1A - Replacement of Ladder Truck for the Lake Johanna Fire Dept.

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TO: CITY COUNCILS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM: TIM BOEHLKE, FIRE CHIEF TERRY SCHWERM, CITY MANAGER DATE: JUNE 2, 2008 SUBJECT: REPLACEMENT OF LADDER TRUCK INTRODUCTION The Lake Johanna Fire Department's adopted Capital Improvement Program anticipates the replacement of the 50-foot telesquirt ladder truck in 2010. The Department currently has an opportunity to acquire a demonstration ladder truck that would meet the Department's needs. The acquisition of this major piece of apparatus now could save the three cities a significant amount of money and the Department is seeking authorization to proceed with this planned purchase at this time. BACKGROUND The current 50-foot telesquirt ladder truck is one of the most versatile pieces of equipment that the Department uses in fighting fires. The primary reason this unit is used so heavily is that in addition to the 50-foot ladder, it also has elevated master stream capability (ability to pump heavy volumes of water at higher elevations). This is particularly useful in fighting residential fires. After the recent acquisition of the new Engine 3, a representative from General Safety indicated that they have a demonstration ladder truck available with an asking price of $565,000. The current cost in the Capital Improvement Program for replacing the telesquirt ladder truck is $675,000. According to representatives from General Safety, the cost of this equipment is expected to increase between $30,000-$40,000 in the next two years due to additional safety requirements from the National Fire Protection Association and new emission standards from the Environmental Protection Agency. Therefore, it is now anticipated that the cost of the ladder truck will be at least $725,000 by 2010. In reviewing the needs of the Department, the Chief and other department officers determined the new ladder truck needs to operate similar to a front line fire engine. Ideally, the Department would like a new truck to carry the same equipment as an engine, carry a significant amount of water, and have the elevated master stream capability. They would like the truck to have a box boom design, which allows for these capabilities. As a result of this design, the Department is able to access a residential roof or use the aerial master stream to efficiently deliver water to a fire.