To: Board of Supervisors
From: Aviation
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Purchase of One (1) New Caterpillar Model 259D3 Compact Construction Equipment
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the purchase of one (1) New Caterpillar Model 259D3 Compact Construction Equipment.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Aviation Enterprise Fund (3530381)
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Department of Aviation operates six County-Owned airports with a cumulative total of over 1100 acres. A significant portion of this terrain has brushy or wooded areas which require on-going maintenance. Historically, these county-owned airports have had insufficient maintenance equipment and insufficient staffing levels to adequately maintain airfield vegetation and infrastructure. Previously, the Aviation Department has relied upon Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP) Crews and CalFire Conservation camps to assist in vegetation abatement. However, these crews have recently had decreases in funding, longer lead-times in scheduling, and have been unable to provide any services at three of the Department’s six airports due to the closure of the CalFire High Rock Camp and travel distances involved with respect to the SWAP Program.
In the past year, your Board approved four new full-time Airport Services Worker positions. This expansion of the staffing capacity in airport operations alleviates the need to pay external crews for airfield maintenance activities. The Department of Aviation is now actively working to equip this newly staffed team with the proper equipment capable of adequately maintaining the airfields. This new equipment will drastically improve the efficiency of staff and reduce labor intensive tasks which are currently performed manually or contracted out.
The quoted Caterpillar 259D3 compact construction equipment will come equipped with a mulcher/masticator that will be able to take down small trees, blackberry vines, pampas grass, and all the vegetation that is currently growing and being eradicated by hand with small hand tools (weed eaters, chainsaws, saws). It will also have a bucket attachment to carry gravel and fill holes around the security fence line, repair depressions adjacent to airfield sign bases, and potholes along the permitter roads that currently cause damage to vehicles, and forks to assist in unloading ground service equipment, material pallets/containers and any other departmental deliveries from tractor trailers. With additional attachments, it can also be used for grinding stumps, chipping wood or milling small areas of pavement. This equipment comes with a 24-month, 2000-hour standard warranty and an extended powertrain, hydraulic, and tech (tier 4) extended warranty.
The Department of Aviation followed Purchasing Policy guidelines and received the attached quote received through Peterson Tractor Co., which includes federal competitively solicited cooperative pricing through Sourcewell, of which the County is a member.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The total cost for the purchase of one Caterpillar 259D3 compact construction equipment, and accompanying accessories is $130,107.31. This will be paid for using previously granted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) CARES Act Funding and has been included in the recommended budget for fiscal year 2022-23 in the Aviation budget, 3530-381. Therefore, there is no impact to the General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by providing for and maintaining infrastructure and, managing our resources to ensure sustainability of services.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to approve the purchase of one Caterpillar 259D3. However, this alternative is not recommended because it would hinder the ability for the Department of Aviation to efficiently conduct airport maintenance operations. Without the requested Caterpillar 259D3, staff would continue to engage in labor intensive tasks performed manually or contracted out, which take exponentially longer to complete.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Peterson CAT Quote 206560-02
2. Peterson CAT Supplemental Information for Quote
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A