Garden City approves $650,498 lease to replace police and fire radios to meet DOJ encryption mandate
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Summary
Council approved a 7-year lease-to-own agreement with Motorola for encrypted public safety radios, with estimated annual payments of $90,356.86 and a total not-to-exceed cost of $650,498.20; funding will be appropriated from the federal forfeiture fund.
Garden City's City Council on March 23 approved a lease-to-own agreement with Motorola Solutions to replace the city's public safety radios and meet a Department of Justice encryption mandate with an October 2026 deadline.
Police Chief Arnoski told council that the DOJ-mandated encryption requirement for radios used with the criminal justice information system leaves the city with limited options and no dedicated federal funding. "They haven't offered us any financial relief or anything, so we've been spending the last few years trying to find grants or other ways to finance this thing," Arnoski said. He described a seven-year lease option as the most manageable budget approach.
The proposed agreement calls for seven annual payments estimated at $90,356.86, not to exceed $632,498.20 (interest included), plus a one-time activation cost to the Michigan Public Safety Communication System (MPSCS) of $18,000, for a total not-to-exceed $650,498.20. Chief Arnoski said the city secured manufacturer discounts and a trade-in program for older radios; staff recommended funding the acquisition with federal forfeiture proceeds and a budget amendment.
Council members asked about warranty coverage, the ability to add radios later, and payoff terms. Staff said the lease includes warranty, repairs, replacements and software updates, and that the city can pay the lease off early without penalty. City manager Gibbons and staff explained that forfeiture proceeds are expected to continue to roll in from prior activity and that using the fund would preserve general fund cash flow.
Council member Witt moved the lease authorization; the motion passed 7-0. Council asked staff to proceed promptly with Motorola and to account for the first payment in the upcoming budget year as described in the council discussion.
The council directed staff to monitor forfeiture receipts and pursue early payoff if cash permits; the chief and staff will manage procurement and deployment schedules to meet the October 2026 encryption deadline.
