Replacement of Police Vehicles

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends:

(1)the adoption of the recommendations of the Budget Committee contained in the communication (November 19, 1998) from the City Clerk; and

(2)that the Chief Administrative Officer be requested to report to Council, during its consideration of the 1999 Operating Budget, on the issue of these types of reserve funds and how they should be used in the future, including contributions from the City's Departments, and its Agencies, Boards, and Commissions.

The Committee reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Commissioner of Corporate Services to forward to Council for its December 16, 1998 meeting, a copy of the report which was previously before the Budget Committee relating to the Police Services Board's vehicle replacement policy.

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee submits the following communication (November 19, 1998) from the City Clerk:

Recommendation:

The Budget Committee on November 18, 1998 recommended to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee and Council the adoption of the report (October 30, 1998) from the Commissioner of Corporate Services regarding the replacement of 146 Police vehicles.

The Budget Committee also reports having requested:

(1)the Commissioner of Corporate Services to report back to the Budget Committee on:

(a)whether the Toronto Police Service is using "no-name products" to repair its vehicles;

(b)if usable spare parts are removed from vehicles prior to their demolition;

(c)the make and number of new leased vehicles that have been acquired; and

(d)whether a decision has been made not to lease any further vehicles other than for intelligence or surveillance use; and

(2)the Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board to provide a report to the next meeting of the Budget Committee scheduled for December 8, 1998 on the flat cost per kilometre for Police vehicles.

Councillor Gardner, Chair, Toronto Police Services Board, appeared before the Budget Committee in connection with this matter.

Background:

The Budget Committee on November 18, 1998, had before it a report (October 30, 1998) from the Commissioner of Corporate Services regarding the replacement of police vehicles, reviewing a request from the Toronto Police Service for replacement of 146 vehicles.

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(Report dated October 30, 1998 addressed to the

Budget Committee from the

Commissioner, Corporate Services)

Purpose:

To respond to the request that Fleet Management Services Division review a request from the Toronto Police Service for replacement of 146 vehicles.

Funding sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Replacement of 146 vehicles would cost approximately $3.815 million with funds coming from the City's Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Reserve. Toronto Police Services do not contribute to the City's reserve, however, during the 1998 Operating Budget a contribution of $2.6 million was approved to partially offset purchases in the amount of $3.8 million from the reserve. The reserve receives contributions from Departments to ensure that funds are available to replace vehicles and equipment that have reached the end of their useful life. The reserve is currently underfunded given the current size of the City's fleet of vehicles and equipment.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)The purchase of 146 cars for the Toronto Police Service be approved;

(2)Funds in the amount of $3,815,000.00 be approved from the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Reserve, for this purpose;

(3)Proceeds from the disposal of the surplus units be deposited to the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Reserve.

Council Reference/Background/History:

During consideration of the 1998 Operating Budget of the Toronto Police Service, approval was granted for the purchase of 118 vehicles totalling approximately $3.8 million. The balance of the request was referred to Fleet Management Services for review.

In the past, funds were provided and police vehicles were purchased through the Police Services Operating Budget.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

The Director of Fleet Management Services met three times with Toronto Police Services staff to discuss vehicle replacement. On September 18, 1998, Chief Boothby forwarded information to support the request for 146 new cars (copy attached).

After reviewing the information provided, further clarification was requested regarding administrative vehicles scheduled for replacement. That clarification was received on October 20, 1998 (copy attached).

The vehicles identified for replacement are beyond economical repair, given the number of kilometres driven, age, anticipated repairs required and salvage value of the units. I support the purchase of 33 marked cars and 113 plain cars, all for front line operations. I have been assured that the 146 new cars, will replace front line cars which will then be rotated through the Toronto Police Service fleet, to enable the actual units identified for replacement to be disposed of.

Funds for the purchase of these units should be taken from the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Reserve. Any proceeds from the disposal of the surplus units should be allocated to the reserve to offset a portion of the cost. The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer agrees with the source of funds.

Conclusions:

After reviewing the information provided by the Toronto Police Service, the Director of Fleet Management Services and I support the replacement of the 146 units requested.

Contact Name:

Stan Burrows, Director Fleet Management Services, Telephone No.: 392-7791, Fax: 392-7301.

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(A copy of the communication dated September 18, 1998, mentioned in the foregoing report from Chief Boothby, forwarding information to support the request for 146 new cars, was circulated to all Members of Council with the agenda of the Budget Committee at its meeting on November18,1998, and is on file in the office of the City Clerk).