POR 2016 #113 · Agenda item attachment · Apr 25 2016

COUNCILLOR DEVEREUX City of Cambridge O-4 Original Order IN CITY COUNCIL April 25, 2016 WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has an interest in promoting the use of electric vehicles to curb emissions and has taken several steps in recent years to encourage the use of electric vehicles, such as encouraging charging stations in new garages and providing charging stations in municipal parking facilities; and WHEREAS: Electric vehicles are an attractive alternative for city dwellers, especially those who do not typically drive very long distances, yet consumer adoption has lagged; and WHEREAS: Motor vehicle owners must pay an excise tax to the city each year with a rate of $25 on each $1,000, with the amount collected in 2015 totaling $6,100,000; and WHEREAS: By waiving the excise tax on electric vehicles, the City may encourage some residents to purchase an electric vehicle; and WHEREAS: A similar proposal is being considered in Boston to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles as a means to curb emissions; and WHEREAS: Encouraging drivers to switch to electric vehicles by cutting one cost associated with the purchase would help the City reach its long-term goals of cutting greenhouse gas emissions; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Community Development Department, the Assistant City Manager for Fiscal Affairs, and other appropriate City departments to determine the feasibility of waiving the motor vehicle excise tax for electric vehicles and report back to the City Council in a timely manner.