in a day.

"We have been so pleased to use the Networkfleet GPS system to fulfill our commitment to be leaner and greener in Ventura," Ivers said. "The system has given us a technological advantage in this regard, and considering the fuel savings so far, the Networkfleet GPS system more than pays for itself."

Units Expanded to Additional Vehicles

After the pilot program's success, the City mounted eight more units in the Public Works department's water distribution trucks, one pavement pothole truck, and City waste water vehicles. Ivers said the City's fire, building, and Safety and Public Works Construction departments also are considering mounting units in their inspection vehicles.

Currently, vehicles utilizing the GPS and diagnostic system generate a 10-
percent mpg increase.

"In the Water department alone, we're saving $10,000 per year in fuel and maintenance costs," Ivers pointed out. "For waste water vehicles, it could be up to $1,200 per year, per vehicle because of better efficiency of knowing where they are going."

While the drivers were initially concerned about "Big Brother," it was explained that the purpose was to provide information to improve the City's route efficiency, gather GPS data for filling potholes, and provide workgroup locations so the supervisor could send the closest employee to a call for service.

Ivers communicated the initial pilot test and associated benefits to the drivers via a memo sent on behalf of the supervisors.

Based on the success of the pilot program and additional rollout, Ivers hopes to expand Networkfleet to more vehicles as they come up for replacement.

Source
Mary Joyce Ivers, CPFP, fleet and facilities manager, City of Ventura, Calif. E-mail: mjivers@ci.ventura.ca.us