Finance committee backs recommendation to buy and finance new Salinas fire apparatus

The Salinas Finance Committee on Dec. 2 recommended that the City Council approve purchasing and lease-financing for new fire apparatus to maintain a modern, reliable emergency fleet.

Estefania, a management analyst for Salinas Fire, told the committee the department is asking to replace two Type 1 engines and one ladder (tiller) truck and to add two Type 6 wildland vehicles. She said lead times remain long: the estimated delivery time for engines is about 48 months and the tiller truck roughly 46 months. "This request that you have in front of you is asking to replace 2 fire engines and 1 ladder truck," Estefania said, later summarizing the plan to add Type 6 vehicles better suited to smaller, hard-to-reach wildland incidents.

Staff presented preliminary costs, with each of the two Type 1 engines and the ladder truck described as "over $2,000,000" each and a Type 6 vehicle at about $434,000, bringing the total purchase price to approximately $4,800,000 with a prepayment discount. Estefania said paying at order or financing now could save "over $1,000,000" compared with later prices. The staff recommendation asked the committee to authorize direct purchase and lease financing from the vendor identified as Golden State, to add a 5% contingency (stated as $242,000), and to grant the city manager authority to execute purchase and financing agreements. The vendor price quote was said to be valid through Jan. 9.

Committee member Margaret moved to recommend approval of "ID 25-557, Fire apparatus purchase and leasing financing," the motion was seconded and verbal assent was recorded from Council member D'Arrigo and Mayor Donahue; the chair indicated the motion would move forward to the City Council.

The committee discussion emphasized the long lead times and the desire to secure current pricing. Estefania said the department uses NFPA guidance and station-specific call volumes to determine replacement timing and rotation. The committee did not request substantive changes to the financing request but urged staff to pursue the most economical financing option.

Next steps: the committee's recommendation will be transmitted to the City Council for formal consideration at the council's Dec. 9 meeting, per the presentation. The staff sought authorization for the city manager to finalize financing and purchase documents prior to that council action if needed to secure pricing and delivery timelines.