Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: December 13, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: Dave Klotzle, Public Works Director
Subject: Camarillo Area Transit – Approve the Purchase of Three Class V Transit Vans
BACKGROUND
The City is eligible to purchase three fleet replacement vehicles through the Ventura County Transportation Commission Program of Projects. The purchase cost is approved by the FTA for 80% reimbursement.
The Caltrans Division of Mass Transportation (DMT) ensures that transit vehicle purchases using FTA grant funds comply with federal statutes and regulations. In addition, the DMT provides a program for public agencies to purchase transit vehicles at the lowest price through the California Association for Coordinated Transportation/Morongo Basin Transit Authority (CalACT/MBTA) purchasing cooperative. The City is a member of CalACT and therefore eligible to utilize the purchasing cooperative.
Through the CalACT/MBTA purchasing cooperative, each vendor has an approved list of vehicles they can provide. The specific vehicles needed by Camarillo Area Transit (CAT) appropriately meet CAT’s service demands and have been selected from the pre- approved list. The vehicles purchased will be similar in appearance to existing CAT vehicles and will comply with federally required accessibility features. As part of the Zero Emission Roll-Out Plan, the City identified the need to right-size the current fleet to effectively meet ridership needs. The City intends to right-size to three minivans, 11 transit vans and four cutaways. For this procurement, the City intends to right-size and procure three transit vans that will replace three vehicles scheduled to be retired.
DISCUSSION
Staff reviewed the vehicle types available for purchase through the CalACT/MBTA Purchasing Cooperative. Model 1 Commercial Vehicles is a state and federal approved
Camarillo Area Transit Purchase – Three Class V Transit Vans December 13, 2023
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vendor that provides vehicles through the CalACT/MBTA Purchasing Cooperative and currently has the desired vehicles available for procurement.
The vehicles selected for procurement are three gasoline – Class V High Roof Mobility Transit Vans, 8-passenger plus one wheelchair or 4-ambulatory passengers and two wheelchairs at a cost of $105,352.84 per vehicle.
As the transit vans will be federally funded, the City is required to perform an independent cost estimate to ensure the City is getting a fair price for the vehicles it intends to procure.
Staff solicited other quotes and checked with recent procurements of similar vehicle styles. A-Z Bus Sales has a similar style transit van for $105,762.89 per vehicle. Gold Coast Transit procured transit vans several months ago that cost approximately $100,000, prior to vehicle cost increases effective September 2023 and authorized by CalACT/MBTA. Additionally, prior to the vehicle cost increases, in July 2023 Camarillo purchased five transit vans for $97,764.55 per vehicle. City staff determined Model 1 has the specific vehicle to appropriately meet CAT’s service demand at a competitive price.
The total cost for the three vehicles is $316,058.52, of which 80% is reimbursable by the FTA. In addition to the request to procure the Transit Vans, staff is recommending authorization of a contingency in the amount of $30,000 for potential additional procurement costs.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for the purchase of the transit vehicles are included in the Transit Fund, Capital Purchases, Vehicle Account No. 810-3801-438.91-33 in FY 2023/24 in the amount of $346,059.
CEQA DETERMINATIONS
City staff has determined, in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, that CAT vehicle procurement is not subject to CEQA review because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the CAT vehicle procurement may have a significant effect on the environment. City is replacing internal combustion engine vehicles with internal combustion engine vehicles without increasing the total number of vehicles.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Find the CAT vehicle procurement exempt from review under the California.
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA (CEQA) Guidelines; and
2. Approve the purchase of three transit vehicles in the total amount of $316,058.52 ; and
3. Authorize a contingency of up to $30,000 in additional vehicle procurement costs.
Camarillo Area Transit Purchase – Three Class V Transit Vans December 13, 2023
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ATTACHMENTS
1. Model 1 Commercial Vehicles - Quote
2. Vehicle Floor Plan
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None