ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and the Interim Chief of Police with a Request to APPROVE the Following:
A) An ORDINANCE Amending the CITY OF PEORIA 2018 - 2019 BIENNIAL BUDGET Relating to the GENERAL FUND to Recognize the Receipt of FEDERAL and STATE ASSET SEIZURE FUNDS and the Corresponding Expenditures to PURCHASE 8 UNMARKED VEHICLES in the Amount of $167,800. ( Requires a super majority vote);
B) The PURCHASE of Eight (8) Unmarked Vehicles for the Peoria Police Department’s
Special Investigation Division in an Amount Not to Exceed $167,800. The Funds for these Vehicles would come from a Combination of State and Federal Asset Seizure Funds (STAFOR and PDAFF-101-2180-561-39.99).
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BACKGROUND: Personnel assigned to the Special Investigation Division (SID) typically operate unmarked vehicles designed to blend in with civilian vehicles. SID officers conduct operations including but not limited to undercover drug buys, surveillance of drug complaint houses, open market drug dealing, undercover gun purchases, high risk suspect apprehensions, burglary details, and prostitution details. SID officers are often requested to complete tasks for other units such as Neighborhood Services or for Detectives that cannot be completed utilizing traditional squad cars. SID officers are typically backed up by a marked or semi marked squad car but it is essential to use “plain” vehicles to conduct such operations.
The Special Investigations Division is in need of replacing vehicles in the fleet. The vehicles were last updated in 2011, and are historically updated every 2-3 years (2007, 2009, and 2011). Currently, Investigators within SID utilize vehicles with mileage ranging from 144,000 to over 232,000. The vehicles range in age from 10-15 years old (2003-2008). The vehicle exteriors are deteriorating with multiple cars showing clear coat/paint damage and several with rust issues. The maintenance on these vehicles continues to climb as would be expected given the year and mileage. In addition, most, if not all, of the vehicles we are seeking to replace are instantly recognizable by the criminal elements we attempt to survey during drug or gun operations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The purchase of these vehicles will not utilize any tax payer dollars and will rely solely on seized funds, trade-ins, and funds from auctioned vehicles. Public Works maintains the SID vehicles. Year to date, SID vehicles have cost $33,659.56 for maintenance and repair. Public Works has projected a 25% increase in maintenance and repair for fiscal year 2019. Updating the fleet is expected to have a significant reduction on Public Works expenditures. The projected cost savings from Public Works with an updated fleet is estimated to be $27,701.54 in the first year.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: The Special Investigations Division devotes a significant amount of resources to Neighborhood complaints and concerns. Updating the vehicle fleet would only serve to broaden the investigative capabilities within the unit.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: This action, if approved, would update the fleet, lower maintenance costs, reduce fleet inventory (trade in or auction fourteen (14), purchase eight (8) for a total of six (6) less vehicles), and allow more flexibility for covert operations.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The City garage (Public Works) would continue to see rising maintenance costs, some of the vehicles are likely to be permanently dead lined if not replaced, and surveillance operations on citizen complaint houses are likely to continue to be compromised
ALTERNATIVES: A cost analysis was done for maintaining a rental fleet. Although there are several benefits to a rental fleet, the reoccurring annual costs would be a significant amount and would not likely be sustainable on an annual basis using forfeiture funds.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: ****
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City
2. Safe Peoria
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Reduce crime.
2. Support sustainability.
DEPARTMENT: Police