DATE:
June 18, 2024
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
Pedro Jimenez, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A Contract For The Purchase Of Two Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. Enforcer 1500 GPM Type 1 Fire Engines For Fire Department Usage In Emeryville From Golden State Fire Apparatus For An Amount Not To Exceed $2,325,104 Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the above-entitled Resolution.
Background
The City of Emeryville’s fire and emergency services are contracted through the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD). However, the City of Emeryville owns and is responsible for the replacement of the fire apparatus as needed. The City has created a vehicle replacement program to establish a routine life cycle for all vehicles, including those required for fire and medical protection operations in the City. The vehicle replacement program also establishes a funding mechanism whereby funds are deposited annually into the vehicle replacement account to replace vehicles at the end of their useful life. Fire engines are the core equipment component of the City’s emergency response operations and as such must operate reliably. They are typically depreciated over a fifteen-year period.
Discussion
The City needs to replace two fire engines because they are near their end-of-life expectancy and orders take four years to be fulfilled; payment is not made until orders are fulfilled.
The City of Emeryville owns all of the fire apparatus stationed in the City. As part of the fire services contract, the ACFD maintains the City' s fire apparatus fleet. ACFD routinely reviews the condition of the City's fleet to ensure the safety and reliability of the fire apparatus when firefighters respond to emergency incidents. Based on ACFD’s assessment, it is recommended to replace the engine (unit # 170) in Station 35, a 2009 Smeal Type 1 Fire Engine with approximately 86,400 miles of use, scheduled for replacement in 2023, and the one in (unit # 171) Station 34, a 2010 Smeal Type 1 Fire Engine with approximately 84,000 miles of use, scheduled for replacement in 2024. Both of the existing fire engines are 15 years old, which is the point at which the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends they be turned over for reserve usage. By the time new fire engines are received in four years, the existing ones will have been in service for 19 years which is past the lifespan at which NFPA recommends their usage as a primary response vehicle.
As the vehicles age, repairs become more frequent and more costly. The average yearly maintenance cost for the engine in station 34 for its first five years of life was $11,004; for the most recent five years the average annual maintenance cost was $17,004. For the engine in station 35 those costs were $13,385 and $23,257 respectively. While these vehicles are out of service for repairs the engine operating company must use reserves which they are less familiar with and thus less efficient and responsive.
Electric powered fire engines were considered but rejected because the cost is significantly higher than nonelectric engines and the cost of building the charging infrastructure is also considerable and not budgeted. Additionally, there were concerns about call volume and charging times conflicting and creating reliability issues.
The City' s fire apparatus are custom built to meet all legal requirements and current National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standards. ACFD staff developed the specifications for fire engines and received a Sourcewell quote from Pierce Manufacturing Inc. which was awarded the contract. The contract terms are valid through June 30, 2024, and, if a contract is not initiated before that date, new terms will be applied.
Staff recommends that the fire engine replacements be purchased through Pierce Manufacturing /Golden Gate Fire Apparatus. This action assures that the unit is built and outfitted to the standard specifications of the other apparatus in ACFD’s fleet.
Under the Emeryville Municipal Code, the City is exempt from undertaking a formal bid process for the purchase of this equipment if the City “piggybacks” on another state agency’s bid process such as Sourcewell’s Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with the State of California.
Fiscal Impact
There are currently $1,635,167 in the vehicle replacement fund for the purchase of these vehicles. Maintaining the current vehicle replacement contributions schedule will result in sufficient funds available for the fire engines replacement when payment is due in four years.
Staff Communication with the Public
There has been no communication with the public regarding this agreement.
Conflict of Interest
None identified.
Conclusion
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution.
PREPARED BY: Pedro Jimenez, Assistant City Manager
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolution
Purchase and Sale Contract including Exhibit A – Proposal Package Fire Engines Agreement
City Council Meeting | June 18, 2024
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM