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Resident questions police SUVs; council says procurement remains in budget
Summary
A speaker at the June 25 meeting questioned the need for multiple high-powered police SUVs and suggested hybrids or sedans; council members said vehicle procurement is budgeted and that equipment, auction purchases and group buys are options to explore.
Mark, who identified himself during public comment, asked whether the police department needed multiple high-powered SUVs and whether a sedan or hybrid might be a more economical option.
"The police department's looking for new vehicles... Could we do with a, quote, unquote, sedan for the detective as opposed to a high powered SUV?" Mark asked, and noted that hybrid vehicles can reduce fuel and maintenance costs. He asked when the last high-speed chase required such capabilities.
Council members and staff responded that vehicle procurement is included in the budget, that sedans can be harder to equip with required police equipment and in some cases cost more than SUVs, and that departments sometimes acquire vehicles through auctions or group buys. One council member said departments in other cities use hybrid models and that procurement strategy warranted additional discussion before purchases are made.
What it means: The purchase of police vehicles remains a budgeted item and council signaled it will discuss procurement choices (vehicle type, source and equipping) before final purchase decisions.
Next steps: Council and staff will continue the conversation about vehicle types and procurement strategy prior to executing purchases.
