Staff Report
City Council
Item No. {{section.number}}.{{item.number}}
Meeting Date: November 13, 2024
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Purchase of one (1) 2024 Hybrid Haulotte/Bil-Jax 5533A Aerial Titans Lift for the Facilities Maintenance Division
RECOMMENDATION:
To authorize the purchase of one (1) 2024 Hybrid Haulotte/Bil-Jax 5533A Lift from Aerial Titans, Inc. for the Facilities Maintenance division, at a total cost of $68,189.69; and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all required documents for the purchase.
BACKGROUND:
The bipartisan Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) provided $550 million to the Department of Energy (DOE) for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. These funds are granted to states, local governments, and tribes to help reduce energy and fossil fuel use and to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and infrastructure. Based on a city’s population, Cathedral City was allocated $112,920 towards this energy efficiency program grant.
On April 26, 2023, the City Council authorized the purchase of one (1) Pneumatic Lithium Powered (electric) Forklift in the amount of $104,965.50 and the installation of an electrical charging system to support the forklift at the Public Works facility in an amount of $7,954.50.
Cathedral City’s Fleet Coordinator was able to secure the purchase of the electrical forklift for the total cost of $97,766.25, a cost savings of $7,199.25. In addition to the cost savings on the purchase of the forklift, staff did not need to utilize the $7,954.50 in grant funds to upgrade the electrical system as it was determined the current electrical infrastructure could support the new charging equipment. The Public Works Maintenance division has been utilizing the electric forklift for over a year with no issues.
In summary, Cathedral City was allocated $112,920 in EECBG grant funds. To date, the city has spent $97,766.25 as recapped in the following table:
Grant Award $112,290.00
Electric Forklift Spent $ 97,766.25
Remaining Grant Funds $ 14,523.75
As shown above, the remaining grant funds total is: $14,523.75. Staff are proposing to apply the remaining $14,523 in grant funds to support the purchase of a towable boom hybrid aerial lift for the Facilities Maintenance division.
DISCUSSION:
To utilize the remaining grant funds, staff are recommending the purchase of one (1) new towable boom 2024 Hybrid Haulotte/Bil-Jax 5533A Lift from Aerial Titans, Inc. (Lift) for the Facilities Maintenance division. The Facilities Maintenance division currently does not have a lift to assist with overhead maintenance projects. This Lift is essential to address maintenance repairs within the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater, Townsquare Park, and other city parks (repairing park lights, cameras and Wi-Fi antennas). Additionally, the Public Works Maintenance division anticipates using the Lift to assist with other projects in the downtown area, for example, servicing the city owned decorative streetlights and banners along East Palm Canyon, and repairing the traffic speed radar, preemption and traffic signal equipment near the City Hall core area.
The City’s Fleet Coordinator contacted multiple vendors both locally and in the surrounding area and received the following quotes:
Name of Company Location Unit Price Details
Aerial Titans, Inc. Cartersville, GA
$68,189.69
with drive/set
feature
Includes tax/delivery
Southwest Toyota Lift Thousand Palms, CA $59,812.50 Includes tax/delivery Forklift America Bridgeton, MO $61,130.39 Excludes tax/delivery The Lift from Aerial Titans, Inc. is equipped with a drive set feature which allows the Lift to be driven from location to location at a speed of up to 10 mph. The drive set feature is necessary to allow the maintenance division to efficiently maintain areas without having to continuously tow and set up the Lift from one area to another. The Lift is also light enough that it will not cause damage when driven on turf. When the Lift needs to be relocated to a project site, any of the city vehicles with a towing hitch can transport the Lift.
Southwest Toyota and Forklift America do not offer an aerial lift with the necessary drive set feature.
The Lift, offered by Aerial Titans, Inc., is a hybrid with a DC electric battery motor and a Honda gas generator. The purchase price for a 100% gas-powered aerial lift would be approximately $62,950, not including tax and delivery. The difference between the purchase price of a hybrid verses a gas-powered aerial is approximately $5,500. Staff are proposing to offset the purchase of the hybrid aerial lift and utilize $5,500 of available funds from the FY 2024-25 Environmental Fund (246) funds to cover the $5,000 difference.
Staff are requesting the City Council authorize the purchase of one (1) 2024 Hybrid Haulotte/Bil-Jax 5533A Lift from Aerial Titans, Inc. for the Facilities Maintenance division, at a total cost of $68,189.69; and authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute all required documents for the purchase.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Equipment Breakdown per Fund Account Fund No.
$14,523.75 EECBG Grant Funds (249)
$ 5,500.00 Environmental Fund (246)Hybrid Aerial Titans Lift $48,165.94 Equipment Replacement Fund (611)
Total Purchase Price $68,189.69
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal B – Community Investment
Objective: Cathedral City roads, gateways, public spaces, and other infrastructure are well planned, designed, constructed and maintained.
B-19 – Develop Fleet Management policies to establish vehicle replacements and utilization standards.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Aerial Titans Hybrid Lift Quote