Item Number: 13
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: September 1, 2026
Submitted By:
James Murawski, Airport Director
Subject:
Purchase of a 2026 John Deere 644P Loader
Recommendation:
That the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority (“SCLAA”) Board of Directors approve the purchase of a 2026 John Deere 644P Loader in the amount of $402,980.76.
Fiscal Impact:
This action will result in the expenditure of budgeted capital equipment funds from Airport Capital Equipment Fund 4500125-55040-95161 in the amount not to exceed $402,980.76. The budget for this equipment is as follows:
Account Description Current Budget
4500125-55040-95161 4.25 Ton Loader $420,000.00
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal E - Invest in Infrastructure. This equipment will allow Airport staff to efficiently transport material to, from, and throughout the Airport and various job sites.
Background:
The Southern California Logistics Airport (“SCLA”) consists of over 2,000 acres of airfield areas and off-airport properties. The airfield area consists of two commercial-length runways, nine taxiways, numerous buildings, aircraft parking lots, drainage channels, and vast open and occupied areas slated for future development. The SCLA requires consistent maintenance to manage erosion, conduct runway and taxiway repairs, maintain airfield roads, and undertake various maintenance projects. The vast acreage of the SCLA and the corresponding maintenance needed to operate the airport require staff to frequently haul airfield rubble, storm drain silt, soil, base materials, lumber, and 4 8
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other materials to, from, and within the SCLA.
To move these materials, staff currently utilizes a 1989 John Deere 544 E Loader (“1989 Loader”) with 1.25 cubic yards of hauling capacity. The 1989 Loader has been in service for 37 years, with its age impacting its effectiveness. The 1989 Loader was acquired by Public Works in the late 1980s and was later transferred to the Airport in 2016 after approximately 26 years of service.
The 37-year-old 1989 544 Loader has numerous issues that warrant replacement of the equipment. The braking system on the 1989 Loader has been problematic recently, causing staff to seek repair options to keep the vehicle functional. The failed hydraulic system makes the loader impossible to operate, and it has become increasingly difficult to get repair parts due to its age. Furthermore, the 1989 Loader is out of compliance with ever-increasing California emissions standards and has thus been relegated to low use status, minimizing its utility and making it fiscally irresponsible to maintain. Lastly, the hauling and loading capacity of only 1.25 cubic yards limits the effectiveness of this equipment.
Staff proposes replacing the 1989 Loader with a modern 4.25 cubic yard hauling capacity John Deere 644P Loader.
Discussion:
The proposed purchase of a new 2026 John Deere 644P Loader (“2026 Loader”) would replace the aging, worn-out, and low-use designated 1989 Loader. The 2026 Loader will ensure staff has reliable, compliant equipment to support its maintenance activities. The 2026 Loader has a hauling capacity of 4.25 cubic yards, which will allow staff to move material more efficiently than the 1.25 cubic yard 1989 Loader that it is replacing. Staff anticipates cost savings derived from reduced maintenance costs and productivity gains.
The 2026 Loader will allow Airport staff to work efficiently and effectively.
To facilitate the procurement of this much-needed equipment, the purchase of the 2026 Loader is proposed through RDO Equipment Company in Riverside (“RDO”), a dealer for John Deere, and a participant in a cooperative agreement program called Sourcewell.
Sourcewell is a public agency that offers a multitude of cooperatively contracted specialized products and equipment to government entities. Per Municipal Code §2.28.120 “Purchases of supplies and equipment through cooperative purchasing arrangements” allows for the procurement of equipment directly from vendors engaged in an approved cooperative agreement program without further solicitation. The Sourcewell Cooperative Agreement has been reviewed and approved by the City of Victorville Purchasing Manager. It fulfills the competitive bidding requirements, thus providing significant savings, and offers contract purchasing solutions from John Deere, to enable buying agencies to work smarter and more efficiently, while streamlining the required purchasing process.
The proposed equipment replacement will benefit the Airport by offering: increased reliability; increased safety; environmental compliance; improved productivity; and lower 4 8
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maintenance and operational costs. The RDO quote includes the cost of the 2026 Loader, applicable sales tax, and delivery charges. Therefore, staff requests the Southern California Logistics Airport Authority Board of Directors approve the purchase of a 2026 John Deere 644P Loader in the total amount of $402,980.76, from RDO Equipment Company in Riverside.
Staff remains available for any questions or comments you may have.
Prepared By:
Jose Gutierrez, Airport Business Technician
Samuel Evans, Airport Business Analyst
Attachments: A. RDO Equipment Proposal #2053116
B. Sourcewell – Contract # 011723-JDC
C. John Deere 644P Loader Spec Sheet
D. Municipal Code 2.28.120