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Conejo Recreation & Park District <br />GENERAL MANAGER <br />Jim Friedl <br />DATE: April 1, 2021 <br />TO: Board of Directors \ <br />FROM: Jim Friedl, General Mana e <br />SUBJECT: Blimp Purchase <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />BOARD OF DIRECTORS <br />Doug Nickles, Chair <br />Nellie Cusworth, Vice Chair <br />George M. Lange, Director <br />Susan L. Holt, Director <br />Chuck Huffer, Director <br />GENERAL MANAGER EMERITUS <br />Tex Ward <br />Award the purchase of a (slightly) used Goodyear Blimp and Patch Kit to Goodyear Tire and <br />Rubber company in the amount of $4,012,021.98. Funds are not currently available in the <br />Equipment Reserve Fund; however, Melissa says she "has a plan". <br />DISCUSSION <br />In accordance with the February 2019 Board -approved District purchasing policy, staff considers <br />Blimps as special equipment as they are "unique supplies, machinery, computers, or other <br />equipment which are not generally and regularly ordered in bulk by the District and which must <br />perform complex tasks, or integrate efficiently with existing equipment, supplies, or operations". <br />Additionally, staff thinks they are "really cool". <br />Thus, staff developed a general requirement for the Blimp size and performance specifications <br />and requested information from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. From this effort, senior <br />staff, as well as their families and friends, got to ride in the Blimp. <br />Staff evaluated the purchase price offered by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and after <br />intense negotiations with Goodyear representative Sidd Finch, was able to get a patch kit thrown <br />in for free. <br />Staff believes the Blimp will be beneficial to District advertisements of future events and programs. <br />Staff considers the cost of the blimp to be fair and reasonable — don't forget we got the patch kit <br />thrown in for free. <br />Staff estimates additional operational costs, such as training staff as pilots and grounds crew, as <br />well as fuel, will be north of $500,000 annually. Staff anticipates lower additional annual costs if <br />there are some really good YouTube videos. <br />ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES <br />403 West Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-4223 <br />805-495-6471 1 Fax: 805-497-3199 1 parks@crpd.org I www.crpd.org <br />