M E M O R A N D U M
DATE:
January 17, 2023
TO:
Adam Politzer, Interim City Manager
FROM:
Jeff Jennings, Chief of Police
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase Two Ford Explorer Police Vehicles, In An Amount Not To Exceed $113,325.58, From Folsom Lake Ford And Emergency Patrol Vehicle Equipment From Pursuit North, At An Estimated Cost Of $32,003.78
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the above-entitled resolution to purchase two 2022 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor HEV (Hybrid) SUV vehicles under the State of California Enforcement Vehicle Contract, for a total amount not to exceed $113,325.58. In addition to the purchase price of the vehicle, there is an additional cost estimated at $32,003.78 for the purchase and installation of emergency vehicle equipment for the two patrol vehicles. This is a scheduled fleet replacement of two 2018 patrol vehicles. Funding for this purchase is allocated in the City Vehicle Replacement Fund.
BACKGROUND
The City has a Vehicle Replacement Program (“Program”) for the scheduled replacement of police vehicles. The Program established a replacement fund account to pay for the replacement of vehicles at the end of their useful lives. This approach has reduced maintenance costs and improved the reliability of Police Department vehicles. As a result, the Police Department has reliable, safe vehicles to provide law enforcement services to the community.
As part of the Program, Police Department vehicles which are decommissioned are sent to auction and sold. Depending on the make, model, condition and milage of each vehicle, the decommissioned patrol vehicles have sold at auction anywhere from $5,000 to just over $13,000. There were five decommissioned patrol vehicles sold at auction on September 23, 2021 and October 28, 2021. The City of Emeryville received $47,570 from the net proceeds for the sale of the decommissioned vehicles.
The two vehicles scheduled to be replaced in FY2023/2024 were purchased in November of 2018. The first vehicle has just over 56,500 miles, and the second vehicle has just over 68,500 miles.
With respect to the significant repairs over the past few years associated with these patrol vehicles, the Police Department determined that the following repairs were covered under the manufacture’s 5 year/100,000-mile warranty:
(2) separate catalytic converters replaced
(1) water pump replacement
(1) axle shaft replacement
(1) transmission torque converter replacement
The cost for each of the repairs listed above exceeded $1,000.
In addition to these repairs, the Police Department in recent years has experienced significant repairs for patrol vehicles nearing the end of their 5 year, 100,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty. With some vehicle repairs not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.
DISCUSSION
Patrol vehicles are one of the most critical purchases made by a law enforcement agency. Selection of vehicles is determined by reliability, safety, and low maintenance. The 24-hour operation of most police vehicles in an urban environment puts an extraordinary demand upon the vehicles used by our police officers.
Of the fleet vehicles available on the market, staff has determined that the larger storage capacity of the SUV models is best suited to carry all the equipment each officer is required to take on each patrol shift. Staff has as determined that many California law enforcement agencies have adopted the same philosophy and are opting for the SUV style vehicle to serve patrol operations. The Police Department, therefore, recommends that the City purchase the Ford Explorer Police Interceptor model vehicle.
The Ford Explorer offers three different engine options for the interceptor packages:3.0L Eco boost, 3.3L Direct injection V6 and the 3.3L HEV (hybrid electric vehicle). The Police Department currently utilizes the 3.3L Direct injection V6 but is transitioning to the 3.3L HEV. This is expected to provide the Police Department with less fuel costs compared to the 3.3L Direct Injection, which encompasses most of our current fleet.
Due to the amount of electrical equipment in a patrol vehicle, the vehicles must constantly keep their engines running to power the equipment. Data surveys conducted by Ford shows that patrol vehicles spend on average 61% of a shift idling. With the rise in fuel costs, cutting back on the amount of time the engine idles can significantly reduce the amount of fuel consumed by patrol vehicles.
The Ford Explorer HEV interceptor reduces engine idle time by powering the high electrical loads of a police vehicle with its lithium-ion battery. As a result, the engine runs less – intermittently called upon to top off the battery.
The Program establishes a 5-year lifespan for patrol vehicles. This life span applies unless the long-term cost of repairing an older vehicle is not as fiscally sound as replacing the vehicle. The 2018 patrol vehicles in the patrol fleet were purchased in FY 2018/2019 and have been in service for just over 4 years which does not exceed the current Program timeline, however, due to supply chain shortages, vehicle availability from Ford is significantly delayed and it is expected that, if approved by the City Council, these vehicles will arrive at or near the time these two patrol vehicles are scheduled to be replaced.
Ford currently accepts requests for new Patrol Interceptor vehicle purchases during September of each year, and due to demand, not all orders can be filled. For example, the Police Department’s last order was delayed approximately six to eight months due to supply chain issues and Ford accepting more orders for vehicles then they could fill.
Staff reached out to Folsom Lake Ford and inquired about the timeframe for purchasing Patrol Interceptor vehicles. There is an approximately. 30-week time frame from when a vehicle is ordered to when it arrives. In addition to the 30-week turnaround time, there is an additional 4-week minimum time frame for installation of emergency equipment.
As a result, there is an estimated time period of approximately eight and one-half months before a Patrol Interceptor will actually be delivered to the Police Department. Staff from Folsom Lake Ford have earmarked two Ford Explorer HEV interceptors (without any obligation to purchase) for the City of Emeryville given these delays, and, if purchased, would arrive sometime during the summer of 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff obtained a bid from Folsom Lake Ford, the fleet vehicle dealer who holds the State of California contract for purchasing the Ford Explorer Police Inceptor vehicles, for an amount not to exceed $113,325.58, and the installation of emergency patrol vehicle equipment by Pursuit North is estimated at $32,003.78 to be paid from the Vehicle Replacement Program, Fund 660.
STAFF COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC
Staff has had no communication with the public as these fleet vehicle purchases are part of the annual vehicle replacement schedule.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends approval of the Resolution.
PREPARED BY: Andrew Cassianos, Sergeant
Jeff Jennings, Chief of Police
APPROVED AND FORWARDED TO THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EMERYVILLE:
Adam Politzer, Interim City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
Draft Resolution
Folsom Lake Ford Bid
Lehr Bid (per vehicle)
2 Police Department CAD/RMS System
City Council Meeting | January 17, 2023
C A L I F O R N I A