Administrative
Report
H.8., File # 24-1501 Meeting Date: 9/17/2024
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: ANDREW WINJE, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
TITLE
APPROVE A CHANGE TO THE PURCHASE OF A GAPVAX 2023 MC1309-3S#S COMBINATION
VACUUM/JETTER TRUCK USED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ADJUSTING THE
VEHICLE SPECIFICATION FROM A COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUELED ENGINE TO A DIESEL FUELED ENGINE FROM PLUMBER’S DEPOT AND REDUCING THE COST BY $56,857 LOWERING THE AMOUNT TO $785,152
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City Council approved the purchase of a combination vacuum/jetter, compressed natural gas (CNG) powered vehicle on December 19, 2023. The vehicle will be used by the Public Works Department Sewer Division and will replace the City’s existing vacuum/jetter, Unit #326. Since the time of purchase, the City has been forced to adjust to new California Air Resource Board (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleet (ACF) regulations, which no longer recognize CNG engines as meeting the zero or low emission vehicle requirements.
The original unit price was $842,009.54 and the revised quote for a diesel unit is $785,152.34 resulting in a cost savings of $56,857.20. Competitive pricing for the vehicle has been secured through the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program. Delivery of the diesel-powered vehicle is expected to occur four to six months earlier than the CNG-powered vehicle. The Public Works Department recommends the purchase of the diesel-powered vehicle as it will increase the duration the vehicle can be deployed and provide more utility to the City than the CNG-powered option.
BACKGROUND
In December 2023, the City Council directed staff to move the City fleet, when feasible, toward zero or low emission vehicles (ZEV/LEV), including CNG-powered vehicles. Based on that direction, staff recommended replacement of Unit #326 with the GapVax vehicle with a CNG engine that complied with CARB emission standards. Council approved the purchase of a GapVax 2023 MC1309-3S#S combination vacuum/jetter CNG-powered vehicle.
However, the CARB ACF regulations, which require the City to purchase one ZEV/LEV vehicle for every traditionally-fueled vehicle in this vehicle class (Class 2b), do not consider CNG vehicles to count towards the ZEV/LEV fleet purchase targets. Instead, they count CNG vehicles as the traditionally-fueled vehicles that must be offset by an electric vehicle purchase. As a result, there is no advantage to purchasing a CNG vehicle over a diesel-powered vehicle with respect to meeting the City’s ACF compliance targets nor is there an electric option for this type of vacuum/jetter vehicle.
H.8., File # 24-1501 Meeting Date: 9/17/2024
Purchasing the Diesel vehicle will have several benefits. One it will be available in early 2025, several months before the CNG option, and two there is a cost savings of $56,857.20. Another significant operational consideration has to do with the mission of Unit #326, which responds to, and works to prevent, emergency wastewater spills. Emergency spills come with their own complex set of reporting and clean up requirements, and the use of Unit #326 to prevent, or mitigate, these emergencies avoids more significant environmental and regulatory consequences. The dieselpowered vehicle can be refueled while deployed, which is necessary on longer term incidents. CNGfueled vehicles cannot be replaced in deployment by another similar vehicle (the usual practice for larger agencies) and must return to the City yard for refueling.
For these reasons, staff recommends purchase of a diesel powered GapVax 2023 MC1309-3S#S combination vacuum/jetter. The diesel-powered option will increase operational capability and have no impact on the City’s compliance progress toward ACF regulations.
Staff also intends to return to Council (following review by the Budget and Finance Commission) at a future date with a more detailed discussion of regulations impacting the City’s vehicle purchase and replacement strategy. For example, five CNG units previously on order were delayed for significant periods of time, causing the orders to be cancelled. Public Works plans to bring these vehicle purchases back to City Council for consideration after evaluating ways to maximize vehicle utility while still pursuing the acquisition of ZEV and LEVs that are compliant with the new ACF regulations.
As mentioned in FY 2024-25 BRR #33, the challenging regulatory environment has staff rethinking past vehicle strategies that may no longer be advantageous or keep the City in compliance with ACF regulations specifically as it pertains to CNG vehicles. Procurement of ZEVs rated at Class 2b and above have been, and will continue to be, challenging for the City. Challenges include a lack of ZEV vehicles that serve the City’s needs, long order lead times, delays during ordering, production and upfitting costs, and limited charging/refueling infrastructure.
COORDINATION
Public Works coordinated preparation of this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
The purchase price of the GapVax 2023 MC1309-3S#S Combination diesel fueled Vacuum/Jetter is $785,152.34. This price is $56,857.20 less than the CNG fueled model.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Plumber’s Depot Purchase Order #6278
· Revised Quote Plumber’s Depot, June 6, 2024
· Plumber’s Depot Quote/Specifications
· Administrative Report - City Council, December 19, 2023