Poulsbo council approves budget amendment to buy two police pickup trucks

The Poulsbo City Council on April 9 approved a budget amendment to purchase two new Ford F-150 police vehicles after the police chief described urgent operational needs.

Chief Harding told the council the department has two patrol vehicles at end of life: a 2012 Tahoe with a failing transmission and a 2015 Ford Explorer with about 120,000 miles. "These vehicles are needed because we have 2 patrol vehicles that are at end of life," Harding said, and added the department requires vehicles capable of safely towing its boat and utility trailer for training and operations.

Harding also said two officers are over 6-foot-5 and do not fit comfortably in the current Explorer patrol vehicles. He told council the Ford F-150s would accommodate taller officers and better support towing needs. The vehicles offered for purchase are 2024 models available on the state bid at Bud Clary Ford; Harding said upfitting and equipment accounts for a substantial portion of the cost.

In council discussion members asked about the vehicle rotation program, long-term tracking and how the new purchases fit into the replacement schedule. Harding said the department recently implemented a five- to six-year rotation but these two vehicles predated that schedule and were not included in the planned debt issuance.

Councilmember McVeigh moved to approve budget amendment BA 25-0203 to buy two F-150s using general fund reserves; the motion passed on council vote.

Clarifying details discussed at the meeting included: model year (2024), procurement from a state-bid dealership (Bud Clary Ford), an approximate vehicle+upfit quote discussed in council (the chief referenced a quoted amount in the $160,000 range for the two vehicles), and that the two replaced vehicles would be retired and disposed of (auction or sale).

Ending: Council approved the budget amendment and directed staff to proceed with procurement and vehicle upfitting.