Agenda Packets - 2004/06/07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 03E Meeting Date: 06/07/04 Type of Business: WS City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Kurt Ulrich, City Administrator Item Title/Subject: Report on Passenger Bus Background: The City is currently in possession of a 16-person passenger bus with a wheelchair lift to make it compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The bus was purchased by the Lions Club and donated to the city in May of 1991. The intent for the bus was it was to be a amenity used by groups such as Church groups, Various Clubs, Lions Scouts, Senior Field Trips, Volunteer Food delivery during the Holidays, Outings for our Park Programs and some City business. This Item was reviewed at the May Work Session by the City Council. It was the consensus to have staff check with Spring Lake Park to see if there was an interest in sharing the service and it was indicated that the Lions would discuss the bus at their next meeting. Discussion: The current insurance rate on this bus is $2,700 per year. This amount is due July 1st. In addition to insurance, there are other cost such as upkeep, licensing, storage, maintenance, and fuel that all contribute to the City’s overall cost to operate this particular vehicle. Given this, Staff raised the question …”is operating the passenger bus cost effective for the City? “ The bus gets used on the average of between 34 to 39 times a year and of those times used approximately one fourth are for A.D.A. (Handicap) Transit. The YMCA uses the bus about 12 times in the summer to shuttle kids to various park activities. The Lions Club uses the bus about 4-5 times a year. The bus needs to be inspected on a yearly basis because it is equipped with a wheel chair lift. The bus has been maintained by the city and has not needed a great deal of upkeep although it did require an engine change that the Lions club paid for. Alternatives: The City of Spring Lake Park is not interested in sharing the cost and use of the vehicle. The City of New Brighton was also asked if they had an interest in sharing the cost and use of the vehicle and they have not expressed an interest. An alternative to using the existing bus would be to rent a similar vehicle. There are several places that the City can rent a van from. They vary in price substantially based on if a driver and / or the van is ADA compliant. Based on current usage, the cost to rent (see attachment) appears to offer only marginal savings and is offset by the