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Homewood staff proposes surplus of vehicles and equipment; council discusses fleet study and neighborhood patrol presence
Summary
Staff proposed declaring multiple vehicles and equipment surplus (including seven police vehicles slated for auction); councilors discussed fleet-management study and whether to retain a few vehicles to maintain neighborhood police presence.
City staff presented a request to declare various vehicles, equipment and city-hall furniture surplus and signaled that they will clean the inventory and prepare items for disposal.
Staff said seven police vehicles are on the surplus list (one additional vehicle is a total loss and must also be cleared), noting that the Tahoes are fleet patrol vehicles and some other vehicles are inspection and street units. Staff reported recent auction returns as an example ($5,500 from a high-mileage vehicle) and explained that equipment is stripped before sale, which affects resale value.
Councilor discussion focused on whether the city should hold back a small number of surplus vehicles to keep them parked in neighborhoods as a crime-deterrent presence. Staff suggested consulting with the police chief before final disposition and recommended performing a fleet-management study to inventory usage, replacement cycles and whether the city has excess vehicles. The council agreed to read the ordinance tonight and, with consent, move the surplus items to the consent agenda for a vote at the council meeting; staff would pursue a fleet-management study separately if approved.
No final disposition votes were recorded at the pre-council meeting; next steps include presenting the surplus ordinance on the consent agenda and, separately, pursuing a fleet study and discussions with police leadership.
