COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Bradley J. Dandridge, Fire Chief
DATE: October 8, 2026
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Donation of One Fire Engine (E101) to the City of Guadalupe
Description:
The City Council will consider donating Engine 101 to the City of Guadalupe.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution declaring the City of Santa Maria’s Fire Engine 101 to be surplus equipment and authorize the donation of the engine to the City of Guadalupe.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Guadalupe’s front-line engine is 26 years old. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1900 Standard recommends that front-line service life of fire engines is 15 years. At that time an engine should be moved to reserve status and retired after a total of 25 years of being in service. Both of Guadalupe’s fire engines exceed the NFPA’s recommendation of length of service.
The City of Santa Maria’s Fire Department (SMFD) recently took into possession two (2) new Type I engines, allowing the engines being replaced to be utilized as reserve apparatus. The City now has a total of three reserve engines. With no space to house the engines, nor the budget to keep three reserves in working condition, it was determined to donate a 2003 Spartan Gladiator LFD Type-1 Engine (Engine 101) to the City of Guadalupe.
A City may dispose of personal property in any way it chooses if the disposition is for the common benefit, according to the California Constitution, Article XI, Section 5; Government Code Section 37350. There is no requirement that the City formally declare the property as “surplus.” SMFD has previously donated engines to Guadalupe, Allan Hancock College and La mission Rotary Club for the La Mision Voluntario Fire Station in Mexico.
2 DISCUSSION:
SMFD’s Fire Engine 101 has no major defects. The engine, transmission, and fire pump are working properly, allowing it to drive and pump very well. The engine was chosen for donation mainly due to the age and mileage (currently at 177,435 miles) of the apparatus.
Currently, the City of Guadalupe’s engine has high mileage and some of its engine parts are either hard to find or are obsolete. Due to these issues, the engine is experiencing frequent mechanical issues and an increase in maintenance costs. This creates a burden on the City of Guadalupe’s Fire departmental budget. Additionally, older diesel engines must be replaced to meet strict California Air Resources Board emission rules.
In recent years, the cost of a fire engine has more than doubled and wait time for a new fire engine stretches from 18 months to several years. A donated fire engine will tremendously help the City of Guadalupe, its residents, visitors, and surrounding communities. This donated fire engine will be reliable, ensuring continuous readiness for local protection as well as an opportunity to participate in Mutual Aid incidents.
Fiscal Considerations
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund associated with this donation.
Impact on the Community
Donating this surplus equipment will not result in any decrease in City service levels. The donations would be an act of goodwill and will assist the neighboring City of Guadalupe in serving its customers.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Resolution