Council approves fleet replacement strategy, authorizes vehicle and equipment purchases and lease

The Walla Walla City Council on Dec. 18 authorized purchases, a lease and surplusing of fleet equipment designed to optimize total cost of ownership and regulatory compliance.

Mister Bealey presented the city's equipment-replacement framework and explained how rotation schedules, depreciation, and rising repair costs guide purchase timing. He said the current sewer Vactor has been out of service for long stretches and that "three-year repair costs exceed $80,000," which supported staff's recommendation to lease a replacement unit to improve reliability.

Staff requested authorization to buy a bucket truck for traffic maintenance, a Toolcat multitask utility machine, a 3/4-ton pickup for the watershed attendant, an electric pickup to replace an unserviceable unit, and to lease a Vactor sewer-cleaning truck. Bealey and fleet staff described a "ripple" plan: frontline units move to backup roles and older items are handed down to parks and other divisions.

Council members asked about maintenance responsibilities for leased equipment; Matt (fleet supervisor) said the vendor provided a $40,000 trade-in and would handle major repairs on the leased unit while routine maintenance remains in-house. Council discussed towing capacity, 4-wheel drive needs for remote watershed service, and electric-vehicle incentives for fleets beginning in 2025.

Council moved and unanimously approved Resolution 2024-110 authorizing acquisition of vehicles and equipment and declaring surplus property. Staff said purchases were already included in the 2023–24 budget and that future purchases above $50,000 will return to council for contract award.

What happens next: Staff will finalize purchase and lease contracts, implement the rotation plan, and bring any purchases over $50,000 back to council for award.