Agenda Item #12.1
For Council Meeting of: October 25, 2022
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JOHN CREGAN, POLICE CHIEF
DAN MARINCIK, POLICE CAPTAIN
POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: ARMORED RESCUE VEHICLE PURCHASE
AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Police Department that the Council, by resolution: 1) waive competitive bidding pursuant to Section 3-08.100, subdivision (D) of the Santa Rosa City Code; 2) approve the purchase of an Armored Rescue Vehicle (ARV) from Lenco Industries, Inc. or other comparable vendor in terms of price and specifications in an amount not to exceed $387,358 per the City of Santa Rosa Ordinance 2-38, consistent with Santa Rosa Police Department Policy 707 - Military Equipment; and 3) appropriate $320,000 for the purchase from the State Asset Forfeiture fund. This equipment will help in the preservation of life during violent or potentially violent encounters and enhance community safety.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The approval of this resolution will allow the Police Department to purchase an Armored Rescue Vehicle from Lenco Industries, Inc. to be used during critical incidents to enhance the safety of citizens, officers, and the community as a whole. Lenco Industries, Inc. currently has an Armored Rescue Vehicle at a quoted purchase price of $387,358. In addition, the attached resolution would appropriate necessary funds for the purchase. The ARV purchase is consistent with the City’s Council-adopted Military Equipment Use Policy and the Police Department has also already adopted an ARV Policy to govern use of the vehicle once acquired. Both the Council-adopted Military Equipment Use Policy (Attachment 1) and the ARV Policy (Attachment 2) are attached to this staff report for reference.
BACKGROUND
An Armored Rescue Vehicle is a four-wheeled, ballistically protected vehicle built on a Ford F550 chassis able to withstand multiple hits from .50 caliber rounds. It is used to enhance the safety of individuals and first responders. It can be used during active shooter incidents, violent or potentially violent situations, natural disasters, and other hazardous situations. Having a ballistically protected vehicle allows officers to access locations and areas they would not usually be able to go without putting themselves at undue or unnecessary risk.
Although, as a community, we hope an active shooter incident never occurs, as a department, the Police Department must train, prepare and be ready to respond in the event it does. With 61 confirmed active shooter incidents in the United States last year, an Armored Rescue Vehicle is an invaluable tool that can be used to rescue victims, get them to a position of safety, assist in providing immediate medical assistance, provide officers protection, and allow safer and additional options to deal with any potential threat.
During incidents such as high-risk arrests or search warrants, having a ballistic-rated vehicle allows officers access to locations that would normally pose an undue risk for them. This assists officers in being able to use the distance to slow down incidents and use that time to communicate and attempt to de-escalate situations without using a higher level of force.
The Armored Rescue Vehicle has four-wheel drive, an upgraded suspension, a higher vehicle clearance, and run-flat tires that can traverse rugged or obstructed areas. These off-road capabilities far exceed those of a standard police vehicle. During natural disasters such as fires, floods and earthquakes, an Armored Rescue Vehicle would be able to access areas to conduct evacuations and rescues that would not be accessible by standard patrol vehicles.
Based in part on the above benefits, the Santa Rosa Police Department has recognized a need to obtain an Armored Rescue Vehicle to effectively and quickly respond to these potentially dangerous and life-threatening incidents. The Santa Rosa Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics Team currently have access to an Armored Rescue Vehicle through the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department. However, the Police Department does not have immediate access to that vehicle in the event of life-threatening incidents. Also, if the vehicle is already in use or scheduled for a different purpose by the Sheriff's Office, the Police Department does not have access to the vehicle.
In the first seven months of 2022, the Santa Rosa Police Department seized 125 firearms and had 231 reported shootings. The Special Weapons and Tactics Team has responded to 13 separate incidents in 2022 due to the heightened risk of danger for many of these incidents.
Regionally, there are ten cities in the greater Bay Area with a population of over 125,000 people. All these cities, except the City of Santa Rosa, own an Armored Rescue Vehicle. Additionally, there are seven cities with a population of 100,000-125,000. Five of those seven cities own an Armored Rescue Vehicle.
Before purchasing military equipment, the Police Department is required to seek Council approval pursuant to the City’s Council-adopted Military Equipment Policy (City Ordinance 2-38) and Assembly Bill 481. The City’s previously adopted Military Equipment Policy already references the ARV staff proposes to purchase here. In addition, the Police Department has already adopted an ARV policy to govern use of the new vehicle.
The Police Department strongly believes that an Armored Rescue Vehicle is needed to help enhance the safety of our community.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On April 20, 2022, the Police Department presented Assembly Bill 481 to the Public Safety Subcommittee.
On July 26, 2022, the Police Department presented to Council the proposed Santa Rosa City Ordinance 2-38 and the Police Department Military Equipment Policy.
On August 9, 2022, Council adopted ordinance 2-38, Military Equipment Use Ordinance.
ANALYSIS
Upon Council approval, the Police Department will issue a purchase order to Lenco Industries, Inc. for a Lenco G3 Bearcat Armored Rescue Vehicle with an estimated purchase price of $387,358. Lenco Industries, Inc. has provided the Police Department with a quoted price attached to this report (Exhibit A) for a vehicle they currently have in stock. If the vehicle is unavailable at the time of purchase, the Police Department will purchase a Lenco G3 Bearcat with comparable specifications and price.
Additionally, the Police Department has created and adopted a new Armored Rescue Vehicle Policy in advance of any ARV purchase. The City’s Military Equipment Policy previously adopted by Council already references the intent to purchase and use this Armored Rescue Vehicle. Both of those policies are attached for Council’s reference.
The Armored Rescue Vehicle Policy details circumstances appropriate for the Armored Rescue Vehicle deployment. Absent specific exigent circumstances or detailed circumstances indicated in the policy, including natural disasters and community events, an Armored Rescue Vehicle may only be deployed for incidents involving actual, threatened, or suspected violence with the approval of a lieutenant or higher rank.
Deployments, training use, and fiscal costs will be documented and published in the annual Police Department Military Equipment Report in compliance with Assembly Bill 481. At least one community meeting will be held to engage in dialogue and listen to community input, questions, or concerns related to the Armored Rescue Vehicle or any equipment included in the Military Equipment Report.
Section 3-08.100(D) of the City Code provides that purchases of supplies, material, equipment, and services may be made without recourse to competitive bidding requirements where the source of supply, necessary restrictions in specifications, necessary standardization, quality considerations, or other valid reasons for waiving competition appears.
Under Section 3-08.100(D), the approval of the waiver of competitive bidding must be approved at the same level of authority as set forth in Section 3-08.110 of the City Code. Council is the award authority for a purchase with a not-to-exceed amount over $100,000 and must approve the waiver of competitive bidding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Armored Rescue Vehicle has a one-time purchase price of 387,358. The proposed funding source will come from the Police Department State Asset Seizure Fund. The estimated annual maintenance costs are projected to be approximately $5,000, which the police department budget will fund. There is currently no funding identified for future vehicle replacement.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378 in that there is no possibility that the implementation of this action may have significant effects on the environment and no further environmental review is required.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Military Equipment Use Policy
Attachment 2 – Armored Rescue Vehicle (ARV) Policy
Resolution / Exhibit A – Lenco Bearcat Quote
CONTACT
John Cregan, Chief of Police, [email protected], 707-543-3600
ARMORED RESCUE VEHICLE PURCHASE
PAGE 3 OF 3