Ferguson CIP shows increased police and fire equipment requests; several items flagged as potential grants

At the council’s CIP work session, staff identified notable increases to police and fire capital requests and flagged several items as potential grant projects.

Finance Director Audra Penkins reviewed police requests that changed since the last submission: a police building upgrade rose from $62,500 to $130,000; police fleet funding for 2027–31 increased from $60,000 to $120,000; and the dash‑and‑body camera request moved from about $107,000 to $114,000. Penkins also noted a small net reduction in the TASER X request (from $40,000 to $38,000 in the relevant year).

On public‑safety gear, the fire department presented multiple revised or new requests. Penkins said the AD monitor request rose from $100,000 to $140,000 and was shown as a potential grant. New fire items include a $15,000 request for bulletproof vests, an increase in breathing‑apparatus funding from $140,000 to $160,000 (also shown as grant‑eligible), thermal cameras listed as a new grant item, and walkie‑talkie batteries.

Councilman Palmer asked whether the city has reviewed the debt service and guaranteed‑savings terms of a prior energy‑efficiency financing arrangement; staff said they had not yet reviewed it and agreed that reviewing the contract metrics could be useful to determine whether promised savings were realized.

Chief Hampton explained turnout gear replacement occurs every three to four years, which was given as context for rising gear costs. No formal votes were taken on police or fire CIP requests during the session; several items were listed as contingent on grant awards and will return to council if outside funding is secured.