HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 03.A-Memo 01/27/2003N 7 0 4
i 1
CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA
• MEMORANDUM
Finance Department 11 English Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
.707 - 778 -4352 Fax 707 -778- 4428 E -mail. nance ,ci.petaluma.ca.us
DATE:
January 23, 2003
TO:
Councilmember Mike .O'Brien
CC:
Mayor and City Council
Mike Bierman, City Manage;e
FROM:
William J. Thomas, Finance
SUBJECT:
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ING PU RCHASE OF PARKING
ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES
On the January 27` Council Agenda, authority to purchase two new vehicles for the Parking
Enforcement effort is presented, Councilmember O'Brien questioned the cost of the vehicles as
• well as whether there are any other alternatives available at a lower cost.
To expedite this matter, I used .a recent bid award from the City of Burlingame. That bid
awarded the contract to Municipal, Maintenance Equipment Company (MME Co.) of
Sacramento. The vehicle (GO -4 Parking Enforcement Vehicle) was identified by the City's
Parking Enforcement Officers (PEO's) as the desired equipment based on their research into the
vehicles available. Additionally, MME agreed to supply the City with the vehicles at the price
that they sold them to the City of Burlingame. Considering*all of these factors and the fact that
the current equipment is continually breaking down which causes a slowdown in production, it
was decided to use the Burlingame bid and seek approval for the purchase of the vehicles.
At Councilmember O'Brien's request, we did contact two of the three users of this product who
recently purchased them from MME. The overall opinion was that GO -4's were superior
products to the other available product — Cushman. They have had long -term experience with
this equipment and have found it to be very reliable and easier to maintain than the Cushman
vehicle. The City of -Bakersfield had researched the "GEM" that is produced by Chrysler but
found that, it had limited range (a problem with the current vehicles) and did not provide
sufficient safety, for their employees.
We also contacted ,three cities — San Rafael, Santa Rosa and Sausalito to get information as to
What they use for parking enforcement.
• Santa Rosa uses two vehicles Nissan Hyper -Mini and the GO -4. They have experienced .
significant problems with the ergonomics of the Hyper -Mini and have had to modify the door on
the vehicle to allow the PEO to chalk vehicles,. They have used the GO -4's for 10 years and are -
very satisfied with them. They did indicate that they had used the electric Cushman vehicle
(what we are currently using) and were not satisfied with them. 0
Sausalito has used the GO -4's for over 5 years and are very satisfied with them.- They'feel that
the main advantage that the vehicle has over vehicles is that it is ergonomically correct. This is
an iss ietin Petaluma due to previous injuries to our emplbyees. They also utilize the Hyper -Mini
and have also experienced problems with the doors.
San Rafael uses the GO -4's for over six years and is very satisfied with them., They used' to have
gas powered Cushman vehicles and experienced maintenance issues with them — similar to what
Petaluma is experiencing with the electrics.
We had further discussions with MME and based, on their recommendations have eliminated the
air conditioning from the vehicle's specifications. This will reduce the price of the vehicle to.
S21,587plus $1619 for sales tax �for`a total of $23,206 per vehicle: MME.has also offered.to
take the existing Cushman vehicles in trade, which will reduce the individual vehicle cost by
$500.
Overall, I am confident that our recommendation to purchase GO -4 vehicle.is the best'choice
forthe "City: Itwill provide the equipment for the PEO's to do their job and expand their ability
to enforce parking restrictions throughout the City.
Ifyou.have any questions' please contact me. •
•