Hannahlee Allers, hallers@spokanecity.org
Monday, August 1, 2022 at 3:51 p.m.
During Monday’s Legislative Session, City Council will vote on a Special Budget Ordinance (SBO) to approve funding allocations for police vehicles for the Spokane Police Department.
"City Council has been leading the way in a historic transformation of the City's public safety fleet to lower costs, increase performance and create a predictable replacement schedule,” said Council President Breean Beggs. “This purchase order and the Council's police vehicle utilization study will increase service to the community for years to come."
Due to a national vehicle shortage, supply chain delays, and a restrictive annual vehicle ordering window, the SBO calls to approve $3,128,000 in increased revenue from a transfer-in from the City’s General Fund of unallocated reserves to be used solely for the purchase and commissioning of up to 46 Ford K8 Hybrid or Ford Mach-E vehicles.
The SBO is sponsored by Council President Beggs with co-sponsors Council Member Kinnear and Council Member Bingle. The ordinance requires five votes to be approved. If passed, there is an order fulfillment delay of 12 to 24 months; this order would replace vehicles through 2023.
“The wait time for vehicles is not something we can control,” said Council Member Lori Kinnear. “We can be proactive, anticipate what we need, and order ahead. Council President Beggs and I have been advocating for years to get our police officers these vehicles that past administrations have been unable to deliver.”
“I am thankful that we are helping to equip the police with what they need,” said Council Member Jonathan Bingle. “This is one step of the many needed to ensure the safety of our community.”
The upcoming Legislative Session will be held on Monday, August 1, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. Members of the public are encouraged to tune in online at https://my.spokanecity.org/citycable5/live/ and https://www.facebook.com/spokanecitycouncil or in-person in City Council Chambers.
