memorandum
Boar<i of Supervtsors

SUBJECT

FROM^upervlspr Dominic L. Cortese, Chalnnan
«s proposed hy Melissa MrClaren-Light"
. •X

Sasollrre Dtstrtbutlort * Agenda Item
,prtl 24, 1979

AdHI 23. 1979

BFrnWIENDED ACTIONS

It Is recoimended that the Board of Supervisors;

1. Adopt the attached resolution on the Institution of a voluntary program
for gasoltr^e sales.

2. Distribute this Resolution (atwched) to all Clt1« In Santa Clara County
with the recomnendatton that eachxity endorse

3. Distribute this Resolution to all neighboring counties to Info™ them of
this action.

a system of regional gasoline allocation,
a system of regional gasoline allocation.

STrp^^uloS
Z
S?rD^SaJ?.:Sro"f
of regional gasoline allocation.

S'l'nftlrute'rsJ^t::'

REASONS FOR RECOHHENDATIONS

gasoline supply/demand Imbalance.

The
Board of Supervisors has a policy chitting the County to participate
in energy management and conservation efforts.
ThBtrR is a orecedent for local government action in this situation, to wit
the program Instituted February 28, 1974 for gasoline marketing.
BACKGROUND

local gasoline «t.11.rs
ffifif«-cS JrsDr

«llle'rt%«e
.

-1 -

memorandum

FROM

TO

DATE

SUBJECT

projected to worsen as the s^er driving seaso pp^ curtailed hours
have seen long lines at gas pumps, * .. _ retailers have reported
of operation and Sunday closings.
IJ®
gallons, several
that many customers are making purchases of less than five gau^
times a week, in an effort
"topping" has greatly

conoestion at the gas pumps, and
of the dealers' daily ration

has caused an ""reasonably quick deple

of «n «"PPy
were more than half full
service hours. The Santa

potentially violent Incidents

Jhem on

tinkrthlt"

to provide more dependable

service Station Dealer's Association
for qasoline distribution, and

Sfr/SifcwlU
A?«c1etion. the County Office of Emergency
slrv^cts"!!"!" CoSrtrtnergy Advisor, this pl.n «s proposed.

Urt?r;itnirOe.le?ls*!lllo^?l"trMVh'e?^^^^^^^^^

for any monitoring activity,
CONSEQUENCES OF HEGATIVE ACTION

There
will be no formal County support for the Service Station Dealer's
Association voluntary plan for gasoline distribution.
cTrP<; FOLLOWING APPROVAL

Request Clerk of the Board to distribute as indicated in Recormnended Actions

#2 through #5.

Request Clerk of the Board to distribute to the Intergovernmental Council
and the Intercity Council.

cc^^County Office of Emergency Services

Environmental Management/General Services Agency
County Energy Advisor's Office
County Sheriff's Office

RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A VOLUNTARY
GASOLINE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM IN
SANTA CLARA COUNTY

WHEREAS. lOMl gasoline reuners .re receiving allocations of only
85% to 95% of their sales for the same period in 1978; and

WHEREAS, county population, number of registered motor vehicles, and

length of an average daily co^ute have all increased significantly; and

WHEREAS, motorists of Santa Clara County are currently experienc;ng

considerable difficulty obtaining gasoline, with every indication that the
Situation will worsen in the coming months; and

WHEREAS. n»torists. in an effort to assure that they have adequate

gasoline, are attempting to keep their gas tanks constantly full with many
trips to the gas stations to top off tanks with-purchases of less than five
gallons of gasoline; and

WHEREAS, this has resulted in long lines, reduced operating hours, traffic

■ congestion, wasted energy searching for gasoline, and engine idling in lines.
release of gasoline fumes into the air to the detriment of air quality, anger
and frustration; and

WHEREAS, county motorists have shown their coamitment to conservation of

transportation energy as de~nstrated by the 3% decline in gasoline usage countywide
from 1977 to 1978; and

WHEREAS, the Santa Clara County Service Station Dealer's Association has

requested the Board of Supervisors cooperation in instituting a voluntary plan
for gasoline sales; and

WHEREAS, there Is precedent for such action under a program underta

early 1974 in response to a similar gasoline allocation problem, and

whereas, there is.Federal standb. gasoline rationing plan which cnpld be

imposed if the situation becomes unmanageable; and
WHEREAS, it is preferable to have a voluntary, cooperative program.

NOW. THEREFORE. BE IT RESOLVED that the Santa Clara County Board of

supervisors does hereby support the service station dealers association propose
for a voluntary plan for gasoline sales; and

. rn.mtv

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board urges all cities in Santa ar
to endorse and participate in this voluntary program; and
be IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the plan, based on that used success u y
be as follows;

. c

An "Ddd-Even" system for buying of gasoline be established in Santa Clara

County as follows;

1. Anyone driving a HKJtor vehicle with a license number ending man
number (l.S.S.etc.) or those whose license plates contain only letters

(environmental plates) may buy gas on odd number days of any month
(lst.3rd.6th. etc.). Examples: SAH 1E3. 123 SAM. HI SAH.
number (E.4.6.etc.) or the digit zero may buy gas on even

of any month (End.Ath.6th. etc.). Ezamples: BAH 132. 132 SAH. SA..

3.
4.

on the 31st Day of any month any motorist may buy gas.

Each station should post signs or flags easily seen ^from the street to
indicate if it is selling gas to the public at that time, or ,f it is

out Of gas or closed. If flags

and red shall mean "No Gas" or "Closed."

6«en shall mean "Gas for Sale.

5. Each station shall post the minimum hours and days it expects to be
open for gas sales on a sign clearly visible to passing motorists.

6. Each station operator shall manage his/her gas supply so that it will
last through the month. He/She may adjust hours and days.
7. Seven kinds of vehicles are exempt from these rules. They are:

A. Emergency Vehicles or those a station operator believes are being
used in an emergency situation.

B. Buses/Taxis regularly used to transport passengers.

C. Vehicles which a station operator believes are being used
for commercial purposes.

D. Vehicles rented for less than thirty days.
E. Vehicles with out-of-state license plates.

F. Vehicles Identified as being for the use of handicapped persons.
G. Vehicles being used on government business.

8. Station operators may sell gas to be carried away In cans or containers
only when they feel It Is necessary, and It shall be the smallest
amount they believe is practical.

PASSED AND ADOPTED.by the Board of Supervisors of the SANTA CLARA COUNTY
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, State of California, this
'
- - . by
the following vote:

AYES:

Supervisors

NOES:

Supervisors

ABSENT:

Supervisors

DOMINIC L. CORTESE, Chairperson
Board of Supervisors,

County of Santa Clara
(Agenda 4/24/79)

X.

Held reconmeAdations re voluntary gasoline distribution program to

Hay 29, 1979 for determination as to future gasoline allocation,
with the understanding that if the allocation for this area

droDS below the 85% level the Board will request the Governor