Supervisors approve equipment purchases for trails maintenance

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of equipment for maintenance and management activities of county trails.

The 5-0 vote August 2 authorizes the purchase of a trail dozer and attachments, two quad-runners and one enclosed trailer.

The supervisors approved the Community Trails Master Plan on January 12. The approval of various components of the county trails program has resulted in more focused attention on the use and condition of community trails. On March 1 the supervisors approved the appropriation of $600,000 to fund the initial costs of the trails program, including equipment.

The county’s Department of General Services Fleet Management Division conducted a research survey of major manufacturers of bulldozers and had concluded that a trail building machine equal to the SWECO 480 Trail Dozer which meets US Forest Service trail construction guideline requirements could not be found. A sole-source procurement was authorized by the supervisors, and the county’s Department of Purchasing and Contracting will negotiate with SWECO or an authorized SWECO distributor to acquire the trail dozer. The estimated cost for the trail dozer and attachments is $120,000 plus taxes and freight.

Sole-source procurement was also approved for two Honda TRX350FE5 4x4 quad-runners. Advantages of that model include ease of operation and maintenance and familiarity of that type of vehicle by Department of Parks and Recreation staff. The quad-runners are expected to cost $7,000 apiece plus tax.

The enclosed trailer will store the quad-runners and transport them to various locations throughout the county to assist the Department of Parks and Recreation staff who will provide maintenance of the trails. The Department of Parks and Recreation will work with the Fleet Management Division to find the make and model trailer for the desired use, and the purchase will be completed through the county’s competitive bid process. The supervisors’ August 2 action authorized that competitive bid process for the trailer, which is expected to cost $16,000 plus tax.