DATE:
June 20, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, 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 One Ford Explorer HEV (Hybrid) Police Vehicle From Folsom Lake Ford And Four Ford Mach-E Electric Vehicles From Downtown Ford Fleet Sales, In An Amount Not To Exceed $271,424.65, And Emergency Patrol Vehicle Equipment From Pursuit North, At An Estimated Cost Of $45,749.90
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the above-entitled resolution to purchase four 2023 Ford Mach-E electric vehicles and one 2024 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor HEV (Hybrid) SUV vehicle under the State of California’s Enforcement Vehicle Contract, for a total amount not to exceed $271,424.65. In addition to the purchase price of the vehicle, there is an additional cost estimated at $45,749.90 for the purchase and installation of emergency vehicle equipment for the four Ford Mach-E electric admin vehicles and one Ford Explorer HEV (Hybrid) K-9 patrol vehicle. This is for a scheduled fleet replacement of four admin vehicles and one K-9 patrol vehicle. Funding for this purchase is allocated in the City Vehicle Replacement Fund.
BACKGROUND
The City’s Vehicle Replacement Program establishes a plan for the scheduled replacement of police vehicles. The program also 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, staff have reliable, safe vehicles to provide police services to the community.
As part of the vehicle replacement program, Police Department vehicles being decommissioned are sent to auction and sold. Depending on the make, model, condition and milage of each vehicle, the decommissioned patrol vehicles in recent years have sold at auction anywhere from $5,000 to just over $13,000. There were 5 decommissioned patrol vehicles sold at auction on 09/23/2021 and 10/28/2021. The City of Emeryville received $47,570 for the net proceeds of the sale of the decommissioned vehicles.
The four Admin vehicles and K-9 patrol vehicle being replaced have exceeded their respective replacement schedules. The breakdown is as follows:
The following admin vehicle was due to be replaced in FY2016/2017:
Veh. #1016 – 2011 Ford Taurus, purchased in 2010. This vehicle was removed from the fleet due to needing extensive engine repair that exceeded the value of the vehicle.
The following admin vehicles were due to be replaced in FY2019/2020:
Veh. #1202 – 2012 Ford Taurus purchased in 2012 and currently has just over 195,160 miles. This vehicle is now outside the manufacturer’s 5-year warranty.
Veh. #1204 – 2012 Ford Taurus purchased in 2012 and currently has just over 129,180 miles. This vehicle is now outside the manufacturer’s 5-year warranty.
The following admin vehicle was due to be replaced in FY2022/2023:
Veh. #1611 – 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe purchased in November of 2015 and currently has just over 118,520 miles. This vehicle is now outside the manufacturer’s 5-year warranty.
The following K-9 patrol vehicle was due to be replaced in FY2022/2023:
Veh. #1510 – 2015 Ford Explorer purchased in June of 2015. This vehicle has exceeded the manufacturer’s 5-year warranty and was removed from the fleet due to needing extensive engine repairs that exceed the value of the vehicle.
The City’s Vehicle Replacement Program establishes a 7-year lifespan for the police K-9 patrol vehicle and a 7-year lifespan for the administrative vehicles. These life spans apply unless the long-term cost of repairing an older vehicle is not as fiscally sound as replacing the vehicle. The 2015 K-9 patrol vehicle in the patrol fleet was purchased in June of 2015 and has been in service over 7 ½ years. This amount of time exceeds the vehicle replacement schedule. The 2011 and 2012 admin vehicles proposed to be replaced have exceeded the vehicle replacement program schedule and the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe is due to be replaced during FY2022/2023.
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 needs with a focus on electrifying the fleet. The 24- hour operation of most police vehicles in an urban environment puts an extraordinary demand upon the vehicles used by our patrol officers.
Of the police fleet vehicles available on the market, staff has learned the larger storage capacity of the SUV models is best suited to carry all the equipment each officer is mandated to take on each patrol shift. Staff has learned that many California law enforcement agencies have adopted the same philosophy and are opting for the SUV style vehicle to serve patrol operations. It is therefore recommended that the City continue to purchase the Ford Explorer HEV (Hybrid) Police Interceptor model vehicle to replace the K-9 patrol vehicle.
Of the admin fleet vehicles available on the market, staff recommends the Ford Mach-E passenger car to replace the four admin vehicles. The Ford Mach-E is a fully electric compact SUV offering a battery range of up to 240 miles on a charge. The Ford Mach-E provides for an adequate passenger compartment to accommodate for varying statured Police Department personnel, as well as storage capacity for public safety equipment. The choice of an electric vehicle is also in line with the City Council’s goal of electrification of the City’s fleet.
On April 13, 2023, staff made a presentation to the Public Safety Committee on the electrification of the Police Department’s fleet. The presentation highlighted the benefits of transitioning to an all-electric fleet, including cost savings related to vehicle maintenance, fuel savings, and the reduction of the City of Emeryville’s carbon footprint. The presentation also highlighted the expected timeline to fully transition the fleet to electric vehicles by utilizing the City of Emeryville’s current vehicle replacement program. The expected timeline for full electrification of the fleet is 2029.
This staff report is in line with the City of Emeryville’s current goals of reducing the City’s carbon footprint and the City’s current CIP.
Staff also reached out to the Finance Department to ensure that there is adequate funding to accommodate this purchase. Currently there are adequate funds available.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff obtained a bid from Folsom Lake Ford, the fleet vehicle dealer who holds the state contract for purchasing Ford Explorer Police Inceptor vehicles (see attached price quote). This bid is for the replacement of the 2015 Ford Explorer Interceptor K-9 patrol Vehicle. Staff also obtained a bid from Downtown Ford Fleet Sales, the fleet vehicle dealer that holds the state contract for purchasing Ford Mach-E electric vehicles (see attached price quote).
This proposal is for the purchase of one Ford Explorer Police Interceptor HEV (Hybrid) and four Ford Mach-E electric vehicles that have exceeded the City of Emeryville’s vehicle replacement schedule, and for the purchase and installation of the emergency vehicle equipment needed for each vehicle, as outlined in the Vehicle Replacement Program, Fund 660.
STAFF COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC
Staff has had no communication with the public on this matter.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends approval of the Resolution authorizing the purchase of one Ford Explorer Police Interceptor HEV Hybrid SUV from Folsom Lake Ford and four Ford Mach-E electric vehicles from Downtown Ford Fleet Sales in the amount not to exceed $271,424.65. In addition to the purchase price of the vehicle, there is an additional cost estimated at $45,749.90 for the purchase and installation of the necessary emergency vehicle equipment for each of the five vehicles.
PREPARED BY: Andrew Cassianos, Sergeant of Police
Jeff Jennings, Chief of Police
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
Price Quotes
Draft Resolution
Police Fleet Vehicle Replacement
City Council Meeting | June 20, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM