SR-202-004 (5)
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Santa Manica~llfarnla
August 4, 1981
To:
Mayor and City Council
2P2-00L/
6-.5
AUG 1 1 1981
From;
C1 ty Staff
SubJect:
Request for Approval to Purchase a Replacement Pavement &reaker
IntroductlOn
This report discusses the need for replacing a mobile pavement breaker. requests
CaUnCl! to autharlze Staff to obtaln blds for its replacement, and fund such
replacement from monles already appraprlated in the Water Div1sion equipment
rental account.
Background
The City purchased an Arrow Pavement Breaker for the Water DiVlsion in March, 1975.
In the last few years, the piece of equ1pment has been out of service much of the
t1me, due to ser10US brake problems. Staff was anticipating the replacement of
the equipment when the problem was apparently solved by the lnstallment of a
hydraulic booster 1n the braklng system. In subsequent usage, the braking system
again developed problems, although the vehlcle remained in service.
Use of the pavement breaker cont1nued until October 6. 1980. when an accldent
occurred on a hill on PieD Boulevard between 11th and 14th Streets. as the equ1p-
ment operator applied the brakes to slow the vehlcle. Due to adJustment problems
of the braking system. the veh1cle swerved and overturned, 1njuring the operator.
Subsequent to the accident and the repalr of the veh1cle, 1t was declded to trailer
the breaker to Job sites as it is ObV1ously too dangerous for operat10n as a mobile
veh1cle 1n City traffic. Attempts fal1ed because of its great welght and the
unequal dlstrlbution of that we1ght, WhlCh also contributes to its driving 1nstab11ity
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AUG 1 1 f98f
. d - .SubJect:
Request for ~roval to Purchase a
Replacement Payement Breaker
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Page 2
Since the breaker 1S unsafe to drive to a job slte~ and Slnce it is lmpractical
to haul lt to the Job sites by trailer~ replacement of the breaker 1S ind1cated.
The machlne can either be replaced by purchaslng a new breaker or by renting one.
(Rental machlnes are only ava11able wlth an operator.) Current rental cost is
$60 per hour with a four-hour mlnlmum lncluding transportation to and from the
site. Slnce our crews only break out pavement equal to the length of plpe they
will install in a day 1n order to reduce complalnts~ est1mated rental costs will
be S62~450 for the 81-82 flscal year. Prellminary estlmates indicate that a new
breaker would cost $63~000 and be useful from 3 to 5 years or longer~ depending
on use. The salvage value of the old machine may be S3-5~OOO.
Recommendatlon
It lS recommended that Councll authorlze Staff to obtain blds for a new pavement
breaker and that the funds for such an expendlture be transferred from the ~ater
D1V1S1on rental equlpment (Account (25-50Q-671-000-261) to a Capital Equipment
Account (25-500-671-000-820).
Prepared by: Stan Schnll