TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Mark Leyman, Parks and Recreation Director
Libby Bretthauer, Finance Director
Michelle Ami-Cortez, Recreation Supervisor
Mario Hernandez, Purchasing Supervisor
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Approval of a Purchase of a 21-Passenger ARBOC Spirit of Mobility Low-Floor Bus from Creative Bus Sales in the Amount of $230,503.64 for the Parks and Recreation Dial-a-Ride Program (Budgeted) (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman and Finance Director Bretthauer).
A) WAIVE FORMAL BIDDING DUE TO COOPERATIVE PURCHASING
B) AUTHORIZE PURCHASE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions:
a) Waive formal bidding per Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (MBMC) Section 2.36.150 (Cooperative Purchasing); and
b) Authorize the purchase of a 21-passenger ARBOC Spirit of Mobility low-floor Bus from Creative Bus Sales in the amount of $230,503.64.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Funds totaling $500,000 are available in the current Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Proposition A Fund budget for the purchase of this vehicle. This purchase authorization will not impact annual spending and will not require any changes in the budget authorization. The total cost of the vehicle is $230,503.64, leaving a remaining balance of $269,496.36 within the approved budget. The remaining funds may be used for related costs, including vehicle graphics, safety equipment, and on-board technology enhancements. Any unspent budgeted funds will be returned to the fund balance.
BACKGROUND:
The City’s Dial-A-Ride program provides vital transportation services to senior and disabled residents. The program’s current 2015 Glaval 20-passenger bus has exceeded its useful life and is due for replacement.
This purchase represents the third and final phase of the Dial-A-Ride vehicle replacement plan, which began in FY 2023-2024, when two of the program’s three aging buses were replaced.
To maintain safe, reliable, and accessible service, staff identified the ARBOC Spirit of Mobility low-floor bus as the most suitable replacement vehicle.
DISCUSSION:
Staff initially explored the feasibility of procuring an electric bus to align with the City’s sustainability and climate action goals. After evaluating several available electric models and consulting with other agencies that have purchased similar vehicles, staff determined that electric buses currently lack the driving range necessary to meet the City’s daily operational needs. In addition, the City’s existing infrastructure is not yet capable of supporting electric bus charging or maintenance without significant investment, which would negatively impact service reliability.
To ensure continued dependability of the Dial-A-Ride program, staff also evaluated multiple gas-powered transit buses with emphasis on safety, passenger comfort, accessibility, and the ability to operate efficiently within the City’s challenging terrain, including steep grades, narrow streets, and low-clearance areas. After test-driving and inspecting several options, staff selected the 21-passenger ARBOC Spirit of Mobility low-floor bus based on its strong performance, superior accessibility for senior passengers, and overall reliability. Other public agencies operating this model have provided positive feedback regarding its comfort, ease of maintenance, and long-term performance.
Whenever practical and in the City’s best interest, the City utilizes cooperative purchasing agreements (“piggybacking”) to obtain competitive pricing and ensure compliance with procurement regulations. Under MBMC Section 2.36.150 (Cooperative Purchasing), the City may purchase materials or equipment by leveraging another agency’s competitively bid contract. The California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CalACT) administers the CalACT/MBTA Vehicle and Materials Purchasing Cooperative, a federally and State-compliant procurement program that allows participating members to purchase pre-bid transit vehicles. Through this cooperative, the City has access to competitively priced transit buses that meet operational and regulatory requirements.
Based on this available piggyback opportunity, staff recommends the purchase of one 21-passenger ARBOC Spirit of Mobility low-floor bus from the approved vendor in the amount of $230,503.64. If approved, the vehicle is expected to arrive within eight to ten months.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
After analysis, staff determined that public outreach was not required for this issue.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
This purchase will be conducted through a standard City purchase order with the City’s customary terms and conditions applied. No further legal review is required.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Quote - Model 1 Creative Bus Sales CalACT/MBTA