Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with National Auto Fleet Group to Upfit an Animal Control Services Van for a Total Amount Not-to-Exceed $112,200. (Public Works 601)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Alameda (City) Police Department oversees animal control services. The single gas-powered truck that supports this program was replaced due to age, mileage, and condition with an electric van that has been delivered to the City. The van now requires specialized equipment to be installed for animal control services. Staff recommends approval of the proposed service provider agreement with National Auto Fleet Group in an amount not-to-exceed $112,200 through a cooperative purchasing agreement.
BACKGROUND
On November 5, 2019, City Council approved a revised Administrative Policy and Procedure Number 48, Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Policy. The Fleet Replacement Policy is consistent with the City’s recently adopted Climate Action and Resiliency Plan and emphasizes greenhouse gas emission reductions. The revised policy focuses on right-sizing the City fleet, the purchase of electric vehicles when feasible, and lowering the fleet’s emissions through acquisition of low emission vehicles.
In accordance with City Administrative Instruction Number 5 (Purchasing Policy), the purchase of vehicles must be done through a competitive solicitation with a formal bid for transactions estimated to exceed $25,000. Also, in accordance with the Purchasing Policy, vehicles may be purchased through cooperative purchasing. Lastly, the Purchasing Policy states that the City Council must approve an award of vehicle purchases to a single vendor in excess of a cumulative total of $75,000 in any given fiscal year.
The City’s Police Department oversees animal control services. Animal Control officers were dispatched to over 2,000 animal-related calls between May 1, 2024 - May 2, 2025. Animal Control Services officers provide critical support to City agencies and the public, by providing education, care, and enforcement for both domestic and wild animals in Alameda. The existing vehicle platform used by animal control services staff is a flatbed pickup truck with animal crates mounted on top of the bed. The current procedure to load aggressive animals involves using a 6-foot catch pole with a noose. The animal is then lifted off the ground nearly four feet into the air to be placed into a kennel. To offload the animal, they must jump down out of the kennel while tethered to the catch pole. The current procedure puts both animals and employees at risk of injury.
DISCUSSION
One Ford Transit electric van was purchased to replace the gas-powered flatbed truck. It is a low-entry van to allow for animals of any size to be loaded safely and humanely. The van requires upfitting and specialized equipment including, but not limited to, insulation to keep extreme temperatures under control, four live animal kennel removable bases for easy cleaning, a dead box with a slideout tray for ease of loading / unloading dead animals, tool storage, and a fixed step at rear of van to facilitate loading / unloading of larger animals. A complete scope of work is included as Exhibit A in the proposed agreement.
Staff recommends approval of the proposed service provider agreement with National Auto Fleet Group in an amount not-to-exceed $112,200. Pricing is based on National Auto Fleet Group’s Sourcewell Contract #091521-NAF. The City is an active member of Sourcewell, a national purchasing agency, whose cooperative purchasing agreements have been competitively solicited in conformance with state and local purchasing requirements.
ALTERNATIVES
• Authorize Service Provider Agreement to upfit an electric animal control services van with aftermarket equipment not to exceed $112,200 from National Auto Fleet Group.
• Do not authorize upfitting the new electric animal control services van in the proposed scope of work and provide staff with an alternative direction.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funds to upfit the replacement electric animal control services van were previously appropriated in the Fleet Replacement Fund (601). No additional budget appropriations are needed.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code. This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not constitute a “project” as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 and therefore no further CEQA analysis is required.
CLIMATE IMPACT
The replacement animal control services van is an electric vehicle and therefore reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fuel use. This purchase confirms the City’s commitment to greening the City fleet as vehicles are replaced.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with National Auto Fleet to upfit an animal control services van for a total amount not-to-exceed $112,200.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
By,
Carlo Balboni, Fleet Supervisor
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Agreement