City of Gonzales
FIRE DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: July 21, 2025
FROM: Jason Muscio, Fire Chief
THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2025-54 Dispensing with Bidding Procedures and Authorizing the Purchase of a Type 1 Fire Engine
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council consider and adopt Resolution No. 2025-54, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Dispensing With Bidding Procedures Pursuant to Gonzales City Code Section 3.16.050 and Authorizing The Purchase of a New Type 1 Fire Engine From Fire Apparatus Solutions in an Amount Not to Exceed $750,000.
BACKGROUND
The City of Gonzales Fire Department provides all-risk emergency response to the City of Gonzales and the Gonzales Rural Fire Protection District. The Type 1 Fire Engine is the backbone of the Fire Department’s fleet, responding to all types of emergency and non-emergency calls for service, with the exception of wild land fire incidents. The Fire Department currently has two Type 1 fire engines; Engine 8111 is 18 years old and Engine 8112 is 22 years old. Both have been plagued with breakdowns resulting in costly repairs and have left the fire department without a Type 1 engine available several times in the last few years. In 2014 the purchase was intended to be a stop-gap measure to allow the fire department to continue to Fire Chief advised the City Council of the need for an apparatus replacement program to replace the aging fleet, however funding for the program was unavailable. In 2021 a used Type 1 engine was purchased from a neighboring fire department after it was decommissioned due to age. This provided service until funding could be secured for a new engine. This engine is still in service but frequently is in need of costly repairs; totaling more than $28,000 since it was purchased. Staff has submitted multiple applications to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program funded by the Department of Homeland Security through FEMA every year since 2014, but all grant applications have been denied. Through conversations and requests to County staff the City was encouraged to apply for a portion of the County’s AGENDA
ITEM
16 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, and was awarded $630,000 towards the purchase of a new fire engine.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
With the $630,000 in funding available, staff began searching for a vendor that could supply a Type 1 engine that meets the needs of the fire department, fits within the budget, and could be delivered in the shortest amount of time possible. Several vendors were contacted but none of them could provide an engine for the amount of funds available. Additionally, all vendors had a projected delivery time of 18-24 months. The Chief learned of a vendor named Fire Apparatus Solutions that builds production Fire Apparatus with a projected delivery time of 3-6 months, and thereafter requested a proposal . The price came in at $750,000, which is $120,000 more than the funding awarded by the County’s CDBG program.
The City Manager requested the remaining funding be provided from Measure K, and that request was approved by the Measure K Committee and by the City Council at the meeting on June 16th.
Section 3.16.050 of the Gonzales City Code (“GCC”) provides that all purchases of supplies and equipment shall be by competitive bid procedures unless an exception applies. In the instant case, Staff believes that two such bidding exceptions apply. First, Section 3.16.050 A.2. provides an exception to the bidding requirements for the purchase of equipment and supplies when an “emergency” (defined in part as a breakdown in machinery or an essential service which requires the immediate purchase of supplies or services to protect the public health, welfare and safety) arises. As was previously noted, the lack of an operable Type 1 Engine represents a serious and significant threat to the Fire Department’s ability to provide services necessary to protect the health, welfare and safety of the City and District’s residents and businesses and as such, Staff believes the condition of the Fire Department’s current Type 1 engines qualifies as such an emergency. Secondly, the engine in question is only available within the City’s price range and need for expedited delivery from a single vendor, and thus falls with Exception 3.16.050 A.3, “when the equipment can be obtained from only one vendor.” In light of the foregoing, the Council is being asked to consider the adoption of a resolution dispensing with formal bidding requirements and authorizing the purchase of a Type I engine from Fire Apparatus Solutions.
How Recommendation Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small town charm.
Explain: This project supports our vision by providing for safe and effective emergency response by the Fire Department.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community. X Yes ____ No____ N/A
Explain: Reliable Fire Apparatus provides for increased public safety and enhances quality of life.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful and friendly manner to insure the safety and well being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner. X Yes ____No ____ N/A Explain: The majority of funding for this purchase has been provided through a grant.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety X Yes No N/A
• Housing Yes No X N/A
• Recreation Yes No X N/A
• Environment Yes No X N/A
• Education Yes No X N/A
Explain: See Vision above.
ALTERNATIVES
Do not adopt the Resolution. This action is not recommended as this will leave the Fire Department without a reliable Type 1 Engine and could compromise the Fire Department’s ability to provide fire suppression services and respond to life and property threatening emergencies.
BUDGET IMPACT
This purchase will be funded with $630,000 in grant funding from the County’s CDBG program and an additional $120,000 in funds from Measure K.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council consider and adopt Resolution No. 2025-54, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Dispensing with Bidding Procedures Pursuant to Gonzales City Code Section 3.16.050 and Authorizing the Purchase of a Type 1 Fire Engine From Fire Apparatus Solutions for an Amount Not to Exceed $750,000.
Attachments:
1. Fire Engine Proposal
2. Resolution No. 2025-54