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September 12, 2023
ITEM TITLE
Apparatus/Vehicle Purchases: Approv e the P urchase of One Pierce Enforcer Urban Search & Rescue and Three Unruh Type 6 Squad Apparatus, and Appropriate Funds for the Urban Search & Rescue Apparatus and Other Various Non-Safety Vehicles
Report Number: 23-0084
Location: No specific geographic location
Department: Fire
Environmental Notice : The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
Recommended Action Adopt a resolution 1) approving the purchase of one Pierce Enforcer Urban Search & Rescue apparatus, 2) approving the purchase of three Unruh Type 6 Squad apparatus, and 3) amending the Fiscal Year 2023/24 budget by appropriating $2,443,764 to the Measure P Fund for the Urban Search & Rescue apparatus and various non-safety vehicle purchases. (4/5 Vote Required)
SUMMARY
The Chula Vista Fire Department delivers Fire, Rescue , and Emergency Medical Services to Chula Vista residents, visitors, and employees daily. Emergency response service delivery is provided wit h several different types of apparatus, including triple combination pumped/fire engines, aerial ladder trucks, heavy rescue, brush engines, type 6 squads, and command vehicles. The Fire Department continues to replace fire apparatus as part of the initial phase of the City’s 10 -year Measure P Expenditure Plan specific to the Fire Department’s fire apparatus replacement plan.
The Fire Department is requesting authorization to purchase one Pierce Enforcer Urban Search & Rescue with South Coast Fire Equipmen t, on a sole source basis, to replace the existing apparatus that will be transitioned into our reserve fleet.
Additionally, the Chula Vista Fire Department is requesting authorization to purchase three Unruh Type 6 Squad apparatus from Emergency Vehicle Group on a sole source basis . The Squads will be used to expand the fire department response network in accordance with the Measure A Public Safety Expenditure Plan.
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The Measure P Expenditure Plan includes funding for the purchase of an Urban Search & Rescue apparatus and various vehicles for non -safety departments in fiscal year 2024 -25. Staff is requesting to move that funding to fiscal year 2023-24 due to extended lead times on safety and non-safety vehicle purchases.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The purchases of the Pierce Enforcer Urban Search & Rescue apparatus and various other vehicles are in compliance with the Measure P Expenditure Plan . These recommended changes were scheduled to be presented to the Measure P Citizens’ Oversight Committee (COC) on July 27, 2023. Due to a lack of a meeting quorum, the Measure P COC was unable to take action on the Measure P Spending Plan update.
The purchase of the three Unruh Type 6 Squads is in compliance with the existing Measure A Expenditure plan.
DISCUSSION
The Fire Department responds to Fire, Rescue and Emergency Medical incidents both within the City and surrounding jurisdictions. As part of the Fire Department’s continued execution of the City’s 10-year Measure P Expenditure Plan specific to the fire apparatus and equipment replacements, replacement of the Urban Search & Rescue apparatus is necessary. Replacement of the Urban Search & Rescue apparatus aligns with the City’s 10-year Measure P expenditure plan. These efforts are significant and provide for improved overall quality, reliability, cost effectiveness and safety of the fire apparatus fleet. Furthermore, the purchase of the three Unruh Type 6 Squad apparatus will further enhance response resources in the eastern side of the City by improving service delivery performance outcomes identified in the Measure A Public Safety Expenditure Plan.
Pierce Urban Search & Rescue Apparatus
The Fire Facility Master Plan includes an addendum that details the recommended apparatus replacement cycles to include 10 to 12 years of frontline service, plus five years of reserve service, for a total service life of 17 years. National Fire Protection Association (“NFPA”) Standard 1901 on Automotive Fire Apparatus and other National Fleet Maintenance Organizations recommend large vehicle replacements based on several criteria to include years of service, mileage, maintenance costs, functional obsolescence, and inability to obtain prior parts as well as technology and safety improvements.
The current Urban Search & Rescue apparatus (“US&R”) being replaced was placed into service in 2019, which puts its current service at approximately 4 years. There is currently a 33 -month manufacturing lead time before a new apparatus is expected to be received, that would then need to be outfitted prior to being placed into service. This lead time would put the current apparatus’s service term at approximately seven years by the time it is repl aced. The existing US&R would move to our reserve fleet once the new US&R is placed into service. By placing the existing US&R into our reserve fleet, the Fire Department would be able P a g e | 3
to replace the current reserve US&R, which is currently at 20 years of service, exceeding NFPA standards of 17 years of service.
The proposed US&R purchase is with South Coast Fire Equipment, on a sole source basis pursuant to Chula Vista Municipal Code section 2.56.070 (B)(4) (unique compatibility requirements), for the Pierce manufactured fire apparatus. The Fire Department uses Pierce Manufacturing to purchase frontline operational emergency response vehicles for several critical reasons:
1. Equipment Standardization: providing the same type of emergency response apparatus is critical to provide a standard approach to training all personnel. This ensures that our personnel can operate fire apparatus at a competent level while under the duress of emergency response.
2. Safety: Fire personnel are regularly moved from one fire station to another. Maintaining a fleet of fire apparatus that operate consistently throughout our fleet ensures driver/operators and firefighters can operate and locate equipment in an efficient and timely manner while working in emergency situations.
