Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance Vehicles topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves budget allocation for leased city vehicles, orders review of leasing program
Summary
Council allocated funding to cover monthly lease payments for the city vehicle program and directed staff to pause new leases and pursue competitive procurement; members raised concerns about sole‑sourcing and high monthly costs.
The San Bernardino City Council on April 16 approved a budget action to formally allocate funds to cover the city’s leased vehicle program after councilmembers raised concerns about the cost and procurement process.
Councilmember Ibarra and Councilmember Ortiz had pulled the item for discussion. Staff said the city manages roughly 122 leased vehicles with monthly payments that total more than $96,000 and that a budget amendment was needed to align appropriations across fiscal years. The staff presentation explained the leases span multiple years and that some payments originated in prior fiscal periods; staff recommended suspending additional leased vehicle acquisitions while staff evaluates replacement and procurement strategies.
Councilmembers pressed staff on procurement and price. Councilmember Ibarra described individual monthly lease prices (noting a sample like a Chevrolet Tahoe at rates councilmembers said seemed high) and asked staff to pursue a full competitive RFP. Public works staff said the current action was to allocate funding to make required lease payments for the current and upcoming fiscal year and that a separate review of the long‑term leasing strategy—buy vs. lease and options for competitive procurement—would be brought back to council.
Council voted to approve the budget allocation and to direct staff not to proceed with additional leases until the review is complete. The motion passed unanimously.
