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Deerfield Beach advances public‑safety transition: chiefs update, budget amendment and vehicle purchase approved
Summary
The commission received updates on standing up municipal police and fire departments, approved a budget amendment recognizing PFAS settlement proceeds and authorized purchase orders for 144 vehicles (including hybrid models) and a five‑year maintenance plan as part of the public‑safety transition.
Deerfield Beach commissioners on June 16 advanced several steps in the city’s transition to municipal police and fire departments, adopting a budget amendment (first reading), accepting the city’s annual comprehensive financial report and approving a vehicle procurement package to equip the two new departments.
Public‑safety transition updates: Transitional Police Chief Daniel Morgalo told the commission the project is progressing steadily: the team is building executive leadership, drafting accreditation‑ready policies and conducting community engagement. Transitional Fire Chief Chantal Volle reported parallel planning for operations, grants and facility assessments.
Budget amendment and PFAS settlement: Staff presented an ordinance for first reading to amend the FY2025‑26 budget. The amendment recognizes roughly $1,370,008 in increased general‑fund reserves, including approximately $1,400,000 in PFAS settlement proceeds (net of legal fees), and records interfund transfers (including $400,000 from the general fund to the general capital fund for Tedder Park improvements). Staff said the PFAS proceeds remain in fund balance pending commission direction at the June 30 budget workshop.
Grants and staffing: Staff told the commission the city is submitting grant applications for public‑safety staffing (totaling nearly $16–17 million across several grants) and that staffing and related operating costs will be considered in upcoming budget workshops.
Fleet purchase: The commission approved a resolution to issue a purchase order to SAG Coco LLC (Coco Ford) under the Florida Sheriffs Association cooperative contract for up to $8,279,400.01 to acquire 144 vehicles for police and fire, and a Ford premium five‑year/100,000‑mile maintenance plan not to exceed $470,160. Office of Public Safety Director Sean Gladio and staff explained the vendor’s municipal capacity, warranty protections, and the decision to purchase hybrid models to reduce fuel costs. Staff said the vehicles will be upfitted with lights, computers and other required equipment so units are operational on day one.
Public questions and legal limits: Commissioners pressed staff about contingencies if Broward Sheriff Office staffing reduced coverage ahead of the transition. The city attorney advised that pending litigation related to the BSO transition limits what can be discussed in public; staff suggested the commission consider an executive session with outside counsel to discuss sensitive legal strategy. Members of the public questioned procurement transparency and whether existing BSO vehicles might be recoverable; staff said litigation is ongoing and that budgeting and upfitting costs will be discussed in the budget workshop.
Votes: The vehicle purchase resolution and the other consent‑agenda financial items were approved by roll call; votes were recorded as unanimous.
What happens next: The council will consider the budget amendment at first reading and discuss details at the June 30 budget workshop; procurement and delivery timelines for the vehicles will follow contractual milestones and upfitting schedules to ready the fleet for initial operations.
