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01-05-1999 - Replacement of Aerial Ladder Fire TruckCity of West Covina Memorandum TO: City Manager AGENDA City Council ITEM NO. G-2 FROM: Richard E. Greene, Fire Chief DATE January 5, 1999 SPRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER SUBJECT: REPLACEMENT OF AERIAL LADDER FIRE TRUCK Summary: The Fire Department's aerial ladder truck is in need of replacement. The Fire Department is recommending the City Council authorize the Department to issue an Intent to Purchase letter to Jay Bressler Fire and Rescue Apparatus for replacement of the City's aerial ladder truck. Delivery will not occur until next fiscal year. This action will reserve a,production spot and avoid anticipated cost increases. Construction time is eight (8) to twelve (12) months. The Department is also requesting that the Council waive regular bid requirements and find that the City of Los Angeles's bid satisfies that requirement. Background: West Covina Fire Department truck operations are a vital part of protecting the assets of our community. Providing specialized skills at the scene of emergencies such as vehicle extrication, forcible entry, and ventilation the "Truck" is an essential part of the Fire Department's emergency response. Truck operations are an integral part of providing life and property safety to the community. The unit is designed to operate huge streams of water from an elevated position in order to stop a conflagration such as could occur during Santa Ana wind conditions in many parts of West Covina. It also provides support operations for the City's five engine companies performing fire -fighting tasks such as forcible entry, ventilation, salvage and heavy-duty rescue operations. The City's current aerial ladder, truck is a 1986 Seagrave Aerial Ladder Truck. The vehicle designator number for the unit is F-4. It is the oldest first line unit in our department. Manned by a Captain, Engineer and Firefighter, T-72 responds into all fire districts throughout the City of West Covina. The unit is beyond the time normally: designated as first line equipment and should be placed in reserve. Additionally, in recent years there have been numerous failures of similar ladders throughout the U.S. with grave results. It has been determined that the ladder design is not adequate for fire fighting service. Other fire departments have,discontinued use of this particular aerial design: Department personnel have found it necessary to modified operations of the unit .to keep within a limited operating envelope. For the past year a specifications committee from the fire and maintenance departments has refined the features of the replacement vehicle to match the requirements of our department now and for the future. The proposed truck features a ladder design that is superior to our current Seagrave Aerial Truck in both capability and safety. The vehicle meets NFPA 1904, Standards for Aerial Ladders and Elevating Platforms, which is the national standard for these type vehicles. The -waterway is pre - plumbed, cabinets roll -up for safety, shelves move for easy access to heavy equipment and the vehicle can provided limited illumination at emergencies. The vehicle will have a 15 year life with 10 years of front line equipment and at least 5 years as a reserve unit. Discussion: In an ongoing process, the Fire Department evaluates the mechanical condition and response readiness of each piece of equipment. Our 1986 Seagrave Ladder,Truck (F-4) is at the end of its first -line life span. Dependability, usability, performance, age, wear, changes in technology, a lightweight ladder that has a reduced safety range and water flow limitations have all become concerns with this vehicle. The impact that F-4's mechanical and operational condition has on emergency scene operations is significant. The West Covina Fire Department currently does not have a reserve aerial truck. We run a two piece response consisting of a pickup trick and a reserve engine when the first line unit is out -of - service for maintenance, repairs or testing. Obviously -this does not provide an aerial ladder and greatly diminishes the ground ladder and specialized tool capabilities of T-72. Construction of a new aerial ladder truck will take eight (8) to twelve (12) months. Upon delivery, our current aerial truck will become a reserve unit. This will give the fire department the ability to maintain truck service while the first line unit is in for servicing. During the last Insurance Services Office (ISO) grading in 1992 the City was downgraded for not having reserve. truck capability. A reserve ladder truck would have placed the City in insurance class 2 rather than insurance class 3. The City of Los Angeles procured a 100 Foot LTI/Spartan Tractor Drawn Aerial Fire Apparatus under competitive procedures. The City of Los Angeles' procurement procedures have been investigated and are determined to be as stringent as those used by the City of West Covina. Fiscal Impact: In December of 1995, the City of Los Angeles awarded a multi -year bid to Jay Bressler Fire and Rescue Apparatus, for a unit that would meet the needs of the City of West Covina. The company, has notified us of an $18,000 to $28,000 increase in January 1999. They also indicate that if a Letter of Intent were issued, it would allow them to technically book the unit, and they would be able to hold the price and lock the unit into their production schedule for 1999 delivery. The total acquisition cost of the Ladder Towers, Inc. Tractor Drawn Aerial Fire Apparatus is $587,975.00. The Department recommends the lease/purchase method to purchase this vehicle. The lease/purchase of the 100 foot Ladder Towers, Inc. Tractor Drawn Aerial Fire Apparatus will not impact the 1998-99 Fiscal Year. The first lease/purchase payment will be due late in 1999 from the Fire Department's Capitalized Lease Payment Account. The first payment will be due at approximately the same time as delivery of the vehicle. The Finance Department has received quotes from four governmental leasing companies. The Finance Department assumes that after taxes, etc. the cost of the apparatus will be about $650,000. Repayment schedules under the most favorable rates and varying lengths are: +. ,U . %OX" ass ZNE 1 $ 09 i0 • $768,636.12 Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council: a. Find that the City of Los Angeles' bidding procedures are as stringent as those employed by the City of West Covina. b. Find that Jay Bressler Fire and Reserve Apparatus Bid Number M2280 to the City of Los Angeles meets or exceeds all bid requirements of the City of West Covina and waive the procurement procedures required under West Covina Municipal Code Section 2-330. X. Authorize staff to issue an Intent to Purchase letter for a 100 foot LTI/Spartan Tractor Drawn Aerial Fire Apparatus from Jay Bressler Fire & Rescue Apparatus at a cost not to exceed $650,000.00. i 1 Richard E. Greene Fire Chief RG:MT:ck l Margie Tuc1 r Finance Director