Council
Communication

Office of the City Manager

 
 

Date

March 10, 2008

 

Agenda Item No.      50

Roll Call No.             08-

Communication No. 08-138

Submitted by: Merrill Stanley, Deputy City Manager

 

 

 

AGENDA HEADING:

 

Approving purchase of three (3) replacement automated side-loading refuse collection trucks in the amount of $599,577 for use in the Public Works Department, Solid Waste Division.

 

 

SYNOPSIS:

 

Recommend approval to proceed with the purchase of three (3) automated side-loading refuse collection trucks for use in the Public Works Department, Solid Waste Division, to replace three (3) trucks damaged beyond repair by a fire at the Solid Waste equipment storage facility on March 4, 2008. Peterbilt of Des Moines (Brad Wilson, President), 3445 Adventureland Dr. West, Des Moines IA 50009, has agreed to provide three (3) trucks from the previous low bid awarded March 12, 2007; Bid No. V07-078.

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

Amount:  $599,577

 

Funding Source:  2007-2008 Operating Budget, Fund EN151, Org PWK100101, Solid Waste Enterprise Fund, page 304.  Insurance coverage will fund claims in excess of $100,000 deductible for this occurrence.  Total losses from the fire are expected to be approximately $1,000,000.  One deductible of $100,000 will apply to the entire claim.  

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

 

Each day, the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Departments utilizes 15 automated trucks out of a total fleet of 18 automated trucks in the collection of automated residential refuse.  On March 4, 2008, a fire at the Solid Waste equipment storage facility damaged three (3) frontline automated refuse collection trucks beyond repair.  An additional 12 automated units parked in the Solid Waste facility sustained smoke and heat damage to wiring and lighting systems. The remaining three (3) trucks in the fleet were out of service for repair and not at the Solid Waste facility, thus, they were not affected by the fire. Fleet Services made temporary repairs to the 12 less-damaged trucks and returned them to service by 1:15 pm on the day of the fire. Permanent repairs to the damaged trucks continued on a 24 hour basis through March 8, 2008, in order to maintain the minimum in-service availability of 15 trucks per day. 

 

These units are used daily in the collection of residential refuse from 65,000 residential customers. Data from across the country suggests that on average, 22% of a fleet of automated side loading residential refuse collection trucks is not in service at any given time due to repair and scheduled maintenance. In order for Fleet Services to maintain 15 trucks in service daily, the fleet must consist of 18 automated units.  Availability of less than 15 units per day results in overtime hours for solid waste collection, a delay in collection of residential refuse, and extended hours of operation for Fleet Services to maintain the front line units.

 

The local Peterbilt Truck dealer can supply the replacement trucks as specified from a previous low bid award in approximately six (6) to eight (8) weeks.  In separate action, a short term rental agreement for three (3) trucks has been made to supplement the remaining 15 front line units and maintain service delivery to residential solid waste customers. Rental charges for these three (3) trucks are $20,800 per month.  A delay in purchasing permanent replacements will increase total rental charges.

 

The trucks being purchased have diesel engines that have the minimum horsepower and torque necessary to operate the hydraulic packer body.  They also meet the new 2007 clean air emissions standards of 50 percent reduction in Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and a 90 percent reduction in Particulate Matter (PM) or soot compared to the units that are being replaced.  These trucks will utilize up to 20% Biodiesel fuel to further reduce emissions that impact the environment.

 

While the performance of hydraulic packer equipment is reliant on horsepower and torque to safely and efficiently collect residential refuse, future fuel efficiency enhancements may be achieved with a hybrid electric truck chassis available in model year 2010 in this class and use of truck.  No prototypes or production models are available at this time.

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S): 

 

Date:  March 12, 2007

 

Roll Call Number:  07-468                  

 

Action:   Peterbilt of Des Moines for four (4) replacement automated side loading refuse trucks to be used by the Public Works Department, $691,936 (cost after $107,500 trade-in allowance). (Eleven bids mailed, six received).  (Council Communication No. 07-144)  Moved by Mahaffey to adopt.  Motion Carried 6-1.

 

 

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): NONE

 

 

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS:  NONE

 

 

 

 

For more information on this and other agenda items, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 515-283-4209 or visit the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive.  Council agendas are available to the public at the City Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon preceding Monday’s Council meeting. Citizens can also request to receive meeting notices and agendas by email by calling the Clerk’s Office or sending their request via email to cityclerk@dmgov.org.