DATE: April 5, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Transfer and Appropriate $147,719.25 in Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Revenue from the General Fund to the Fleet Capital Fund for the Purchase of Two (2) Outfitted Ford Explorers for The Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council adopts a resolution (Attachment II) authorizing the City Manager to transfer $147,719.25 in Abandoned Vehicle Abatement (“AVA”) Revenue from the General Fund (100) to the Fleet Capital Fund (736) and to appropriate that $147,719.25 for the purchase of two (2) outfitted 2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid Interceptors Vehicles (“AVA Vehicles”) for use in the Hayward Police Department (“HPD”) Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program.
SUMMARY
The City receives funds from the Alameda County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Authority (ACAVAA) for salary, benefits, and the purchase of equipment related to vehicle abatement in the City of Hayward (“the City”). Those funds are currently stored in the City’s General Fund (100). On November 28, 2021, the ACAVAA authorized the City’s request to use $147,719.25 of those funds for the purchase of two (2) outfitted 2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid AVA Interceptor vehicles for the sole purpose of vehicle abatement in the City. The addition of two AVA vehicles, dedicated solely to vehicle abatement, would be an extreme asset to the Hayward Police Department. However, since the ongoing maintenance of the vehicles will be funded by the City’s Fleet Maintenance Division, staff recommends that the $147, 719.25 in AVA funds come from the Fleet Capital Fund (736) as opposed to the General Fund (100). As such, staff seeks approval for both a transfer of those funds from the General Fund to the Fleet Capital Fund and the use of those funds to purchase the two AVA Vehicles.
BACKGROUND
On November 28, 2021, the ACAVAA authorized the purchase of two 2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid Vehicles for the Hayward Police Department’s AVA program. The department has been using the Ford Explorers as the primary vehicle in the Patrol Division for several years. The purchase of the two additional AVA Explorers would allow the department to have two dedicated vehicles for the sole purpose of vehicle abatement. The department would not have to allocate other vehicles to the unit. Also, up to at least two AVA officers could be assigned at one time to address vehicle abatements. If one vehicle was being serviced, at least one vehicle would be available.
DISCUSSION
The Hayward Police Department’s Abandoned Vehicle Abatement (AVA) unit tows vehicles that have been abandoned on city streets and private property. Abandoned vehicles have long been an issue in the City and have been the source of numerous resident complaints. The vehicles are towed under specific laws outlined in the California Vehicle Code (CVC). The program currently receives funds from the Alameda County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Authority (ACAVAA), which are solely authorized for the Hayward Police Department’s AVA salary, benefits, and the purchase of equipment related to the costs of vehicle abatement in the City of Hayward (“the City). Those funds are stored in the City’s General Fund (100). The AVA funds that are provided to the Hayward Police Department allow the department to allocate the proper resources to address abandoned vehicles in the City.
Staff is requesting the transfer and appropriation of $147,719.25 from the General Fund (100) to the Fleet Capital Fund (736) for purchase of two (2) 2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid Vehicles. Staff recommends that the funds come from the Fleet Capital Fund, since ongoing maintenance of the vehicles will be funded by the City’s Fleet Maintenance Division.
FISCAL IMPACT
In Fiscal Year 2021, the ACAVAA awarded the Hayward Police Department $279,118.58 of which $148,995.14 was expended, leaving a surplus of $130,123.44. In Fiscal Year 2022, the ACAVAA has awarded the Hayward Police Department’s AVA program $175,841.44, of which $92,310.37 has been expended, leaving a surplus of $83,531.07. Factoring in estimated salary and benefits as well as projected revenue from ACAVAA, staff is projecting an estimated Fiscal Year 2022 net revenue of at least $20,000.
According to the City’s Fleet Maintenance Manager, each Explorer has an approximate six-year life span. The approximate maintenance cost per month for each Ford Explorer is about $250-300. The Fleet Maintenance Division has adequate personnel to service the two new vehicles.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This agenda item is a routine operational item and does not relate to any of the six priorities outlined in the Council’s Strategic Roadmap.
NEXT STEPS
If the Council approves the attached resolution, staff will complete the Budget Authorization Form to transfer $147,719.25 from the General Fund to the Fleet Capital Fund to be appropriated for the purchase of the two Ford Explorers.
Prepared by: Greg Velasquez, Lieutenant
Recommended by: Toney Chaplin, Chief of Police
Approved by:
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Kelly McAdoo, City Manager