Council considers buying an ambulance
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
COLLEGE PLACE – At its regular meeting tonight (Tuesday) at 7, the College Place City Council will consider a request from Fire Chief David Winter to purchase a new ambulance. When the city started up its ambulance service in 2018, it purchased a used ambulance from Walla Walla County Fire District No. 5. That vehicle is now 20 years old and is well past its serviceable life.
The council will consider a motion to authorize City Administrator Mike Rizzitiello to sign the purchase agreement with Braun Northwest for the purchase of a new ambulance for price not to exceed $202,000, which includes a 10 percent contingency in case of cost increases due to the current supply chain issues.
The council will also consider a motion to authorize city staff to spend nearly $81,000 to purchase street light assemblies and poles for the extension of the cycle track on Southwest Fourth Street from College Avenue to Southwest Davis Avenue. The project includes sidewalk and ADA improvements, as well as the installation of streetlights from College Avenue to Southwest Academy Way.
The state Transportation Improvement Board is funding most of this project through a $500,000 grant. The TIB recently indicated to the city that the money needs to be spent before the end of March 2022 or that will take it back. The cycle track extension is currently being advertised and bids are to be opened Dec. 7. College Place Public Works would like to order the streetlights and poles before the grant deadline.
Also on the agenda, council members will consider a motion permitting Bird Scooters to operate within the city limits until January 2024. In February, the company approached the city about operating and on April 13, council permitted Bird Scooters to operate in the city limits for this fiscal year. Since Bird Scooters launched in April, nearly 7,000 rides have occurred. Most of the rides have centered around Walla Walla University, along College Avenue and Meadowbrook Street, which includes Walmart and Meadowbrook Plaza.
The meeting can be viewed on the city’s YouTube channel or via Zoom. The meeting ID number is 853 1867 0615.
