LEWISTON – Councilors want tough rules in place to stop employees from leaving city vehicles running when they are stopped.

City Councilor Denis Theriault said he favors a three-strikes rule aimed at cutting back on fuel consumption.

“I think there should be warnings, once, twice and three times,” Theriault said Tuesday. “And if you get caught idling again, you are out of here.”

Ian Houseal, the city’s new energy saving coordinator, said he’s calling for a GPS tracking system for city vehicles to help boost route efficiency and track down idling vehicles. That kind of technology is necessary to make a no-idling policy work, according to City Administrator Jim Bennett.

“It would provide a sense of objectivity, and provide proof,” Bennett said.

The discussion came up during Houseal’s report on city gasoline, diesel, heating oil and electricity usage. Houseal said the city completed energy audits for four buildings last month – City Hall, the library, the Public Works Operations Center and the solid waste facility.

The city spent about $1.06 million for electricity last year, accounting for 57 percent of its total energy use. About 33 percent of that went to light and power the city’s buildings and offices. The Lewiston Public Library used the most, accounting for 17 percent of the city’s total electric bill.

The city paid $388,418 for heating oil last year, and most if it went to heat the Multi-Purpose Center. The city spent $411,935 on vehicle fuel – half for gasoline and half for diesel fuel. The Police Department was the biggest user of gasoline, while public works used almost all the diesel fuel – most of it during the winter months.

Houseal said he’s called for replacing boilers in Fire Department substations and closing the old Lincoln Street station to cut down on heating costs, and suggested four other efforts to make the city more efficient.

Houseal said he’s also researching repairs and energy efficiency for city buildings, as well as converting the city’s fleet of cars to run on compressed natural gas.