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Council hears need to replace aging police vehicles and fire equipment; city pursuing grants for SCBA
Summary
Council and staff discussed replacing police vehicles that are more than a decade old, replacing fire hose on a roughly ten‑year cycle, and seeking FEMA funding for self‑contained breathing apparatus; officers and chiefs said many items are expensive but necessary for safety and operations.
Councilmembers and department chiefs used the May 16 budget work session to underscore equipment and fleet needs in public safety and parks. The Police Department described a multi‑vehicle replacement request to replace units with model years in the 2007–2008 range and with more than 100,000 miles; the police chief said vehicles currently slated for replacement are over 10 years old and carry high mileage.
The police chief said the department transfers equipment where feasible but noted that older Crown Victoria vehicles do not directly accept the same equipment as newer SUV models, which raises outfitting costs. Council and staff emphasized that replacing long‑aged patrol vehicles is a risk‑management priority because officers operate the vehicles under emergency conditions.
On the fire side, the fire chief discussed routine replacement cycles for hose and turnout gear. Staff said hose is generally replaced on a roughly ten‑year schedule and that recent testing cycles identified failures requiring purchase; the department is procuring replacement hose. Fire staff and council also discussed self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) replacement; staff said they are applying for FEMA grant funding to cover a nearly $1,000,000 SCBA purchase and that the city will pursue grants first but will plan alternatives if grants are not awarded.
Why it matters: aging apparatus, protective equipment and vehicle fleets affect first responder safety and operational readiness, and replacement costs are large line items for future budgets.
Other public‑works and parks items discussed included a pony/booster pump to boost irrigation pressure at Cypress Park to improve sprinkler coverage and a $60,000 tennis‑court resurfacing obligation under an intergovernmental agreement with the Lake Havasu Unified School District; staff said the school district will reimburse half the tennis‑court cost as required by the agreement and the courts remain open to the public.
Ending: Several major purchases remain contingent on budget decisions and grant awards. Council received the information and did not take formal action at the session.
