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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION Agenda Section: 19 rgilitgj STAFF REPORT Report Number: 94-1366WS Mf J'' November 7, 1994 Report Date: 10-26-94 AGENDA SESSION DATE DISPOSITION Item Description: 1994 Salt purchase Administrator's Review/Recommendation: - No comments to supplement this report - Comments attached. Explanation/Summary (attach supplement sheets as necessary.) SUMMARY; Since the City initiated it' s own snow and ice control service, the purchase of deicing chemicals has been a necessity. In past years the City has not been able to purchase it' s total allotment at one time. The purchase of these materials has occurred late in the current years budget, and early in the following year. Problems are created when shipments of materials are reduced because funding for the entire season is not received until after January of the next year. In the last three years when the City has ordered material after the new year we have received salt that has large chunks mixed in with the granular salt . These chunks are formed when salt is exposed to moisture . This poses problems when spreading. These chunks are not always visible to the operators when loading their trucks, and plug the sander during sanding operations . Valuable time is often lost when operators must return to the shop, dump the load, clean out the sander and reload. The winter of 1993 -1994 the contracted salt company could not furnish the City with its requested bid amount . Many other cities found themselves in the same predicament . Salt became very scarce in the late months of the season. Staff was able to purchase the needed materials from another vendor, although the purchase price was approximately $10 per ton more than the City' s initial contract. Staff is requesting to purchase the City' s entire required amount for the upcoming snow season in 1994 . This purchase will exceed the minimal amount remaining in this years budget. Approximately $15, 000 is required for this season' s purchase of materials. If this winter seasons materials are purchased in their entirety this year, the 1995 budget will be utilized for the 1995 - 1996 season. Barring an extremely harsh winter in the future, this would be a one time adjustment, (catch up) in the Snow and Ice Control Program. Staff is requesting Council approval to utilize $15, 000 from the Franchise Fees to support this purchase. Should Council approve this expenditure in this manner, the balance remaining in the Franchise Fee account 1 be $36, 454 . Michael Ulrich Director of Public Works RZECOMMENDATION: Council authorize the purchase of deicing chemicals for the 1994 - 1995 snow season, utilizing $15, 000 from the Franchise Fee acc' t, and a transfer of said amount to acc' t 100-4270-127 .