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Neptune Beach police request radio replacements, outline paid-parking rollout and vehicle costs
Summary
Police Chief Key told the council the city must buy three radios after a county encryption change, proposing to use a $93,000 radio trust fund; he also updated the paid-parking vendor timeline and described vehicle costs and a JAG-funded Explorer.
Chief Key told the council that a county-managed encryption change for the First Coast radio system left two of the city's mobile police radios incompatible and recommended purchasing three radios — two replacements and one for a new vehicle — at roughly $5,000 each. "Radios are expensive. They're $5,000 each approximately," Chief Key said, adding that the city can fund the purchase from the radio communication trust fund, which he said "has $93,000 in it."
The chief outlined that the First Coast system is a county asset shared by multiple agencies, and that the move to new encryption prompted the inventory review that revealed the two incompatible mobile units. He said the requested change increases a budget line for radio machinery and equipment from $6,000 to about $15,000.
On paid parking, Chief Key said the kiosks are palletized and ready to ship but finance work remains. He told the council prospective bank/vendor fees look to be "only about a 3% bank fee," down from earlier estimates near 18 percent, and estimated a migration downtime of about a week up to a month. "We're ready to implement. We just again, we're waiting on finance," he said.
The chief also discussed vehicle procurement and upfitting costs. He said typical patrol vehicles run around $50,000, with upfitting — radios, radar and equipment — adding roughly $15,000–$20,000. He noted the department is using a Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) for a Ford Explorer and prefers full-size, four-wheel-drive trucks for beach access and storm-response capability.
Councilors asked about procurement discounts and alternatives, and Chief Key noted the city uses the Florida Sheriffs' contract, which he said provides "approximately $20,000 off MSRP." He also said golf-cart-style vehicles have been examined but must meet equipment and weather-protection requirements for license-plate readers and other electronics.
The presentation closed with staff offering to provide detailed salary and overtime pages from finance after a council request. The council did not record any formal motion or vote on the items presented.
