IT security, public-safety vehicles, parks projects dominate Ferndale departments’ capital asks

Department heads used the budget workshop to highlight capital projects and operational priorities that, together, make up the largest non-personnel asks in the FY2026 draft.

IT and cybersecurity - The city’s IT presenter outlined a planned city-hall server and network upgrade estimated at roughly $85,000 and said staff applied for a State & Local Cybersecurity Grant Program award to cover the cost. IT leaders also described potential savings from renegotiated fiber contracts and moving leased hardware to ownership. - Staff emphasized ongoing cybersecurity work and that recent contract re-pricing and operational savings helped hold the IT operating budget roughly flat while funding deferred capital.

Public safety - Police: The police budget requests replacement of two patrol vehicles and one administrative/investigative vehicle; staff noted financing would spread costs over five years and showed an illustrative annual financing cost of roughly $13,005 per patrol vehicle in their estimates. The department said vehicle replacement timing has moved from a three-year to a longer-cycle strategy in recent years to control spending. - Fire: The fire chief recapped recent purchases made with ARPA funds (a new engine and ambulance), the sale of an older ladder truck for $470,000 and an order for a quint (a combined engine/ladder apparatus) priced about $1.3 million after trade-in. The department requested replacement cardiac-monitor equipment (ZOLL LifePak estimated at $58,000) and hydraulic rescue tools (“jaws of life”) that are past repair-support life.

Parks and facilities - Parks & Recreation: Directors highlighted three grant-backed projects — Wilson Park (complete), Martin Road Park renovations (courts, pavilions, accessibility) and a planned Martin Road Park service building (presented in CIP as about $1.85 million). The department said it had secured roughly $3 million in grants for park improvements and additional smaller grants such as a $100,000 MDNR Land & Water Conservation Fund award for a Harding Park inline-skating project. - Facilities and DPW: DPW presented capital asks for heavy equipment and vehicle replacements, sidewalk/streetscape projects (including a potential nine-mile streetscape project that was described as contingent on grant funding) and flagged deferred HVAC and boiler work at city buildings. The facilities presentation noted a $1.2 million transfer in the current year for the 1000 E. 9 Mile property acquisition (funded from OPEB-related sources) and urged prioritization of HVAC/boiler repairs to avoid service disruption.

Notes on funding and timing: Several projects rely on outside grant awards (state, county, HUD, MDNR) and on planned financing strategies. Speakers said staff will continue to refine timing and leverage grant opportunities; some capital asks were deferred to later years in the draft to preserve operating capacity.

Speakers: IT lead (department presentation), Police Chief, Fire Chief, Parks & Recreation Director, DPW Director and Finance staff Phil provided the financial context and CIP amounts.

Ending: council members requested additional detail on fleet replacement total cost of ownership and life-cycle repair costs and asked staff to return with firm quotes and financing options before final adoption.