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High Springs CRA approves e-bike and paid downtown patrol hours under policing pilot
Summary
The High Springs Community Redevelopment Agency on Sept. 22 approved an "innovative policing" initiative that includes buying an e‑bike and funding 235 officer hours for increased downtown patrols, funded from CRA monies and budgeted at $20,000 for fiscal 2026.
The High Springs Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) on Sept. 22 approved an "innovative policing" initiative to add an e-bike for downtown patrols and to fund 235 officer hours to increase police presence during busy hours.
The initiative, presented by CRA staffer Amy, would allocate $5,500 for a police e-bike and fund 235 hours of officer time billed to the CRA at $60 per hour, totaling $14,100. Amy said the combined cost for the bike and hours would be $19,600; the CRA's FY 2026 budget includes $20,000 for the line item.
The proposal was described as a repeat of last year's pilot with minor adjustments. Amy said she had met with Police Chief Shepherd on the plan and that an additional bike would help officers move through downtown's narrow streets and crowded events more easily than a patrol vehicle.
Discussion included a clarification that the CRA would not pay for police hours already scheduled for routine city events. A member asked, "In terms of the additional police presence in the district, are there limitations on when those hours can be billed?" Amy responded that if the patrols are for events that already occur, the CRA should not be billed for those hours, citing examples such as the tree lighting.
A motion to approve the initiative was made and seconded; the CRA chair called for the vote and members answered "Aye," and the motion passed.
The CRA did not attach any new contract language or ordinance to the vote; the action as recorded was approval of the initiative and the budgeted allocation. Staff said billing would occur as hours are used and reported.
The board's action places the initiative under the CRA's redevelopment spending for downtown and will allow staff to coordinate with the police department on scheduling, billing and deployment. No start date or duration for the initiative beyond the stated FY 2026 budget allocation was specified during the meeting.
Less critical details: Chief Shepherd was mentioned as having been consulted; no written agreement or contract amendment was presented at the meeting.
