ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
8.	AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURE OF BUDGETED FUNDS FOR PURCHASE OF VEHICLE FOR WATER RESOURCES DIVISION
Meeting Date:			October 18, 2004	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			David A. Berger,	Program/
			General Manager	Line Item No.: Fixed Assets
Prepared By:			Rick Dickhaut	Cost Estimate:	$31,983
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on October 6, 2004, and recommended approval.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: In response to a Call for Bids, the District has received three bids for a ¾-ton, four-wheel drive, diesel pickup. The bids are summarized in the following table:

Budgeted Amount	Salinas Valley Truck Center (2005 Ford F-250)	Cypress Coast Ford (2005 Ford F-250)	Love Motors (2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500)
$32,000.00	$31,982.66	$32,229.00	$34,777.62

As the table indicates, Salinas Valley Truck Center was the low bidder. District staff has reviewed the low bid and determined that it meets all specifications contained in the Call for Bids. The new vehicle also has many added safety features that have been developed in the last ten years. The low bid is slightly less the budgeted amount of $32,000, and a minimal additional expenditure will be required to transfer the two-way radio from the replaced vehicle.

RECOMMENDATION: District staff recommends that the Board authorize expenditure of budgeted funds to purchase one ¾-ton, four-wheel drive, diesel pickup from Salinas Valley Truck Center at a total cost of approximately $31,983. The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on October 6, 2004 and voted 2 to 0 to recommend approval.

BACKGROUND: The Fiscal Year 2004-2005 budget includes $32,000 for the purchase of a ¾-ton, four-wheel drive, diesel pickup truck for the Water Resources Division. This vehicle will replace a 10-year old, 1994 Ford F250 pickup truck (Unit 8) with approximately 86,000 miles. This vehicle is used as a daily driver, primarily by District fisheries personnel and as the primary backup vehicle for the 1-ton, fish rescue transport truck (Unit 11). In this capacity, it is outfitted to tow the District’s fish transport trailer, which is used either as backup for Unit 11 or as the primary vehicle for hauling adult steelhead. It is important that this vehicle be in good to excellent condition, as it must be relied on to transport fish at a moments notice. The existing Unit 8 has seen ten years of moderate to heavy use, not only as a towing vehicle, but also as a daily work truck requiring extensive rough road use. The vehicle has been scheduled for replacement in the last two fiscal year’s budget and a Call for Bids was recently issued for a replacement vehicle. The Call for Bids was mailed to ten dealerships in the area and a bid notice was also published twice in the Monterey County Herald.

In addition to the fact that it was already schedule for replacement, during a recent routine service it was discovered that the vehicle requires various repairs at an estimated cost of $3,400. Since the vehicle is no longer reliable and the Kelley Blue Book trade-in value is only about $3,100 even after the repairs are made, it is not cost effective, nor would it be a good business decision, to repair it rather than replace it.

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