2020-2022 Riverside Co, Indio, Coachella - MOU - Fire Ladder Truck1st July
Exhibit A
City of La Quinta
CITY COUNCIL MEETING: September 15, 2020
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA TITLE: APPROVE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN
THE CITIES OF LA QUINTA, INDIO, AND COACHELLA TO SHARE THE
ACQUISITION COST FOR A LADDER TRUCK AND ASSOCIATED
BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
RECOMMENDATION
Approve a Memorandum of Understanding between the Cities of La Quinta,
Indio, and Coachella to share the acquisition cost for a ladder truck, in an
amount not to exceed $350,000 for La Quinta’s portion; approve a budget
appropriation of $350,000 from Fire Service Reserves for fiscal year
2020/21; and authorize the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of
Understanding.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
•In 2006, the original ladder truck was purchased using tribal gaming
grant funds to expand fire response capabilities in the region.
•The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will split the
acquisition cost among the three cities as follows; La Quinta 25%, Indio
50%, and Coachella 25%.
•The County of Riverside (County) is not participating in the acquisition
cost for the ladder truck.
•The Cities of La Quinta, Indio, Coachella (Cities), as well as the County
will share the maintenance and staffing costs.
•The new ladder truck will replace the existing 13-year-old ladder truck
that has exceeded its useful life.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this MOU will allow for the ladder truck to be ordered and payment
would coincide with delivery, which would be February of 2022. The total truck
cost is expected to be $1,400,000; City’s expected share is $350,000. If
approved, a budget adjustment from Fire Service Reserves, (Account No. 101-
0000-12610) would increase the Machinery & Equipment budget (Account No.
101-2002-80101) for FY 2020/21.
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In addition, the Cities and County will continue to share the cost of the
maintenance and staffing of the ladder truck company. The estimated cost for
La Quinta in FY 2020/21 is $250,000 and budgeted in Account No. 101-2002-
60140 (MOU – Ladder Truck). The expectation is that the maintenance costs
will decrease once the new truck is in operation.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
City staff has engaged in extensive discussions with County Fire regarding the
participation of all benefactors in sharing the acquisition cost for a ladder
truck. The County has chosen not to contribute even though the ladder
truck had 199 emergency calls for service to the County area in 2019
compared to 94 within La Quinta over the same time period. The County’s
policy position is that they will provide support for staffing and maintenance
and only contribute to a purchase when the County owns the equipment.
County Fire uses this model throughout the County and is directly tied to
County Fire’s budget limitations. Under this agreement, the City of Indio
would own the ladder truck and properly maintain and insure the vehicle.
On January 22, 2020, the City retained Matrix Consulting to conduct a
comprehensive review of fire services. As the ladder truck has exceeded its
anticipated useful life, staff had the analysis of the Ladder Truck prioritized in
order for Matrix to review its cost and provide a recommendation.
Based on the Ladder Truck Analysis provided by the Fire Matrix Study
(Attachment 2), the City should continue to be a partner in the current
Cooperative Agreement for the ladder truck. Per the study, the ladder truck
provides the following benefits to the City:
•Ability to rescue persons at heights above those reachable by ground
ladders
•Providing elevated water streams
•Horizontal reach to buildings with limited roadway access or terrain
issues and roof access when there are limited personnel available to
hoist ground ladders
•Equipment for assisting with special rescue operations, salvage and
overhaul in structure fires
•Tools for forcible entry, ventilation and search and rescue tasks
The initial one-time equipment purchase cost for La Quinta's portion of
$350,000 is not currently budgeted, therefore a budget appropriation from
Fire Service Reserves is recommended. This reserve account has a current
balance of $10,303,000. If approved the remaining balance would be
$9,953,000.
Overall, the regional approach to providing a ladder truck company service to
La Quinta is a benefit to the community and provides a method to ensure truck
coverage when it is needed to serve the City.
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ALTERNATIVES
Council may elect not to approve this MOU.
Prepared by: Zander Johnston, Sr. Emergency Management Coordinator
Approved by: Chris Escobedo, Community Resources Director
Attachments: 1. Memorandum of Understanding between Cities of La
Quinta, Indio and Coachella for Fire Ladder Truck
Acquisition Agreement
2.Matrix Fire Study – Ladder Truck Analysis
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