The Salinas Finance Committee voted unanimously on Dec. 2 to recommend that City Council approve the purchase and lease-financing of new fire apparatus, including two Type 1 engines, a ladder (tiller) truck and two Type 6 wildland engines.

Estefania, a management analyst for Salinas Fire, told the committee the purchase supports the department's replacement schedule and NFPA best practices and would maintain frontline reliability. "This request that you have in front of you is asking to replace 2 fire engines and 1 ladder truck," she said, and added the department also plans to add two Type 6 engines to replace a Type 3 in certain wildland-response roles.

Staff provided cost estimates and a financing rationale. Estefania said the two Type 1 engines and the ladder truck each carry price tags ‘‘over $2,000,000,'' and a Type 6 was estimated at about $434,000, bringing a prepayment-discounted total to roughly $4,800,000. She said prepaying at order time (cash or financed at order) would save more than $1,000,000 and that the city's finance director is evaluating the most cost-efficient financing option.

The presentation emphasized long manufacturer lead times: about 48 months for Type 1 engines, around 46 months for the ladder/tiller truck and roughly three years for Type 6 engines, and staff told the committee the quoted prices and discount are valid through Jan. 9.

Staff recommended authorizing the direct purchase and lease financing through a vendor identified in the presentation as "Golden State," adding a 5% contingency (approximately $242,000), and granting the city manager authority to execute purchase and financing agreements. Committee members signaled support during discussion; Council member Margaret said she supported moving ahead "to get ahead of it and and save the costs" of future price increases.

Margaret moved to support item ID25-557 and the committee chair seconded. The committee then voted aloud; Council member D'Arrigo and Mayor Donahue recorded "yes" votes and the chair announced the motion passed.

Next steps: the item will be taken to Salinas City Council on Dec. 9 for final action, with staff continuing to evaluate financing options and the city manager authorized to execute agreements if council approves.