Council members discussed funding replacement patrol vehicles and expanding license-plate–reader surveillance as part of the proposed FY 2025–26 budget.

City Manager Eric Garrity told the council that fully outfitted patrol vehicles are running about $90,000 each, including lights, radios and video equipment. “A fully outfitted patrol unit… is coming out somewhere around $90,000,” Garrity said to frame the cost. He said the city bought a block of five vehicles in 2020 and that, as those units reach five to seven years, maintenance costs have risen.

Police leadership described higher maintenance needs and heat-related failures in older units. The chief explained patrol vehicles operate 24/7 and that components such as oil coolers and pumps have required replacement; the chief said the department could manage temporarily if the budget funded one or two replacements now rather than the full block at once. “If we couldn’t get 4, if we could just get 1 or 2, he can get by and figure out which of the worst ones that are needed,” Garrity said, relaying the chief’s point.

Separately, the council reviewed a request for additional “flock” (license-plate–reader) cameras and a monitoring system. The police described the system as a leased, integrated camera network that can notify officers if a vehicle of interest crosses a camera point and provide a live view; the chief summarized that it “basically lets us know if there's a vehicle that's been tagged… it will notify us immediately and show us a live view.” Garrity recommended including funding for lease-based cameras in the proposed budget along with initial vehicle replacement funding, but he noted final decisions would await refined revenue estimates.

Discussion only: council and staff exchanged options for phasing replacements, trade‑in or auction revenue, and the mix of leasing versus purchasing. Direction: staff will model one- and two‑vehicle scenarios and present updated costs and funding options in the next budget iteration. No formal action was taken.