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CC - CONSENT ITEM: Approval of a General Services Agreement with Humble Rentals, LLC in an Amount Not-to-Exceed 129,000 to Implement a Portable Battery Pilot Program.
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Meeting Date: January 12, 2026
Contact Person/Dept.: Alicia Ide/Public Works-Administration
Joe Susca/Public Works-Administration
Phone Number: (310) 253-5618
(310) 253-5636
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [ ] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [ ] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/07/2026); Humble Rentals, LLC (12/29/2025); Spirit Energy in partnership with Saniset (12/29/2025)
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer (12/29/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve a general services agreement with Humble Rentals, LLC in an amount not-to-exceed $129,000 to operate a portable battery program designed to replace use of fossil-fuel powered generators (CIP No. PO-020 -- Portable Electric Battery Fleet Project).
BACKGROUND
Fossil-fuel generators are disturbingly loud to operate and they emit harmful toxins like carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and particulate matter into the environment, which contribute to climate change. There are also aggravated health concerns for sensitive individuals in the vicinity of fossil-fuel-powered generators who breathe in their fumes.
Despite the availability of portable battery systems on the market, City staff and community vendors/organizers face challenges when considering transitioning from fossil-fuel powered generators. This is due to a variety of factors, including cost. Currently batteries are more expensive and have a shorter lifespan (10-15 years depending on their use). The weight of batteries are more than fossil-fuel generators, making them harder to transport. Recharging of the batteries requires electric infrastructure and time to replenish. To address these health and environmental concerns and to overcome the transition challenges, staff applied for, and received, a $164,000 grant from the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California (the “CPA”) to implement a portable battery pilot program (the “Project”).
During their June 23, 2025 meeting, the City Council approved acceptance of the $164,000 grant from the CPA and subsequently, CIP No. PO-020 was created to implement the Project. The Project is an 18-month pilot program comprised of purchasing smaller portable batteries, coupled with hiring a firm to maintain an inventory of various portable battery sizes for use by various City departments and by community vendors and special event organizers, at no cost to them.
DISCUSSION
After learning how the Farmers’ Market vendors, event organizers, and various departments use the generators, staff determined the best path forward would be to split the Project into the following two components: (1) Set aside $35,000 of the $164,000 grant funds to purchase smaller, portable battery systems for use by Public Works crews who need electricity to operate equipment while working in the field; and (2) set aside up to $129,000 in remaining funds to hire a firm to purchase, store, recharge, deliver, setup, and retrieve portable batteries of various sizes to use on an as-needed basis.
During the pilot, the Project will require electric battery use by select City departments for City events and activities, including Public Works, Parks, Recreation, and Community Services, and Economic Development.
On November 20, 2025, the City issued RFP No. 2643 to obtain proposals from qualified firms to operate the portable battery part of the Project. The Price Schedule contained in the RFP included rental prices based on the power/size of each battery offered, as well as service costs such as delivery, setup, monitoring, retrieval, and recharging services per event. Proposals were due on December 22, 2025 and staff received two responses, which were evaluated based on their understanding of the pilot, their team qualifications, their experience implementing similar programs, and cost. A maximum of 100 points were awarded with the following results:
Company Name: Delivery-Setup-Retrieval Price Per Battery Total Points
Humble Rentals, LLC $110 to $5,050 (based on battery size) 98
Spirit Energy Saniset: $600 to $3,400 (based on battery size) 94
When compared to Spirit Energy Saniset, Humble Rentals LLC offers several smaller-sized batteries at lower prices, which are most likely adequate to meet most of the City’s needs. Humble is located in Los Angeles, has provided 500 portable battery systems at 100 different regional job sites, and their references are excellent. Humble has offered two additional pricing options to supplement the Price Schedule contained in the RFP that staff is considering. Those two options establish a flat monthly fee accompanied by discounted per battery/per event prices and are designed to reduce the City’s overall cost.
Staff recommends selecting Humble to operate the portable battery program.
Upon conclusion of the pilot, staff will prepare a report evaluating the successes achieved and challenges faced, and the City Council will be asked to consider continuing the use of portable batteries, implementing battery-use-only requirements in some scenarios, continuing rental fee subsidies, and even consider banning the use of fossil-fuel generators citywide.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
As a result of the City Council accepting the $164,000 in grant funding from the CPA on June 23, 2025, the Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 was amended to add CIP Project No. PO-020, (Portable Electric Battery Fleet Project) in the Capital Grants Fund (Fund 423). Because the acceptance of the grant occurred after the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 was adopted, this Project is not included in the budget book.
Of the $164,000 grant funds available, an amount not-to-exceed $129,000 will be allocated to the pilot program for an agreement with Humble, and $35,000 will be allocated to purchase portable batteries for Public Works crews to use in the field. Staff will obtain price quotes from competing retailers to purchase the batteries, and a Purchase Order will be issued to the lowest price retailer to acquire them.
The CPA grant covers the entire cost of the Project on a reimbursement basis with no City-matching requirement.
recommended action
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. Award a general services agreement with Humble Rentals, LLC in an amount not-to-exceed $129,000 to operate a portable battery system pilot program; and,
2. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and,
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.