HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 - Puchase of New Ladder Truck for FireCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 12
March 27, 2007
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Fire Department and General Services Department
Steve Lewis, 644 -3101, slewis(cDcity.newport- beach.ca.us
Mark Harmon, 644 -3055, mharmon(a)city.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: Purchase of New Ladder Truck for the Fire Department
RECOMMENDATION:
That Council (1) approve the sole source purchase of a new 100 foot tractor -drawn
aerial ladder truck from American LaFrance of Los Angeles for $834,967.38 (including
tax), and (2) approve a Budget Amendment in the amount of $834,967.38 to fund the
purchase.
DISCUSSION:
Background: From the 1980's through 2001, the Fire Department operated with three
ladder trucks, two front -line and one reserve. Truck 62 is positioned at Station #2, the
Lido Station and Truck 63 is positioned at Station #3, Fashion Island Station. The
deployment of trucks is based on providing initial emergency response coverage to
each side of the city and location of high rise structures. The reserve truck was used
when the frontline trucks were out of service for maintenance, training or other
commitments:
The primary purpose of the ladder truck is to provide a high -angle /high -reach aerial .
ladder for access, evacuation, water stream deployment, lighting and lifting. In addition,
the truck carries a number of various size ground ladders; forced access and ventilation
equipment; ventilation blowers; salvage equipment; portable emergency generator and
hydraulic extrication and rescue equipment. In other words, the truck is a rolling toolbox
of emergency equipment.
In 2001, the 1978 reserve truck was taken out of service because of safety and
reliability problems. The truck was 23 years old at the time of its retirement. Because of
Purchase of New Ladder Truck
March 27, 2007
Page 2
critical operational requirements,. the city chose to fund the replacement of engines and
paramedic vans, and not fund a replacement reserve truck at that time.
In order to make up the operational shortfall of the reserve ladder truck, a 1996 HME
Fire Engine, acquired from Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) with the annexation of
the Newport Coast Station #8, was pressed into service as a "squad ". Squad 261
performs most non - emergency responses and emergency responses that do not require
an aerial ladder /monitor, ground ladders or hydraulic extrication equipment. Because of
its small size, this unit is of little value in a fire, multi-story building rescue, or significant
traffic accident other than shuttling firefighters to the incident.
In these incidents, the other Newport Beach frontline ladder truck or mutual -aid ladder
unit from Costa Mesa, Santa Ana or OCFA, will be dispatched in addition to the squad.
This adds to the response time and in some cases, mutual -aid ladder trucks are not
articulated, and therefore cannot get into some Newport Beach neighborhoods.
Truck 62 and Truck 63 are 10 and 13 years old respectively. Council Policy F -9 (City
Vehicle /Equipment Replacement Guidelines) calls for frontline truck replacement at 15
years.
The use of Squad 261 has been generally satisfactory, because the frontline trucks
have been out of service only for short durations. Over the past year, however, Truck 63
has suffered from continuing reliability issues that have significantly impacted the
Department's ability to provide timely emergency response. Despite the best efforts of
the Equipment Maintenance Division, the truck has been plagued with a myriad of
different problems that have essentially kept it out or service for extended periods. The
consensus is that age of the truck is the primary factor in Truck 63's failing reliability.
The Fire and General Services Departments propose replacement of Truck 63 at this
time. The plan would be to retain Truck 63 as the reserve ladder unit. Additionally, the
purchase now would allow for 5 year spacing before the replacement of the 1997 Truck
62. Replacing a ladder truck every 5 years would be optimal from a budgetary planning
standpoint. Squad 261 would be retained as Engine 261 to provide a fourth reserve
engine as needed backup when we send three units on wildland strike team duty.
For several months firefighters and General Service maintenance technicians have
worked on specifications for a new truck purchase. A proposal for a replacement truck
has been provided for $774,912.00 by American I aFrance of Los Angeles. Their
proposal meets or exceeds our specifications.
American LaFrance was chosen as the vendor because:
• Proven operational quality of apparatus provided by the manufacturer.
• Maintenance, training, and operational compatibility with the 8 American
LaFrance engines the city currently owns.
Purchase of New Ladder Truck
March 27, 2007
Page 3
• American LaFrance's demonstrated performance in correcting warranty repairs
and assisting in technical support for maintenance and operational questions.
• Proximity of American LaFrance's engineering and maintenance facility in
Fontana.
• Negotiated cost reduction based on the City's previous purchase of fire engines
from American LaFrance.
Construction of the new ladder truck is estimated to take 14 months from the issuance
of a Purchase Order.
Environmental Review: No environmental review required. Truck will meet or exceed
all local and federal environmental standards.
Funding Availability: Funds for this purchase are available in the unappropriated
balance of the Internal Service Fund (ISF) for Equipment Replacement. City
Departments fund the ISF through replacement charges included in their operating
budgets for each vehicle or piece of equipment they operate. Staff from the Fire and
General Services Departments have analyzed the accumulated balance for the
replacement of Trucks 62, 63, and Squad 261, and determined that the current
purchase of a new ladder truck will allow the funding and ladder purchases in 5 year
intervals. As of June 30, 2007, the ISF will have accumulated $1,195, 647 for the
replacement of the current fleet of ladder trucks.
To execute the current purchase, a budget amendment from unappropriated ISF fund
balance to account 6120 -9100 is required in the amount of $834,967.38.
Prepared by:
Terry Ulaszewski, Fire Support Services Manager,
Fire Department
Mike Pisani(Depyyy/biy�c�% General Services
kamerrifttle DIM
Attachments: (list each)
(list Budget Amendment last)
Submitted by:
Steve Lewis, Chief, Fire Department
Mark Harmon, Dlrect4LGeneral Services
fl-r-'16.
City of Newport Beach
BUDGET AMENDMENT
2006 -07
EFFECT ON BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE:
Increase Revenue Estimates
Increase Expenditure Appropriations AND
X Transfer Budget Appropriations
SOURCE:
from existing budget appropriations
from additional estimated revenues
from unappropriated fund balance
EXPLANATION:
This budget amendment is requested to provide for the following:
NO. BA- 07BA -058
AMOUNT: $834,967.38
Increase in Budgetary Fund Balance
Decrease in Budgetary Fund Balance
PX No effect on Budgetary Fund Balance
To increase expenditure appropriations for 100 foot tractor -drawn aerial ladder from American LaFrance of Los Angeles.
ACCOUNTING ENTRY:
BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE Amount
Fund Account Description Debit Credit
610 3605 Equipment Maintenance Fund - Fund Balance $834,967.38 .
REVENUE ESTIMATES (3601)
Fund /Division Account
EXPENDITURE APPROPRIATIONS (3603)
Description
Signed:
Signed:
Approval: AdministroVe Services Director
City Manager.
$834,967.38
3- Zd -�
Date
Die
Signed:
City Council Approval: City Clerk Date
Description
Division
Number
6120 Equipment Maintenance - Purchasing
Account
Number
9100 Rolling Equipment
Division
Number
Account
Number
Division
Number
Account
Number
Division
Number
Account
Number
Division
Number
Account
Number
Signed:
Signed:
Approval: AdministroVe Services Director
City Manager.
$834,967.38
3- Zd -�
Date
Die
Signed:
City Council Approval: City Clerk Date