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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/07/1992, C-4 - CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING SPECIFICATIONS (NO. F92-1) FOR ONE 1500 GPM, FOUR DOOR, CUSTOM CAB-FORWARD COMBINATION FIRE ENGINE/LADDER TRUCK, AND AUTHORIZING SOLICITATION OF BIDS AND AWARDING OF CONTRACT TO PURCHASE, BY THE CITY ADMINISTRA �IIINI�IIQ��������ul�all�l l City Of San LUIS OBI SPO Meeting Date: 4/7/92 Ma; COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT FROM: Robert F. Neumann, Fire Chief,(o PREPARED BY: William R. Dugger, Fire Mechanic Gary O. Hagerty, Fire Captain SUBJECT: Consideration of approving specifications (No. F92-1) for one 1500 GPM, four door, custom cab-forward combination fire Engine/Ladder Truck, and authorizing solicitation of bids and awarding of contract to purchase, by the City Administrative Officer, if bid is less than $410,000. CAO RECOMMENDATION: By motion, approve specifications (F92-1) for a 1500 GPM, four-door, custom cab-forward Combination Fire Engine/Ladder Truck, and authorize solicitation of bids and awarding of contract by the City Administrative Officer, if final bid is less than $410, 000. DISCUSSION: San Luis Obispo City Fire Department purchased its first Fire Ladder Truck in 1956. This first unit, a Seagrave 85-foot Aerial Ladder Truck, remained in first-line service until 1978. The delivery of the current Ladder Truck, a Mack Aerialscope in 1978, put the Seagrave into "reserve" status until it failed safety inspections in 1988 . The Mack Aerialscope is a 751 , raised platform, which has not fully satisfied all the requirements of this Department over its period of service. The two-axle configuration severely limits the weight and diversity of equipment that can be safely transported. A traffic accident in which the Aerialscope was unable to stop in what should have been a reasonable distance brought about an investigation by the CHP. The investigation and subsequent legal actions citation resulted in the removal of a significant amount of tools and equipment from this unit. The City currently faces significant liability exposure in its continued use of the Aerialscope as a first-out unit. During the 1990-1991 budget hearings, City Council authorized the purchase of a replacement Fire Ladder Truck in 1991, using equipment replacement funds previously set aside for this purpose. Historically, the options in fire apparatus available to Fire Departments were limited to a choice between Fire Engines, or Fire Ladder Trucks. These two fundamental types of apparatus dictated a staffing configuration of Engine Companies, and Ladder Truck Companies, each charged with a specific set of goals and responsibilities. "Ladder Truck Functions" traditionally included forcible entry, ventilation and rescue. "Engine Functions" include laying hose, water supply and pumping capabilities. ������ ►�IIUIi�Ip� q�Ulll city of San LUIS OBISpo = COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Page 2 Recent advances in fire apparatus technology provide significant new options in adapting to various communities' unique needs. One of these options is the development of "Quints" (short for the five functions served by a combination fire engine/ladder truck) . Whether a Quint is seen as an Engine with ladders, or a Ladder Truck with a pump, the result of their development is flexibility in apparatus configuration. This combination of ladder and engine functions enables the Fire Department to purchase one piece of apparatus to replace the Mack Aerialscope while gaining the capabilities of a fire engine. The Mack Aerialscope will be placed into reserve status and at some point in the future the department will be able to reduce its fire- engine fleet size by one unit. Fire Department staff is comfortable with this reduction based on the City's strong commitment to early warning fire detection systems and its recently enacted sprinkler ordinance. Currently, the City has one responding Ladder Truck, and no reserve unit. Within the surrounding Mutual Aid area of the City, there is limited access to a ladder truck. Arroyo Grande has a Quint in service. This resource is available through Mutual Aid within approximately twenty, to thirty minutes. The time factor is influenced significantly by the time of day, in that Arroyo Grande is a Volunteer Fire Department. Cal Poly Fire Department has a 'Telesquirt' unit, quickly available through Automatic Aid agreements, but which offers very limited Ladder Truck Function capability. FISCAL IMPACT: Authorization to acquire a replacement fire truck was provided in the 1989-91 Financial plan (pg. G10) and was included as a major objective for the Emergency Response Program (pg. D11) . Funding for the new truck (estimated to .cost $410,000) is included in the equipment replacement fund. Long-term fiscal savings will be significant as the department will be able to reduce its fire engine fleet by one unit. Efforts to identify opportunities for cooperative purchase with other agencies will be pursued throughout the bidding and contract negotiation process. CONCURRENCES: The Finance Director concurs that equipment replacement funds ($410, 000) are budgeted for the purchase of a new fire ladder truck. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Delay purchase of a new Quint. 2 . Purchase a traditional Ladder Truck. �����►��i�uIIIIIIIIiP ��lll city of San tins OBISPO COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Page 3 PRO/CON OF ALTERNATIVES: Delaying the purchase of the Quint will postpone the outlay of funds for a corresponding period of time. However, this will likely result in additional repair and maintenance costs related to maintaining the Aerialscope in first-out service. The Mack requires almost constant maintenance on its over-burdened braking system, and parts availability has recently become problematic. A greater consideration is the liability exposure of the City in continuing to respond a vehicle we know to have been determined to be less than completely safe. Choosing to purchase a traditional Ladder Truck will offer little or no actual cost savings; a Ladder Truck costs almost as much. The flexibility offered by a Quint will be lost, and projected savings in equipment costs will not be realized. ATTACMU!NTS: Specification No. F-92-1 Packet is available in the Council Office for review.