Council bolsters Fire Department by authorizing new engine purchase

By Michael Chaldu · Fri Jan 30 2026

Councilmembers also receive budget audit and city goals update, and approve budget amendments

ATASCADERO — Atascadero's recent efforts to upgrade public safety facilities and equipment continued during the City Council's meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27, as it authorized a contract to purchase a new fire engine.

The purchase of a Pierce Type 1 Fire Engine, to cost the city $1,277,069, was one of four management reports on the night's agenda. The council later went on to accept a budget audit, OK amendments to the current budget, and got an update on the progress of the recently stated city goals.

The Type 1 engine, to be purchased from South Coast Fire Equipment, will take an estimated 31 to 33 months to complete and would be received by the budget year of 2027-28. It would be the second recent engine to be purchased, both of which would replace two current Type 1 engines purchased in 2005. The other new engine was ordered in 2023 and is expected to be received by the second quarter of this year.

When completed, the two Type 1 engines would join a third engine, purchased in 2013, in the AFD fleet.

Answering a question about features from Mayor Pro Tem Mark Dariz, Fire Chief Casey Bryson said the fire engine comes with newer, higher-tech features and is built a little differently.

"The big feature is the new pump and chassis; with Type 1s now they build the engine around the pump to make it more user-friendly," Bryson said. "We also will have a number of safety features, like monitors and a rear-view camera."

Councilmember Susan Funk asked about the lifespan of the new engine. Bryson said the department's replacement schedule is about 20 years, noting that the two engines being replaced were bought in 2005.

"So the ones we have are living on borrowed time," Funk said.

Dariz asked what the city would do with the old engines once they were no longer being used, and Bryson said they should be easy to sell.

"There are auction sites out there, and a lot of demand for them," Bryson said. "I don’t know exactly what they would go for, though we figured Type 3 could net you between $75,000 and $100,000; this one will go for more than that."

After comments, Councilmember Seth Peek moved to authorize the purchase, with Funk seconding, and the item was approved 5-0.

In the next item, the council reviewed and accepted a financial audit for the fiscal year 2024-25. The audit was conducted by the Moss, Levy, and Hartzheim accounting firm, whose Central Coast Region is based in Santa Maria, and presented at the meeting by City Treasurer Jeri Rangel.

Rangel reported that the city experienced a successful fiscal year, with revenues exceeding expenditures in fiscal year 2024-2025. The General Fund balance increased by approximately $1.8 million, outperforming a budgeted loss. As a result, the General Fund balance at year-end was over $21 million.

Funk noted in the budget that the Measure D-20 (sales tax increase) funds had higher revenue than regular sales tax and wondered if online sales had anything to do with that.

"Online sales is a tricky thing," Rangel said. "Some of the tax for online purchases goes to state, some to county but we get our share."

"Key thing is buy local," said Funk, which elicited agreement with Rangel.

Mayor Charles Bourbeau and City Manager Jim Lewis praised the accounting firm for the job they did with the audit, while Funk credited city staff for identifying and saving up for big expenses, pointing to the fire-engine purchase as an example, instead of resorting to "credit-card" type borrowing.

After the council received the audience, Rangel presented the budget amendments for the fiscal year 2025-26.

"We had a good year, now we can concentrate on some things," Rangel said. "This is a strategic opportunity for us; we have the ability to reinvest savings and revenues."

Among the highest priority items listed in the amendments were the fire engine purchase earlier in the meeting, the city drone program meant to combat illegal fireworks, and the local zoo rebranding.

On the drone subject, Peek wanted to make sure the drones would not be used for routine patrol or surveillance, but for specific uses.

"They’re utilized for specific purposes, like fireworks," said Atascadero Police Chief Daniel B. Suttles. "I don’t want to violate anyone’s privacy."

Councilmembers also had questions on the zoo rebranding earlier this year, wanting to make sure that the legacy of Charles Paddock, for whom the zoo was formerly named, is not forgotten.

"We want to make sure the branding is Central Coast Zoo Atascadero," Lewis said. "We'll make sure we’re doing right by Charles Paddock."

After Funk moved to approve the amendments and Newsom seconded, the item passed 5-0.

In the final item, City Clerk Lara Christensen reported on the progress of City Goals established during a biennial workshop held in February 2025.

Christensen reported that of the 47 action items adopted last year, only two have not yet been started, and seven have been completed. The items included wide-ranging goals like implementing a summer aquatics program, attracting businesses, investing in employee culture, and updating and implementing emergency plans, and building and fire codes. After council praised staff for its progress, it received and filed the report.

The City Council will meet next on Tuesday, Feb. 10.