Support services details fleet backlog; staff says $8M critical need and police apparatus cited separately

Mario Guzman, director of support services, presented a fleet analysis that traced a trend of low replacement budgets and rising maintenance costs. Guzman said recommended replacements combined totaled roughly $12,000,000 but staff focused on an $8,000,000 list of critical replacements intended to sustain front-line services; he and Administrator Johnson noted police vehicle needs (presented previously by police staff) total about $2,200,000 but that police maintain their own fleet and that amount is not currently set aside in the proposed general fund.

Guzman provided examples of unit costs and timelines: a garbage truck about $350,000; a pumper truck about $800,000; rescue units about $370,000; smaller vehicles and trailers vary. He estimated procurement lead times: small vehicles 6 months, large apparatus and specialty units 1–1.5 years, and police vehicle orders about one year. Guzman also said sales of replaced assets will generate some residual revenue; he conservatively estimated 10% residual but expected more based on recent auctions.

Commissioners asked for the fleet’s total value and for clarity about how $8M fits into long‑term needs; Guzman said he will provide exact fleet-value figures later and explained the plan to phase replacements so assets do not all age out simultaneously. Assistant City Administrator Armando Vonna and Administrator Johnson attributed the backlog to years of underfunding following prior economic downturns and emphasized the importance of establishing prefunding mechanisms going forward.

No funding allocations were approved; staff said if ARPA does not cover police vehicle needs, police will likely request discretionary fund-balance funding in a later budget action.