City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: January 20, 2026
From: Brian Saeki, City Administrator
Department: City Administration
Submitted by: Lilia Hernandez, Assistant to the City Administrator Subject
Report on Vehicle Purchase Approved by the City Administrator Recommendation
Receive and file report on City Administrator approved vehicle purchase of one 2025 Ram 2500 Rebel from Van Nuys Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for a total amount of $81,222.68.
Background
Historically, the City has purchased vehicles through Sourcewell, a government agency and purchasing cooperative offering competitively solicited cooperative purchasing contracts that other government agencies can utilize for procurement. However, in recent years, vehicle purchases through Sourcewell have been extremely difficult to achieve due to limited inventory, long lead times for production, and a high demand for vehicles from other public agencies. As an alternative to Sourcewell and to maintain an adequate fleet, the City needs to make vehicle purchases directly from dealerships. When purchasing from dealerships, staff still encounters challenges as vehicle inventory is low, demand is high, and dealerships do not offer the convenience of holding vehicles for lengthy bidding and procurement processes. To secure necessary vehicles, staff must be able to complete the purchasing process expeditiously.
In December 2025, Vernon Public Utilities (VPU) required a new vehicle for its field operations.
The new vehicle was to replace a 1986 Ford Ranger (City vehicle ID L175) that was no longer a reliable vehicle and was deemed a surplus vehicle earlier in the year. In addition to facilitating field operations in the City, the new vehicle was also to be utilized to navigate and maintain unpaved wildland areas owned by the City in Kern County. To obtain a competitive price, staff researched twenty-seven (27) local dealerships in search of a vehicle that fulfilled its fleet requirements. Staff identified four (4) local dealerships that listed a 2025 Ram 2500 Power Wagon or Rebel on their websites and requested informal quotes based on website availability.
Van Nuys Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (CDJR) offered the most competitive price for the desired vehicle including a $4,000 discount. Subsequently, VPU requested approval from the City Administrator for the purchase of one 2025 Ram 2500 Rebel from CDJR for a total amount of $81,222.68. The City Administrator approved the purchase, as CDJR was the only dealership that had a vehicle that met the City’s requirements, including color and trim, and offered the lowest quote. The vehicle purchased by the City was delivered in early December 2025.
Given the challenges associated with vehicle purchases, staff is working on amendments to the Vernon Municipal Code to enable future vehicle purchases.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact was not-to-exceed $81,222.68. Sufficient funds were available in the Electric Fund, Field Operations, Capital Outlay, Account No. 055-050-550-660000 for the current fiscal year.
Attachments
None.