1988-06-27 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e OFFICE OF THE FIRE CHIEF CITY OF LA PORTF INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: R. ~. Herrera, City Manager DATE: 6-19-88 FROM: J. L. Sease, Fire Chief SUBJECT: REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR EMS AMBULANCES As discussed during recent meetings, t.he online reliability of our current ambulances has become suspect. Since the budget process when it appeared that replacement would not be needed this budget year, the situation has changed somewhat. We are now having too much down time on our ambulances, 50 much in fact that it is becoming a problem to have two MICU units in service as needed on a regular basis. I would like to institute a replacement program based on a life ex- pectancy of three years per unit. This would mean replacing a unit every year based on our present nl~ber of units. It is possible after using this program for several years and gaining historical data, that it may be possible to modify t.he program some\.<lhat to occasionally skip a year without replacing a unit. All new units will have diesel engines, which should improve the life of the unit. Also moving into our new station should prolong the bodies on the units due to protect.ion from the elements. In order to implement this program and bring our reliability up to needed standards, I feel that it is necessary to purchase an ambulance as soon as possible. We have contacted HGAC and we can purchase an ambulance through them that will meet our specifications for $52,~63.00 less $10,000.00 trade in. I request that the City Council be asked to approve this purchase as soon as possible. I have also proposed in the budget package for the coming year an increase in Vebicle Replacement funds for EMS 1::.0 allow this program t,o be initiated for the future.