Second of two parts
Re “Green News Is Very Good News for City Hall as a National Leader”
If you only occasionally visit Culver City’s gleaming, but under-noticed, Transportation Facility at the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Duquesne, across from Culver City Park, you may feel that you should remove your shoes, possibly your sox, and shower at least one more time before passing through its very modern portals.
Not just any shlemiel can walk in off the street. You have to be buzzed in.
Once inside, you may feel that you have cracked the code for Dr. Einstein’s Secret Experiments Laboratory. Shhh. Noise is absent. Voices are muted. The loudest sound is emitted by the white gloves that some wear.
There may not be quite enough space to land a 747. Still, the Transportation Facility is an open-space maven’s dream. No matter how many people work there, they ain’t going to bump into each other.
Paul Condran’s second story office, around several corners, was the destination.
He was saying later that when he came to Culver City, almost 24 years ago, the city’s vehicles were housed in a downscale location known as the garage.
Garage?
Oil.
Grease.
Grime.
Ugh.
The concept of “garage” conjures up images of dirty clothes, slippery hands and black puddles on the ground.
No more.
A Different World
The Transportion Facility is such a sparkling showplace that City Hall could run tours here on weekends, both to familiarize residents and as a means of revenue.
Arriving at the office of the smart, handsome and compact, award-winning Equipment Maintenance Manager, he greets a visit with a firm handshake. Over his shoulder, Culver City’s latest national environment-related prize, for producing the No. 1 Green Fleet in America, occupies the northeast corner of Mr. Condran’s busy, but orderly, desk.
As a visitor settles in, the obviously well-informed Mr. Condran begins a word’s-eye tour of Culver City’s pioneering role in developing an environmentally smart fleet of vehicles, which have been winning national awards.
Not by accident or coincidence did Culver City start transforming its wheels operations into the era of environmental awareness in 1996.
The baritone-voiced Mr. Condran explains:
“At that time, we knew that the South Coast Air Quality Management District would be producing mandated fleet rules that would change the power motivation of vehicles.
“We did a pretty extensive analysis of what technology was available in alternative fuels, knowing that we had an ample supply of natural gas nearby. Right off of Jefferson Boulevard is one of the main arteries of the SoCalGas Co.
Everybody Is Included
“Among many fuels, we decided to pursue natural gas as our fuel of choice, which brings us here today. We have been very innovative in our use and application of natural gas. The fleet is converting to natural gas as we replace vehicles, those that can be purchased and operated on compressed natural gas, which is what it’s actually called.
“We have a fleet of 52 busses, but they are not the only vehicles running on natural gas. We have been very innovative there. We helped partner several manufacturers to bring technology to the marketplace. For example, a street-lighting repair truck, a sanitation re-loader, a sewer power jetter truck, the first of its kind running on natural gas, an asphalt repair truck that actually uses natural gas to heat the asphalt as well as power the vehicle.
“Eighty percent of our refuse fleet now is powered by compressed natural gas. And we have a myriad of fleet vehicles, various types of staff cars and Public Works vehicles running on natural gas.”
Q. This is all in the name of cleaner air?
After a pause for reflection, Mr. Condran said, “Yes, but that is not the complete motivation. It is cost effective. Right now our take for natural gas 90 cents a gallon. You cannot compare that to wholesale or retail fossil fuel pricing.
“It is clean, safe, environmentally conscious, cost-effective and available.
“And it is domestically produced.”
With the passage of time and growth of awareness, many cities and counties across America now are standing in the pioneering footsteps that Culver City created a decade ago.
“One of the reasons we were awarded the Best Green Fleet in America trophy last month,” Mr. Condran said, “is because we are innovatve and forward-thinking in our application and use of the alternative fuel.
“We were an early adopter. That carries some advantages. We have already been through the technology developments. We have seen some of the issues. Now we are seeing the benefits.
“We do not want to sit on our laurels. It is all about continuous improvement. That is where I come from. I want us to be the best, the most cost effective, pro-active ad always improving entity within the city.
“We owe it to our taxpayers. We owe it to the divisions we serve. We are proud to be public servants.”
On the 146th anniversary of President Lincoln’s historic, and succinct, Gettysburg Address, these words can stand eloquently for his contribution.
Mayor Andy Weissman said yesterday, “We don’t do a very good job of tooting our own horn.”
Mr. Condran’s impressive, and scholarly, mountain of accomplishment with his shining fleet, consistently out of the spotlight, is an A-1 example.
It is a fact that the country is applauding Culver City louder than hometown residents are.
