ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
4.	CONSIDER expenditure of BUDGETED Funds TO PURCHASE A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV) FOR EMERGENCY ACCESS TO THE Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility
Meeting Date:			June 18, 2007	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			David A. Berger	Program/	Capital Asset Purchase
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Kevan Urquhart/	Cost Estimate:	$6,600
			Cory Hamilton
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on June 7, 2007 and recommended approval.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: Most of the primary access road from Carmel Valley Road south into the District’s Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility (Facility) is an unimproved dirt road subject to mud slides (Exhibit 4-A). While the initial 0.9 miles of San Clemente Drive in the Sleepy Hollow Subdivision is paved, the remaining 2.4 miles are unimproved dirt road or severely eroded asphalt. The 0.2 mile down hill section past California America Water’s “Clearwell Tank”, and the last 0.8 miles down hill section on the “High Road Access” are often subject to closure by mud slides. The most direct access to the Facility off the main dirt road is also across the “River Ford”, which is a concrete, low-water crossing that is submerged and impassible to vehicles for days at a time during high flows. The only secondary road into the Facility is the “Lower Road Access” to San Clemente Dam, which then connects to the “High Road Access” going north over a ridge from San Clemente Dam to reach the Facility from the south-east. This secondary access road is also subject to mud slides and becomes so slick during any rain that even four wheel drive trucks cannot safely make it in, until the road dries out. Despite these impaired access routes, District Fisheries staff are required to be able to respond to emergency conditions at the Facility, 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the rearing season. In past years, during some storm periods, District Fisheries staff have had to walk over an hour each direction in the rain at night to access the Facility. This small all-terrain vehicle (ATV) will provide rapid emergency access to the Facility in inclement weather, when normal road access is impossible.

For Fiscal Year 2006-2007, the Board budgeted $10,000 for a two person/flat bed ATV, (page 19 of the FY 2006-2007 budget, revised February 22, 2007). Staff are now requesting purchase of a smaller, less expensive vehicle because: (a) it will fit in the flat bed of a District pick up truck for transport to the site, instead of requiring a flat bed trailer tow, (b) it is less top heavy and less subject to roll-over than the two person vehicle, and (c) it is less expensive. The list price of Yamaha ATVs is less than either Honda, Kawasaki, or Suzuki.(Exhibit 4-B). In addition the Yamaha includes a patented braking clutch that slows the vehicle when rolling down hill, instead of freewheeling and having to rely solely on the hand brakes, which is an important safety feature.

RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the General Manager to expend budgeted funds to purchase a Yamaha 450 Grizzly ATV from Yamaha of Salinas for a not-to-exceed amount of $6,600, including tax, license, and registration (Exhibit 4-C).

IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES: $10,000 was included in the FY 2006-2007 District Budget for this item under the schedule for Capital Asset Purchases. Purchase of the recommended Yamaha 450 Grizzly ATV for a not-to-exceed amount of $6,600 will result in a cost savings of approximately $3,400.

EXHIBITS

4-A San Clemente Dam Local Vicinity Map.

4-B Summary of Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for the Yamaha Grizzly 450 ATV vs. similar models by other manufacturers.

4-C Two Bids from local Yamaha Dealers.

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