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Council reviews $290,000 proposal to buy 10 Harley-Davidson motorcycles for traffic unit; funding source draws council scrutiny
Summary
Director Kierce asked council to approve a $290,000 contract with Harley‑Davidson of Bergen County for 10 police motorcycles paid from federal law‑enforcement forfeiture funds. Council members pressed for alternatives — capital dollars or bond reappropriation — and sought clarifications on the traffic squad’s existing fleet and lifecycle costs.
Director Kierce told the Jersey City Municipal Council on June 8 that the administration is seeking approval of Resolution 26‑3361 to purchase 10 Harley‑Davidson FLTRX Road Glide motorcycles through the New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Alliance for use by the Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit. “Resolution authorizes the award of a contract to Harley‑Davidson of Bergen County Incorporated for the purchase and delivery of 10 Harley‑Davidson FLTRX Road Glide Motorcycles,” Kierce said, describing the vehicles as purpose‑built for police work and noting expected benefits including improved mobility in congested areas and faster response times.
The total price presented to council was $290,000. Kierce said funding is available through the federal law‑enforcement forfeiture account (T‑16‑0‑800). Council members clarified operational needs and inventories: the department currently staffs about 12 motorcycle officers with roughly 10–12 operable motorcycles in service, and the administration expects to increase available motorcycle officers to about 17 after upcoming academy graduations, with a longer term target of roughly 20 officers. Kierce said lead time for the ordered bikes is about four months, with delivery likely around September.
Several council members pressed whether forfeiture funds are the best source for the purchase and suggested capital dollars or reappropriated bond funds could be used instead. Council President Ridley and Council Member Little recommended the administration consider capital financing to preserve forfeiture balances for other restricted uses and to reduce pressure on the tax base as the city approaches the annual budget cycle. Little said the $290,000 could be included in a capital reappropriation and argued the council should explore whether the purchase qualifies as capital rather than an operating expense.
Corporation Counsel and the business administration clarified limits on council authority over contracts and described the county prosecutor’s role in approving certain uses of forfeiture funds. “Ultimately, it is not the law department who is the arbiter of what we use that money for — it’s the county prosecutor who approves requests to use forfeiture funds,” corporation counsel said.
The administration signaled willingness to review whether capital dollars could cover the purchase. Meanwhile, Kierce emphasized the operational rationale: many of the department’s remaining motorcycles are 2010 models, costly to maintain, and several are earmarked for training or salvage.
Next procedural step: the council has the resolution on the agenda for consideration. Any formal award or change in funding source would appear in a subsequent vote once the administration confirms available capital options or prosecutor approvals.
