Wetaskiwin City Council approved $695,940 on May 12, 2026, during its regular meeting, to launch the first phase of a new program aimed at updating the city’s aging fleet. The initiative, known as the 2026 Fleet Capital Replacement program, seeks to cut maintenance costs and improve reliability by replacing old equipment and reducing the overall number of city vehicles.
The city’s current fleet has an average age of more than 15 years, which has led to frequent repairs and increased equipment downtime. By implementing a new lifecycle-based approach, the city plans to retire older assets, including light-duty pickups ranging from 2003 to 2011 and various pieces of equipment dating between 2001 and 2015.
The program will result in a net reduction of five fleet units—three light-duty vehicles and two pieces of equipment—which represents a 4.5 per cent decrease in the city’s total fleet size. As part of this process, the city will move to a more efficient strategy by replacing select full-size pickups with mid-size crew cab models. This change is expected to lower initial capital costs by approximately 20 per cent per unit, while still meeting operational needs.
Funding for the 2026 Fleet Capital Replacement – Phase 1 program is coming entirely from the city’s Fleet Reserve, ensuring there is no impact on the operating budget or local taxes. The city also expects to earn between $14,000 and $25,000 through the auction of 13 retired fleet units.
According to City of Wetaskiwin officials, the initiative aligns with the council’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan, specifically targeting improvements in Infrastructure & Environmental Sustainability, Economic Prosperity, and Resourcefulness. The plan was prepared by Manager of Fleet and Facilities Chris Bond, with approval from General Manager of Municipal Operations and Infrastructure Ryan Ander, and City Manager Sue Howard.
