Police and fire outline vehicle and apparatus needs as board confronts large CIP and budget gaps

Police Chief Baker and Fire Chief Daryl Clark presented five‑year capital improvement plans during the Nov. 10 study session, outlining vehicle, technology and facility needs amid an ongoing city budget shortfall.

Chief Baker described a 2026 police package that includes annual payments for Axon technology (body‑worn and in‑car cameras, storage and related services), and vehicle purchases intended to place more cars on the street. He said the department is proposing to purchase roughly 17 patrol vehicles plus specialty vehicles, with certain expenses offset by grants for bulletproof vests and other programs. “If we had the $1,000,000 general fund equipment fund the dedicated amount you see that brings that to $3,900,000,” Baker said, summarizing available and requested funding assumptions.

Chief Clark said apparatus lead times remain long for custom heavy rescue units (estimates of 48 to 51 months for a fully custom vehicle) but noted the department is managing fleet turnaround and has enacted run‑assignment changes to reduce the number of apparatus sent to alarms. Clark also described steps to reduce apparatus deployment when appropriate and highlighted the rising unit costs for pumpers and ladder trucks.

Board members emphasized the need to see the entire general‑fund picture before committing to large fleet purchases and sought options for leasing versus purchase. Directors asked staff for a clearer presentation tying CIP items to available sales‑tax and other identified funding sources and for scenarios that minimize impacts on salary lines and other general‑fund obligations.

Outcome and next steps: Chiefs will work with finance staff to present funding scenarios at the upcoming budget hearings, and directors placed the Police and Fire CIP items on a future regular meeting agenda for formal consideration.