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Council advances police K-9 request and approves Motorola radio lease; members press for budget clarity
Summary
Council agreed to forward a police K‑9 recruitment request to City Council and approved a Motorola radio lease for police and fire with vendor concessions. Members asked staff for department-level budget allocations and clarification on levy/debt presentation.
The Committee of the Whole referred two public-safety items to the full council.
Chief Mattson asked permission to begin the process to hire a new police canine and partner. Councilor Johnson moved to forward the request to the City Council and Councilor Motley supported the motion; the committee approved forwarding the item so the full council can consider final authorization and funding.
Separately, the council reviewed a Motorola radio replacement and lease proposal for police and fire. The vendor’s proposal included a lease structure (10 years at roughly 5.04%) and two concessions: a waiver of the final lease payment for the department’s 10-year-old radios (quoted as $37,730.72) and a quoted equipment discount (discussed as roughly 40%). Chief Mattson described radios reaching end-of-life and supply issues for replacement parts.
Councilors pressed for a clear split of costs between police and fire and whether the lease would appear on tax statements as debt levy. Staff explained lease payments will be budgeted in the departments’ general funds and not separately listed as a debt-levy line item, though the lease must be reported to the state as an obligation. Council approved moving forward with the radio lease request; staff will return with final department allocations and budget details.
Next steps: staff to provide final budget allocation between police and fire, confirm reporting treatment for levy materials and present final contract/lease terms at the council meeting for appropriation.
