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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5D Resolution Authorizing Purchase of Police Interceptors4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: February 7, 2011 AGENDA #: 5D PREPARED BY: Bill O'Rourke, Chief of Police PRESENTER: Bill O'Rourke AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF THREE (3) 2011 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTORS DISCUSSION: Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is for the city council to consider a request by the Police Department to purchase three squad cars from the Revolving Equipment Fund. History Like most metropolitan communities, the City purchases police vehicles through a Sate of Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing contract. Under this arrangement, the State prepares specifications, which reflect the needs of the police agencies, and competitively bids for their procurement. Once the bid is awarded, the participating cities purchase their vehicles using the State bid pricing. This process satisfies state purchasing laws and provides the opportunity to achieve economies of scale. For more than 25 years, the Michigan State Police has conducted extensive evaluations of the performance capabilities of each new model year's police vehicles as part of its annual procurement process. Since 1981, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) through its National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center has sponsored these tests through a partnership with the Michigan State Police. By disseminating these results to State and local law enforcement agencies, the NIJ helps these agencies select vehicles that maximize their budgets and ensure that evaluated vehicles provide reliable and safe performance under the increased demands of police service. For the purposes of the evaluation process, "police package vehicles" are those that are designed and manufactured for use in the full spectrum of law enforcement patrol service, including high speed response to crimes and medicals, as well as during the performance demands of pursuit driving. The "police package vehicles" tested for 2011 are the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, the Dodge Charger, the Chevrolet Impala, and the Chevrolet Caprice (new to the "police package" line -up). Current Circumstances The current patrol fleet consists of seven (7) fully marked squad cars, four of which are operated up to 20 hours per day. Five (5) of the marked squads are Ford Crown Victorias and the other two (2) are Dodge Chargers. The assignment of the vehicles is rotated in an effort to balance out the mileage and to extend the life of the vehicles. Typically, the three (3) oldest vehicles in service would be replaced each year. This is, however, subject to reevaluation by the department and maintenance personnel as a newer vehicle may be experiencing a higher number of repair issues than an older vehicle or may be assigned to a 'service type' of function (such as school liaison and for use by the community service officers). Squads in use for responding to emergency situations take priority for replacement. The three (3) vehicles presently slated for replacement are all Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors. As such, we are able to transfer the equipment used to outfit the vehicles and get additional use out of that equipment. Since this equipment does not all transfer between makes, it would cost the department more to purchase a vehicle for which we currently do not have equipment that would fit; such as the push bumpers, cages, squad boxes, and radio equipment mounts. Unfortunately, we will not be able to transfer such equipment in the future because, with the exception of the Chargers, all manufactures are redesigning their police vehicles. This is the last year of production for the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor as it will be replace in 2012 by two new Ford "police package vehicles ". As such, the cut -off dates for ordering 2011 Fords is March 1, 2011. Next year's squad car purchase will require an evaluation on our part of the new model lines of police package vehicles. The cost can be expected to increase as we do not expect that cages, vsibars, push bumpers and the like to be readily transferable to the new models. ISSUES: Other factors that have been included in the needs analysis for these vehicles include: Lease /Rental: There are no squad lease programs available. Zero Value Operation: Because of the emergency nature of these vehicles it is not recommended by staff to drive these vehicles until mechanical failure as dependability will become suspect. Equipment Partnerships: Since the vehicles are used up to twenty hours per day, 365 days a year, partnerships are not feasible. Used Vehicles: The used squads available are typically high mileage and in a similar condition to the squads the City is rotating out of service. Many of them have been disposed of for precisely the same reason that we dispose of our older vehicles. Alternative Fuel: Other than a flex -fuel option, there are no "police package" vehicles available that use alternative fuels. Refurbishing: The squads are operated a high number of hours and driven a high number of miles annually. Refurbishing requires all new mechanical 2 and suspension systems and would not provide the reliability and safety necessary to meet emergency needs. Furthermore, the car would not be available for use by the department during the weeks it would take to completely refurbish the equipment. Current staffing levels in the maintenance garage would not allow for someone to be dedicated to such an endeavor from start to completion. The parts and labor cost of refurbishing a vehicle would be well in excess of the purchase price of a new vehicle. FINANCIAL Under the State Cooperative Bid the 2011 Ford Crown Victoria Police IMPACT: Interceptors are $21,884.64 each, for a total of $65,653.92. This compares to $21,965.32 per squad last year. The Revolving Equipment Fund contains funds for these vehicles. ALTERNATIVES: 1) Adopt the Resolution authorizing the purchase of three squad cars. 2) Deny approval and direct further action. RECOMMENDED Alternative #1. MOTION: Re 4eed y: Frank Boy s, t Manager 4646 Dakota Street S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372 -1714 RESOLUTION 11 -XX A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF SQUAD CARS UNDER THE STATE OF MINNESOTA COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM MOTION BY: SECOND BY: WHEREAS, The Revolving Equipment Fund provides for the acquisition of three (3) replacement police squads; and WHEREAS, Bids have been solicited and received by the State of Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing Program for full -sized 2011 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor squad cars. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA that: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. The Police Department is authorized to purchase three (3) squad cars using the State of Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing Contract. 3. Staff is directed to place an order for the purchase of three (3) 2011 Ford Crown Victoria police vehicles in an amount not to exceed $65,653.92. Adopted this 7th day of February, 2011. YES lklvti, M ser M ser Erickson Erickson Hedberg Hedber Keeney Keene Soukup Souku City Manager, City of Prior Lake www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245