Translate[Archived] Question #38: Can you detail changes to Fire Department’s Strategic Vehicle Replacement Plan that allowed for a reduction of $6.8 million versus last year’s CIP?
Question:
Can you detail changes to Fire Department’s Strategic Vehicle Replacement Plan that allowed for a reduction of $6.8 million versus last year’s CIP? Can you provide the detail of the new plan?
Response:
During the budget preparation for FY 2018, the Fire Department submitted a revised fleet plan for the next 20 years based on an updated understanding of fleet needs. The previous fleet plan was created in FY 2012 and anticipated the department’s needs at that time. After a few years of operation of new vehicles, staff was able to re-assess the lifespan of large (engines, trucks, medic units) and small (SUVs) vehicles and assumptions made in the 2012 fleet plan. As a result of this new fleet plan, Fire Department staff was able to reduce several significant large purchases planned in FY 2019 (from $2.9M to $1.6M), FY 2020 (from $3.4M to $2.6M), and FY 2021 (from $2.0M to $1.6M). These cost reductions were largely due to rescheduling/changing the plans to rechassis several medic units, a new ladder truck purchase, and the beginning of several rechassis of the engines purchased in 2012. Instead of rechassing several units each year for the next few years, the Department will instead focus on an individual replacement of vehicles each year.