2.01.008_Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Policy
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
SUBJECT/TITLE: POLICY NO: APPROVED BY: APPROVAL DATE:
FISCAL POLICY:
VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT
2.01.008 ☐ RESO NO: 2024-089
☐ MINUTE ORDER
OCTOBER 8, 2024
Page 1 of 4
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Vehicle Replacement Policy is to establish a Vehicle Replacement
Fund and criteria for a Vehicle Replacement Schedule, which will ensure vehicles are
funded and replaced according to their anticipated lifecycle, reduce maintenance costs,
and eliminate reliance on the operating budget and large cash outlays for vehicle
purchases.
2. SCOPE
The scope of this policy is limited to determining eligibility of purchases to be included
the policy, the method of calculating the annual set-aside amount, the treatment of
retired vehicles and surplus property, and the source and use of funds to purchase
replacement vehicles and equipment.
3. BACKGROUND
DEFINITIONS
Depreciation: means the decrease in value over the useful life of a capital asset due to
wear and tear, decay, decline in price, etc.
Vehicle/Equipment Replacement Fund: means a fund established to plan for future
capital expenditures and the means of financing them, with costs to be incurred each
year over a fixed period of years, to meet capital needs arising from long-term vehicle
and equipment uses.
Director of Public Works: means the person responsible for managing the repair,
replacement, and maintenance of the City’s vehicle fleet and equipment inventory. The
Director of Public Works may delegate tasks to a designee as necessary.
Operating Fund: means a programmatic, financial, and organizational plan for
furthering the goals of the City Council through departments of the City, which does not
include capital improvement projects.
Straight-Line Depreciation: means the depreciation of an asset by a fixed percentage
of its original cost based on its estimated useful life.
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
SUBJECT/TITLE: POLICY NO: APPROVED BY: APPROVAL DATE:
FISCAL POLICY:
VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT
2.01.008 ☐ RESO NO: 2024-089
☐ MINUTE ORDER
OCTOBER 8, 2024
Page 2 of 4
Vehicle Depreciation Schedule: means the programmatic plan used to calculate the
replacement of City vehicles and equipment.
POLICY
Vehicle/Equipment Replacement
The City of Rohnert Park’s vehicle/equipment replacement and depreciation schedule is
maintained by the Department of Public Works and specifically managed by the Director
of Public Works.
Vehicle Replacement criteria are determined by the expected useful service life.
Typically, this is based upon the type of vehicle/equipment and its usage. A vehicle will
be replaced according to these established criteria unless the Department Head(s) and
Director of Public Works determine that: 1) mechanical failure or vehicle damage
warrants earlier replacement, or 2) the vehicle is still serviceable and may serve
additional years beyond its original anticipated service life.
Vehicle/Equipment Replacement Fund
Departments using the vehicle/equipment in its operations shall be charged and the
revenue generated shall be deposited into a restricted capital replacement fund, known
as the Vehicle/Equipment Replacement Fund. Enterprise and Internal Service Funds
shall participate in the replacement program when qualifying assets are purchased,
each keeping its own separate balance. These funds are not to be co-mingled with the
General Fund dollars and be identified separately for their own use. If sufficient funds
are available, future vehicle or equipment replacements will be funded by the
Vehicle/Equipment Replacement Fund.
Funding for the Vehicle/Equipment Replacement will be generated by an annual Vehicle
Replacement Expense charge to users based upon a straight-line depreciation
calculation plus an accelerator for each vehicle or piece of equipment over the course of
its lifecycle and budgeted as part of the annual budget development process.
The revenue from the vehicle replacement expense shall be collected as charges for
services in the Vehicle/Equipment Replacement Fund. The charges shall commence in
either the same fiscal year as the purchase of each new and replacement purchase or
when the vehicle is placed into service. Charges for services shall continue through the
service life of the new vehicle and shall cease upon retirement of said vehicle.
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
SUBJECT/TITLE: POLICY NO: APPROVED BY: APPROVAL DATE:
FISCAL POLICY:
VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT
2.01.008 ☐ RESO NO: 2024-089
☐ MINUTE ORDER
OCTOBER 8, 2024
Page 3 of 4
The City may from time to time transfer additional funds to the Vehicle Replacement
Fund at its discretion. This shall be done if recommended by the City Manager, and
authorized by the City Council.
Allowable Uses
The first-time purchase of new vehicles or equipment is an allowable use of the vehicle
replacement fund if recommended by the City Manager, and authorized by the City
Council. A review of available funds will be made by the Finance Director prior to any
use of the funds for a new purchase not previously included on the replacement
schedule. Allowable uses will include purchase of vehicles and equipment necessary for
the City to perform its functions. Emerging technology, environmental concerns, and
legislation may require the City to make purchases of new types of equipment such as
charging stations to operate a modern Fleet.
Calculating the Annual Set-aside
The annual set-aside is calculated by determining the future value of a vehicle and
using straight-line depreciation as the initial baseline. This method determines the dollar
amount that will be set aside each year throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle. The Finance
Department is responsible for calculating the set-aside, preparing the budget,
transferring the funds, and maintaining the separate balances of each fund.
For example, a vehicle costing $45,000 in 2024 has a useful life of 8 years. It is
scheduled to be replaced in 2032 and is estimated to cost approximately $57,000. The
annual set-aside amount for this vehicle would be $7,126. Funding will be allocated to
the Vehicle Replacement Fund each year and will be used to purchase the new vehicle
when it reaches the end of its lifecycle.
Retired Vehicles
All replaced vehicles shall be removed from the Vehicle Depreciation Schedule and
removed from the active City Fleet. Retired Vehicles shall be disposed of through
surplus sale by Resolution of the City Council of the City of Rohnert Park.
Surplus Property
Funds received through the resale of any vehicle removed from City services shall be
deposited in the Vehicle Replacement Fund to help defray unanticipated new vehicle
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
SUBJECT/TITLE: POLICY NO: APPROVED BY: APPROVAL DATE:
FISCAL POLICY:
VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT
2.01.008 ☐ RESO NO: 2024-089
☐ MINUTE ORDER
OCTOBER 8, 2024
Page 4 of 4
cost increases. Funds shall be deposited in such a way that General Funds are kept
separate from each Enterprise or Internal Service Fund.
Financial Crisis
The City has a Financial Crisis Response Plan, that outlines several remedies should
the City suffer a Financial Crisis. One such remedy is to stop annual transfers to the
Vehicle Replacement Fund. Another remedy, not included in the Financial Crisis Plan,
would be to withdraw funds from the Vehicle Replacement Fund and redirect them to
more urgent needs. Both these actions would require recommendation by the City
Manager and authorization by the City Council.
REVISION HISTORY:
POLICY NO 415.37 RESOLUTION 2011-56 06/28/2011
REVISED BY RESOLUTION 2024-089 ADOPTED ON 10/8/24