Pitt Meadows approves nearly $2.5-million purchase of new aerial fire truck
Pitt Meadows is moving ahead with the purchase of a new aerial ladder truck, with council unanimously approving a recommendation to award a $2.49-million contract.
On July 21, council approved awarding the contract to Commercial Emergency Equipment for the purchase of a new Pierce Enforcer 107-foot Ascendant Ladder Quint at a cost of $2,493,800, with a 10 percent deposit.
The new truck will replace the city’s current Quint 1, a 2007 Spartan 75-foot aerial ladder truck that is approaching the end of its recommended service life.
According to a staff report, aerial ladder trucks play a critical role in firefighting by providing elevated water streams, supporting ventilation operations and giving firefighters access to upper floors during emergencies.
Fire Underwriters Survey guidelines recommend that medium-sized municipalities retire frontline fire apparatus after 20 to 25 years of service because of increasing maintenance costs and the risk of structural failures.
The replacement truck will feature a 107-foot aerial ladder, giving firefighters greater reach for responding to mid-rise and high-rise buildings while maintaining a single rear axle configuration suitable for Pitt Meadows’ rural roads and agricultural areas. The additional height and reach will improve access to multi-storey apartment buildings and expand firefighting capabilities.
The city received two bids through its procurement process. Commercial Emergency Equipment submitted the lower-priced proposal at just under $2.5 million, while a competing bid for an E-One 100-foot aerial apparatus came in at $2.79 million.
Staff also noted Commercial offered a slightly shorter estimated delivery window of between 1,155 and 1,250 days – nearly three-and-a-half years away – meaning the existing ladder truck will be about 22 to 23 years old by the time its replacement arrives.
Although Commercial offered the city a discount of $235,413 for paying the full purchase price upfront, staff recommended instead making only a 10 percent deposit.
The report concluded the prepayment discount would likely be offset by the investment income the city would forgo over the lengthy delivery period. Staff also warned that paying the full amount years before delivery would expose the city to greater financial risk if the project were delayed, specifications changed or the supplier encountered financial difficulties.
Under the approved payment structure, the city will pay the deposit immediately, with the remaining $2.24 million due upon delivery.
The purchase exceeds the approved budget by $73,800. Staff said the shortfall will first be reviewed during the city’s year-end financial process and, if necessary, temporarily covered through short-term borrowing from the sewer reserve because the vehicle replacement reserve may not have sufficient funds available this year.
