Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the SFPD Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
SFPD presents budget priorities including fleet, training and new positions
Summary
SFPD staff presented a proposed FY 2008-09 budget that includes civilian and sworn position requests, a new assistant chief position, IT and equipment needs, and program priorities such as replacing a force-options simulator and addressing mounted-unit facilities and fleet purchases; commissioners pressed for greener vehicle choices and urged quick replacement of critical training equipment.
Director Ken Bukowski presented a department budget summary and highlighted civilian and sworn position requests, an IT position, a proposed assistant chief position and multiple equipment and IT items. He said the department's request represented roughly a 9% increase over the current base budget for the coming year and walked commissioners through specific items that may or may not be included in the mayor's submission.
Commissioners questioned several specific requests. One asked why the department requested a John Deere tractor; Bukowski said it is for mounted-unit stables in Golden Gate Park to move manure and perform maintenance and that the department had previously borrowed a tractor from Recreation and Parks. Commissioners pressed the department to pursue more environmentally friendly vehicle options for a roughly 50-vehicle replacement cycle and suggested pursuing hybrids or CNG where feasible.
Commissioners also discussed force-options training equipment that has been intermittently inoperable; Bukowski said the equipment is currently operational but may need replacement, and commissioners signaled willingness to explore a supplemental appropriation if needed to preserve training capacity. Questions about crime-lab staffing were raised and Bukowski noted proposed additions for narcotics and trace-evidence positions.
Department staff also answered questions about recruit attrition at the academy, saying earlier reports were inflated and that the department interviews departing recruits to determine whether re-entry or other retention options are feasible.
