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Committee refers $918,100 in fleet and public‑safety equipment requests to full Council
Summary
The Ways and Means committee voted unanimously to send a $918,100 capital stabilization appropriation — funding police and engineering vehicles, public‑safety radio upgrades, body armor, tasers, a council van, a special services vehicle and fire turnout gear — to the full Everett City Council with a favorable recommendation.
Everett’s Ways and Means committee on Sept. 19 voted to refer a $918,100 capital appropriation to the full City Council, unanimously recommending approval after hearing presentations from police, fire, engineering and inspectional services officials.
The appropriation, introduced by Councilor Robert VanCamp, itemized purchases including $140,000 for two marked patrol vehicles, $120,000 for three administrative police vehicles, $44,000 for a parking vehicle, $265,000 for public‑safety radio improvements, $26,300 for body armor, $82,800 for taser upgrades, $50,000 for a council/agent van, $65,000 for a special services vehicle, $60,000 for fire turnout gear and $65,000 for engineering vehicles.
“We're looking for a $140,000. That would buy 2 marked patrol vehicles... hybrid police utility interceptors,” Captain Demetri O’Malley told the committee, summarizing the police department’s request and saying older vehicles will be reassigned within city departments or sold when replacements arrive.
Fire Chief Hickey explained the $60,000 line includes turnout gear for anticipated new hires and to replace defective equipment; he also urged upgrades to the department’s radio systems, saying the current equipment is at end of life and “we definitely operate on borrowed time” when communications fail. Eric Swanson, director of engineering, said two Escape SUVs requested for staff are 9–11 years old and near the end of their usable life.
Inspectional Services confirmed the department is replacing two 2013–2014 cars because new staff require vehicles; some inspectional vehicles are assigned for take‑home use.
After presentations and brief questions about specifications and replacement plans, the committee moved to refer the measure to the full Council with a favorable recommendation; the motion carried unanimously.
