COMMUNITY SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Paul Ingham, General Manager, Operations

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Laurie Canning, Fleet Supervisor

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

March 8, 2004

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Procurement of Zero Turn Mowers for Parks Maintenance

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report titled “Procurement of Zero Turn Mowers for Parks Maintenance”, dated March 8, 2004, be received;

 

And that the Fleet Division of the Operations and Asset Management Department proceed with tender preparation for the purchase of four (4) Diesel Zero Turn mowers;

 

And that the Operations Department continue to work with the Manager of Environmental Leadership and the Markham Clean Air Committee to investigate and evaluate new technology and equipment to proactively consider environmentally sustainable alternatives during the fleet procurement process;

 

And that funds are provided for in the 2003 Capital Budget Fleet Replacement Program (Account # 056-6150-5000-005).

 

PURPOSE:

This report has been prepared to advise Committee and Council of the results of the investigation of the alternative power mower the Electric Ox tested by Fleet and Operations staff in September 2003.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

At the Council meeting held July 8, 2003, Council approved the purchase of twelve (12) of the fourteen (14) zero turn mowers that had been tendered by the Purchasing Department in May 2003.  In addition, Council directed staff to arrange for an ‘Electric Ox’ mowing unit to demonstrate and test the unit’s viability for Parks maintenance activities.

 

At the request of the Operations Department, icLECTRIC Lawn Care Division provided a demonstrator Electric Ox Mowing unit for inspection and evaluation in September 2003. This unit was a battery powered ride-on mower driven by 48 volt DC motors.

 

Inspection

Upon initial inspection, the unit failed to meet the current mandatory specifications of the Fleet Department’s current zero turn mowing units in the following areas:

                                                           

Required Specifications                         Electric Ox                                           Current Units

Certified Roll Over Protection               Not Available                                       Standard Equipment, with seat belt

                                                           

Deck width and construction                             Fibreglass 38” Cut                                7 gauge steel

                                                                                                                                    60” Cut

Zero Turn design                                              Front mount deck                                Mid mount 

                                                                        Front wheel steer                                  Zero Turn

Blades                                                              Spring Steel                                          ¼”heat treated

                                                                                                                                    Steel

Deck Gauge Wheels                                         Shopping Cart type                               Greaseable 6”

Pneumatic casters

Horsepower                                                     Dual electric drive                                 21 hp diesel

 

Operation

The demo unit was put to test under what would be normal cutting for the current units in service and demonstrated the following operational issues:

Manoeuvrability – the unit easily hung up on hills and uneven ground

Quality of cut – due to manoeuvrability problems the cut was uneven and at worst eradication of the turf ground cover

Ground clearance – low ground clearance made it very difficult to load onto trailer decks.

Reliability – the unit had an electrical failure burning out a relay after ½ hr. of operation.

 

In consultation with the manufacturer, and having inspected and tested the unit in their presence, it was evident that the current design is more suited to a well-maintained lush lawn variety on level ‘estate’ grounds, rather than the rough cutting, uneven terrain that the Town’s current units encounter.

 

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

In preparation for the 2004 turf maintenance program, the Operations Department requires two zero turn mowers to complete the Parks Division’s 2003 equipment replacement program.  An additional two mowers were identified as requirements to implement the revised parks and boulevard maintenance standards, as approved by Council at the meeting held on June 24th, 2003.

 

Based on the level of service being delivered with the units currently in service, it is recommended that staff proceed with the purchase of an additional 4 zero turn mowing units capable of using Bio-diesel fuel based on the same specifications used in tender 085-T-03.

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

At the Council meeting held July 8, 2003, Council approved the purchase of twelve (12) of the fourteen (14) replacement units tendered.  In addition, at the Council meeting of June 24, 2003, Council approved the revised Parks and Boulevard Maintenance Standards Report, which included the provision for two (2) additional movers to be added to the Capital Budget Fleet Replacement Program (Account # 056-6150-5000-005).

 

The Operations Department may proceed with the preparation of a tender for the supply and delivery of four (4) Diesel Zero Turn mowers capable of using bio-diesel fuel based on the same specifications used in tender 085-T-03.  The funding for these units is included in the 2003 Capital Budget Fleet Replacement Program (Account # 056-6150-5000-005).

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Operations staff will continue work with the Manager of Environmental Leadership and the Markham Clean Air Committee to investigate and evaluate new technology and equipment in this area that will provide efficient cost effective service while minimizing any negative impacts to our environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Ingham, General Manager, Operations

 

 

 

 

 

Peter Loukes, Director, Operations & Asset Management

Jim Sales, Commissioner, Community & Fire Services

 

 

 

 

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