City Council
MEETING DATE: 10/14/2015
TITLE:
Title
Purchase of Three (3) Replacement Marked Police Vehicles and Two (2) Replacement Unmarked Police Vehicles from Palm Springs Motors.
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FROM:
George Crum, Police Chief
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the Police Department to purchase three (3) replacement fully equipped 2015 Ford Police Interceptor Utility marked emergency patrol vehicles and two (2) replacement fully equipped 2015 Ford Taurus unmarked emergency vehicles.
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BACKGROUND:
Due to budgetary constraints over the past ten years, the Police Department has not been able to consistently replace our aging vehicle fleet to keep pace with vehicles retired out of service. During the past six years the police department has retired and auctioned off thirty-two vehicles from the aging fleet, diminishing all vehicles placed in reserve, as well as those set aside as pool vehicles to be used when the primary fleet vehicle is damaged or in need of repair.
The Police Department has made every effort to successfully keep up with the routine repairs necessary to keep the marked police fleet in service; however, we currently have numerous older model vehicles requiring major repair work, including transmission rebuilds and replacement, major suspension work, engine and A/C work, body damage, painting, decals, etc. Due to high mileage, repairs costs, and frequency of service and repairs, the costs of keeping certain vehicles operational in the field are again outweighing the value and safety of those vehicles.
The Police Department currently has eight (8) marked black and white police units that have been identified for retirement and replacement. Of these eight marked police units, three (3) are currently non-operational, and we have been utilizing parts from the non-operational units to keep other older units running and in serviceable repair. The units include:
• Two (2) 2002 marked black and white Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors
• One (1) 2005 marked black and white Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
• Four (4) 2007 marked black and white Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors
• One (1) 2008 marked black and white Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
The Police Department also has five (5) unmarked units that have been identified for retirement and replacement, due to high mileage and increasing maintenance and repair costs. The units include:
• One (1) 2001 Ford Taurus
• One (1) 2006 Ford Taurus
• One (1) 2007 Buick LaCrosse
• Two (2) 2008 Ford Taurus
DISCUSSION:
As a reminder, the long standing Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is no longer being manufactured. For the past few years, law enforcement agencies across the nation have been looking for a suitable replacement. The Ford Taurus, Ford Explorer, Dodge Charger, and Chevrolet Caprice are a few of those vehicles that were considered. The Police Department investigated the merits of each make/model, including test driving many of them.
Cathedral City Police Officers preferred the Ford Explorer Police Utility, favoring the height of the front seat and position, which helped relieve back strain getting in and out of the vehicle with their gear. The Explorer provided more room for our computer and equipment center console configuration, as well as more room in the rear for equipment installation. The Explorer also allowed more room for a passenger, making it more comfortable for Reserves Officers, Police Explorers and Civilian Ride-alongs to sit in the passenger seat. The more compact passenger vehicles that were evaluated, forced the passenger to have to canter their body in the seat to accommodate the equipment that is located in the front seat of a patrol vehicle, which was both uncomfortable and a safety concern.
As a result of the evaluation process, Ford Motor Company was identified as the only auto manufacturer currently manufacturing an official police package vehicle suitable for our patrol needs. We are also a Ford Fleet customer and qualify for local government sales incentives through Ford Commercial Fleet Services. After price checking the cost of replacement vehicles through our local Palm Springs Ford Dealership and the L.A. Region through Bob Wonderies Ford in Alhambra, we found that the price difference between the two dealerships' law enforcement Commercial Fleet pricing was negligible. As a result, we keep our business and tax dollars local.
The Police Department intends to replace three (3) marked police vehicles and two (2) unmarked vehicles for the 2015-2016 budget cycle. The Police Department will be purchasing three (3) 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utilities, and two (2) 2016 Ford Taurus unmarked sedans from Palm Springs Ford.
The Police Department also intends to purchase and install nine (9) secure gun boxes for the rear compartment storage area of the nine (9) existing Ford Police Interceptor Utilities that were purchased during the 2014-2015 budget cycle. The original purchase and installation of these secure gun boxes was an oversight in the Utilities build-out process, and are necessary to hold and secure less lethal launching platforms, as well as provide additional secure weapon and ammunition storage in the rear area of the Utilities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The purchase of three (3) 2016 Ford Police Interceptors at $87,102.99, and two (2) 2016 Ford Taurus unmarked vehicles at $50,153.08 comes to a total cost of $137,256.07 for the five replacement vehicles.
The purchase and installation of the police package emergency equipment and secure gun boxes will be performed by Black and White Emergency Vehicles, located in Covina, California. The equipment and installation expense for the three (3) fully equipped marked patrol Utilities, two (2) unmarked sedans, and nine (9) secure gun boxes will be approximately $55,603.10.
The three (3) marked emergency Utilities will require the proper emergency decals and graphics, which will be performed by So Cal Grafix, located in Cathedral City. The cost of the decals and graphics will be approximately $2,686.35.
Additionally, the thirteen (13) retired vehicles will be sent to auction; the proceeds of the sale of these units will be deposited in the Vehicle Replacement Fund. However, before these units can be sent to auction, they have to be made ready for auction by removing all the emergency equipment and official police decals and graphics at an approximate cost of $4385.00
Therefore, the total cost of the five new vehicles plus installation/removal costs of emergency equipment and official police graphics of new and retired vehicles, and secure lock boxes for existing Utilities will be approximately $199,930.52. The costs will be paid from the Vehicle Replacement Fund.
ATTACHMENTS:
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