MARTINEZ, CA -- Contra Costa County Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier of Concord wants the county to stop purchasing sport utility vehicles, according to the Oakland Tribune newspaper. Citing soaring gas prices and environmental concerns, the supervisor argues that the county should stop buying the vehicles, except when truly needed for heavy-duty work. The Board of Supervisors will consider DeSaulnier's proposal -- which exempts emergency SUVs used by such agencies as the sheriff's department -- at its upcoming meeting. DeSaulnier, who serves on the California Air Resources Board and the board of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, noted that the county can "phase out" some of its existing SUVs when those vehicles are due for replacement. Contra Costa County currently owns 44 SUVs in its fleet of 1,400 vehicles, said fleet manager Frank Morgan. A good number of those utility vehicles belong to the county's sheriff's department. Morgan said, as quoted in the Oakland Tribune, the new policy would "make sure anything we purchase is really thought through to the point where (the vehicles) are fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly." Newly developed SUV hybrids will offer another option for the county in the future, he added.