HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7783 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL. MEMBERS No. 7783
,fTr„EQ December 21, 1993
caer,�� To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Subject: FIRE DEPARTNENT VESICLE PURCHASES
1813
Council has approved the expenditure of $1.3 million from the
Capital Projects Reserve Fund for vehicle replacements.
Approximately $900,000 of these funds has been earmarked for
replacing Fire Department vehicles and apparatus.
. The Fire Department identified numerous vehicle replacement needs
in a vehicle replacement plan, developed jointly with Equipment
Services Division, at the beginning of the 1993-94 budget process.
The most pressing needs were identified in quints, engines,
Suburbans, and airport firefighting apparatus.
During the budget study sessions for the 1993-94 budget, it was
reported to Council that the Fire Department portion of the vehicle
replacement funds would be used to purchase two quints. Quints are
very large, custom-built fire apparatus that have aerial ladder
capabilities as well as water pumping capabilities. The cost of
each quint was estimated at $450,000 each.
Subsequent inquiries with vendors revealed that engines (also known
as pumpers) could be purchased at an estimated cost of $190,000
each. The comparatively low cost of the engines is due to their
being non-customized apparatus. The condition of the department's
engines, which are the most numerous of its apparatus, has
continued to decline as they have aged and not been replaced (some
of the City's engines are now 15 years old) . Correspondingly,
maintenance costs for engines have continued to mount. The Fire
Department changed its request from the purchase of two quints to
the purchase of four engines at an estimated cost of $760,000 as a
way to maximize its impact on maintenance costs. The remainder of
the funds ($120,000) will be used to purchase five Suburbans, a
class of vehicles that has also been plagued with high maintenance
costs.
The Fire Department will be able to cope with not replacing the
existing complement of quints for at least another year. In view
of the limited funds currently available for vehicle replacements
and the overall deterioration of the Fire Department's apparatus,
replacing more apparatus will have a more significant impact on
department response time and maintenance costs than replacing fewer
apparatus.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS---
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7783
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Page 2 of 2
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 21, 1993
EW JSubject: PIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE PURCHASES
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Should the City Council desire additional information on this
subject, it will be provided upon request.
aiLi3q-god- s�
BOB TERRELL
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS