Rising gas, food prices impact local businesses
Sheriff's dept. to spend $3.7 million on gas this year
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers GAS PRICES- Greg Gibbons, president of Camarillo-based The Handyman Solutions, says he pays about $4,000 a month on gas to fuel his fleet of six vans. Gibbons says he has seen a tremendous increase in gas costs from last year.

Think rising gas costs affect only the average commuter? Think again.

The average gallon of gas costs $3.94 in California. A year ago, the state average for a gallon was less than $3.43. That jolt has affected Camarillo, from big government agencies to local businesses.

Ventura County is responsible for acquiring and repairing about 1,300 light vehicles, those that weigh less than one ton, for everyone from law enforcement to public works. It has budgeted $3.4 million on gasoline this year. The actual cost is expected to be $3.7 million because of the rising price of gasoline.

"In the past it wasn't so bad. Fuel was a relatively stable commodity," said Dennis Scamardo, fleet manager for Ventura County. "In the past couple years, it's become so volatile. . . . Obviously, gas prices are going up faster than we anticipated."

To offset the costs, the county replaces old vehicles with hybrid PZEVs (partial zeroemissions vehicles) whenever it can. The county currently has 78 hybrids and 41 PZEVs. Another 62 PZEVs are expected to replace older vehicles. Also, the county is actively attempting to retrofit diesel trucks with particulate trap filters, which help reduce soot emissions.

Scamardo estimated that Ventura County has saved more than 25,000 gallons of fuel and has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 250 tons since integrating hybrids and PZEVs into the fleet in 2003.

Scamardo said the county constantly seeks out the latest green technology.

"We rely on transportation to get around," Scamardo said. "This forces us to be more efficient with our trips and with conserving our resources. . . . We're also exploring alternate technology vehicles that increase gas mileage and reduce emissions. As the market brings more variety of vehicles, we'll explore those options. Who knows what the technology's going to bring?"

Rising gas prices are hampering local businesses too.

The Handyman Solution of Camarillo spends about $4,000 a month on fuel, which president Greg Gibbons estimates is $1,200 more than the business was paying last May. Handyman, which serves customers in Ventura County and throughout the San Fernando Valley, doesn't charge customers a surcharge on gas or anything related to miles traveled to a particular job.

"It cuts into our profit," Gibbons said. "Our gas bill is pretty high. We swallow the cost."

The Handyman Solution currently uses six vans, most of which are Ford E250s. It costs $100 to fill up each van. The vans carry a variety of heavy equipment so the handymen are prepared for any household job. Gibbons drives a natural gaspowered van that's less polluting and also gets about 18 miles per gallon instead of the 11 mpg of the typical van in his fleet.

Handyman has always stressed efficiency with each trip, grouping nearby jobs together.

"More important than gas costs or our guys' time is our customers' convenience," Gibbons said. "Customers depend on us to show up on time. If that means we have to drive across the county, we will."

With the housing market at a near standstill, more people are fixing up their homes instead of buying new ones. That means there's a greater demand for businesses like The Handyman Solution, but that also means it faces more competition. However, Gibbons does not plan "on making changes in the way I do business," even if gas prices steadily rise.

Gas prices are also affecting charitable services.

Since 2005, the Camarillo Health Care District has operated the Senior Meal Mobile, a program that delivers meals to the homes of Camarillo and Somis residents over the age of 60. The districtrun Senior Meal Mobile has delivered 53,000 meals.

The district doesn't keep track of the miles driven by its volunteers, some of whom don't ask for mileage reimbursement. Even though rising gas prices are a concern, Senior Meal Mobile has no plans of slowing down any part of its operations.

"Yes, the program will continue. Yes, gas prices are always a concern," said Kara Partridge, chief administrative officer for the Health Care District. "No one knows or can tell us where gas prices are going to go. We're keeping an eye on it and always monitoring it. But there will always be a need for home-delivered meals."

The program has grown by leaps and bounds. When the district took over the senior meal program in April 2005, about 40 percent of the meals made were delivered. Today about 65 percent of meals are delivered, and the other 35 percent are served at the Apple-a-Day Cafe site. It serves about 2,100 meals a month.

No matter how high gas prices rise, the Health Care District will continue the Senior Meal Mobile, Partridge said.

"It is the right thing to do," she said.