HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 8-d - Approval of a New Automotive Mechanic Position
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 20, 2018
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-d
SUBJECT: Approval of an Additional Automotive Mechanic Position
DEPARTMENT: Orange County Public
Transportation; Asset
Management Services
ATTACHMENT(S):
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Theo Letman, 919-245-2007
Jeff Thompson, 919-245-2658
Alan Dorman, 919-245-2627
PURPOSE: To approve an additional Automotive Mechanic position (1.0 FTE) to start by April
15, 2018 to work within the Fleet Maintenance Division of Asset Management Services, with
funding from an ongoing 5307 Federal Transit Administration Small Urban Grant appropriated to
Orange County Public Transportation (“OCPT”), as well as funds from the operating budget of
OCPT that will be used for the 50% match required by the grant.
BACKGROUND: The Orange County Fleet Maintenance division supports approximately 330
vehicles across all operating departments, excluding Orange County Solid Waste vehicles. The
division is staffed by three fulltime mechanics and is managed by a working supervisor. Orange
County Fleet Maintenance maintains vehicles for Emergency Services, the Sheriff’s Office, and
OCPT, as well as all administration vehicles.
Over the last four fiscal years, OCPT has increased service. Since FY 2014 -15 OCPT has
added the following fixed route services: Hillsborough Circulator, Midday Chapel Hill Connector,
and the Orange Alamance Connector. OCPT has also been authorized to implement two other
fixed route / demand services. Additionally, there has been a marked increase in Medicaid
transportation which also strains vehicle availability.
To provide these services, OCPT vehicle fleet and mileage have increased significantly.
Additionally, beginning in 2014 OCPT began working closely with Fleet Maintenance to ensure
that the Federal Transportation Administration (“FTA”) standards for bus maintenance and spare
unit availability were closely followed for preventive maintenance services. Ensuring that the
OCPT Fleet was maintained within these more stringent tolerances expected by the FTA
required more intensive labor services to be provided by Fleet Maintenance staff.
The table below illustrates the increasing fleet size and the corresponding mileage and
resources required to maintain the OCPT fleet.
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Fiscal Years
OCPT Fleet
Size
Mechanics
Hours Miles Driven
Total Repair
Costs*
FY 2013-14 14475316,846$89,818
FY 2016-17 20813372,830$126,130
Percentage Change 43%71%18%40%
OCPT Fleet Metrics
Fleet mechanics average approximately 1,600 hours of direct labor each year maintaining the
fleet. Therefore the 813 hours devoted to OCPT vehicles represents approximately 50% of the
work load of one mechanic, even though the OCPT fleet represents just 6% of the total County
fleet. The increasing service levels required by the OCPT fleet have also put greater strain on
the Fleet Maintenance staff to provide optimal services to the County’s fleet.
The addition of an automotive mechanic will allow preventive maintenance services and repairs
to OCPT fleet vehicles to be conducted on a timelier basis using in-house staff, therefore
ensuring greater uptime for the OCPT fleet and reduced maintenance cost by using in-house
staff for repairs as opposed to outside repair shops. The additional automotive mechanic will
increase technical knowledge of staff related to the transit buses and will be able to provide
more service to the OCPT fleet. The additional mechanic will also allow for increased service to
the Emergency Services and Sheriff’s Office’s fleet, decreasing downtime for those fleets and
reduced costs as more repairs will be completed by in-house technicians as opposed to outside
repair shops.
FINAN CIAL IMPACT: The annual cost of the new position is $52,085 which includes salary
and benefits. The ongoing 5307 FTA Small Urban Grant will annually reimburse the County for
hours directly spent on maintenance of OCPT vehicles. Total re-imbursements from the grant
are calculated at 50% of the total cost. Continued funding of this position will be contingent on
receiving the 50% of cost grant funds in future years.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable
to this item:
• GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary
for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their
dependents.
Costs
$26,042.50
$26,042.50
Total:$52,085.00
Position Funding
5307 Federal Transit
Administration Small Urban
Grant
OCPT Operating budget
Source of Funds:
*Note: Total repair costs include all in-house labor and parts costs as
well as outside repair costs.
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• GOAL: CREATE A SAFE COMMUNITY
The reduction of risks from vehicle/traffic accidents, childhood and senior injuries, gang
activity, substance abuse and domestic violence.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve an additional
Automotive Mechanic position (1.0 FTE) to start by April 15, 2018 to work within the Fleet
Maintenance Division of Asset Management Services, with funding from an ongoing 5307
Federal Transit Administration Small Urban Grant appropriated to Orange County Public
Transportation, as well as funds from the operating budget of OCPT that will be used for the
50% match required by the grant.
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