The purchase of the new fire apparatus will continue to improve the overall quality, reliability, cost effectiveness and safety of the City’s fire apparatus fleet.
The Fire Department has received a quote from South Coast for the purchase of one Pierce Enforcer US&R for the quoted purchase price total of $1,777,286.13. The Fire Department is recommending a 5% overage to account for any change order needs in the manufacturing process, bringing the total to $1,866,150.44, to be purchased using the Fire Department Vehicle/Apparatus allocations of the Measure P expenditure plan.
The Fire Department is requesting an appropriation of funds to the Measure P fiscal year 2023-24 Sales Tax Fund for this purchase.
Unruh Type 6 Squad Apparatus
The Measure A Public Safety Expenditure plan includes the purchase of the three Unruh Type 6 Squad apparatus (“Squads”). Acknowledging an 18-month build time, purchasing the Squads in fiscal year 2023-24 would allow the units to be placed into the service network at the pre -identified times. The Squads will provide additional needed distribution of response resources in the western and central portions of the City and will provide four firefighters (one Fire Safety Paramedic and one Fire Safety EMT on each Squad) daily.
Implementation of this recommendation is anticipated to improve service delivery performance outcomes in the service areas of fire stations 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9.
The proposed Squads purchase is with Emergency Vehicle Group , on a sole source basis pursuant to Chula Vista Municipal Code section 2.56.070 (B)(4) (unique compatibility requirement) , for the Unruh manufactured fire apparatus. The Fire Departmen t uses Unruh Fire to purchase frontline emergency response vehicles for several critical reasons:
1 Equipment Standardization: providing the same type of emergency response apparatus is critical to provide a standard approach to training all personnel. This ensures that our personnel can operate fire apparatus at a competent level while under duress of emergency response. 2 Safety: Fire personnel are consistently moved from one fire station to another. Maintaining a fleet of fire apparatus that operate consistently throughout our fleet ensures driver/operators and P a g e | 4
firefighters can operate and locate equipment in an efficient and timely manner while working in emergency situations.
The Fire Department has received a quote from Emergency Vehicle Group for the pu rchase of three Unruh Type 6 Squads for the quoted purchase price of $982,867.98. The Fire Department is recommending a 5% overage to account for any change order needs in the manufacturing process, bringing the total to approximately $1,035,000. The purchase is already included in the fiscal year 2023-24 Measure A Sales Tax Fund budget.
Non-Public Safety Vehicle Purchases
The Measure P Expenditure Plan included $322,387 for non-safety vehicles in fiscal year 2023-24. The non- safety vehicles recomm ended for replacement in fiscal year 2023-24 total approximately $900,000 . Staff recommends moving the planned funding of $577,613 from fiscal year 2024-25 to fiscal year 2023-24 in order to replace the vehicles recommended for replacement in the current fiscal year. This will exhaust the current Measure P funds allocated for non -safety vehicle purchases . Additional funding will be needed in future fiscal years for vehicle replacement.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the real property holdings of the City Council members do not create a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Urban Search & Rescue Apparatus
The cost to purchase one Pierce Enforcer Urban Search and Rescue apparatus is estimated to total $1,866,151. This action appropriates $1,866,151 from the available fund balance of the Measure P Sales Tax Fund to accelerate the purchase of this apparatus from fiscal year 2024-25 to fiscal year 2023-24. The order will be placed with vendor South Cost Fire Equipment upon Council approval. Lead time on delivery of the apparatus is approximately 33 months. Payment for the apparatus is due upon delivery (expected fiscal year 2025-26).
Type 6 Squads
The total cost to purchase three Unruh Type 6 Squad apparatus is approximately $1,035,000. Sufficient funds were included in the fiscal year 2023-24 Measure A Sales Tax Fund budget and no additional appropriation is required. The order will be placed with the vendor Emergency Vehicle Group upon Council approval. Lead time on delivery of the three apparatus is approximately 18 months. Payment for the apparatus is due upon delivery (expected fiscal year 2024-25).
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Non-Safety Vehicles
The cost for non -safety vehicle purchases anticipated in the current fiscal year totals $900,000. Of this amount, $322,387 was included in the fiscal year 2023-24 Measure P Sales Tax Fund budget. The remaining $577,613 will be appropriated from the available fund balance of the Measure P Sales Tax Fund with this action, accelerating these planned purchases from fiscal year 2024-25 to fiscal year 2023-24.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
The US&R apparatus is a replacement as opposed to an addition to the fleet, therefore any additional fuel and maintenance costs for the frontline apparatus and apparatus being moved into the reserve fleet are already included in the Fire Department’s ongoing operational budget.
The three Squads will be additions to the response network and funds for maintenance are accounted for in the Measure A-Public Safety Expenditure Plan. Ongoing fuel and maintenance for the non-safety vehicles will be considered as part of the annual budget process which will include additional positions for mechanic support.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Attachment 1: US&R Front Sheet
2. Attachment 2: Squad Front Sheet
Staff Contact: Emily Folker, Principal Management Analyst, Fire Department Pete Mercado, Deputy Chief, Fire Department
Angelica Aguilar, Assistant Director, Public Works