Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: August 14, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: Dave Klotzle, Public Works Director
Subject: Authorization to Purchase Camarillo Area Transit Vehicle
BACKGROUND
The City is eligible to purchase one fleet replacement vehicle through the Ventura County Transportation Commission Program of Projects. The purchase cost is approved by the Federal Transit Administration (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. Utilizing a purchasing cooperative is efficient and effective due to the low number of vehicles that the City tends to procure at one time.
Through the CalACT/MBTA purchasing cooperative, each vendor has an approved list of vehicles they can provide. The specific vehicles needed to appropriately meet Camarillo Area Transit’s (CAT) service demands have been selected from the pre-approved list.
The vehicle purchased will be similar in appearance to an existing CAT vehicle and will comply with federally required accessibility features. In alignment with its adopted Zero Emission Bus Roll-Out Plan, the City intends to purchase a new minivan to replace a similar vehicle that is scheduled to be retired.
DISCUSSION
Staff reviewed the vehicle types available for purchase through the CalACT/MBTA Purchasing Cooperative. Model 1 Commercial Vehicles, Inc. (Model 1) is a state and federal approved vendor that provides vehicles through the CalACT/MBTA Purchasing Cooperative and currently has minivans available for procurement through the CalACT/MBTA Purchasing Cooperative.
Camarillo Area Transit Vehicle Purchase
August 14, 2024
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The vehicle selected for procurement is a gasoline-powered BraunAbility Side Entry, 7- passenger minivan at a cost of $85,089.57. This vehicle can accommodate one wheelchair which, when in use, leaves room for up to 4 ambulatory passengers and the driver.
The last minivan procured by the City was in August 2023 for $71,978.67. Staff notes that one factor in the price increase is the feature of an ADA ramp that pulls out from underneath the vehicle, instead of being folded in front of the passenger access door.
This new feature will enable ambulatory passengers to board faster and enable the driver to operate the vehicle in a more efficient manner. Another vendor on the list had a 5- passenger with 1 wheelchair Promaster van available; however, the cost was significantly higher at $116,044.21.
Staff inquired with other neighboring transit agencies on recent vehicle procurements.
Their procurements have been of larger vehicles (transit sprinter-van style or cutaway vehicles) that are over $100,000 and therefore not fully comparable to this proposed minivan procurement.
The total cost for the vehicle is $85,089.57, of which 80% is reimbursable by the FTA. In addition to the request to procure the minivan, staff is recommending authorization of a contingency in the amount of $14,000 for unforeseen additional procurement costs.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for the purchase of the transit vehicles and contingency are included in the Transit Fund, Capital Purchases, Vehicle Account No. 810-3801-438.91-33.
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. Authorize the purchase of a Model 1 BraunAbility Side Entry 7-Passenger Minivan in the amount of $85,089.57; and
3. Authorize a contingency of up to $14,000 in additional vehicle procurement costs.
Camarillo Area Transit Vehicle Purchase
August 14, 2024
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ATTACHMENTS
1. Model 1 Quote
2. Floor Plan
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None