Council action is requested to issue a purchase order to the Missouri Highway Patrol, in the amount of $446,345.25, for used Dodge Chargers for the Police Department.

Council approval to issue a purchase order.

The Police Department (PD) placed an order for 15 Dodge Chargers in October 2021 for a total cost of $446,345.25. Those vehicles were tentatively scheduled to arrive in June 2022. The Police were advised on Monday, March 21st that Dodge was cancelling the order as well as numerous other agency orders. The PD reached out to their Ford representative as well as Missouri Highway Patrol to see what options they may be able to provide. Each of them provided an option but both had very quick notification deadlines of Friday, March 25th.

Option 1 - Ford: The PD could add 12 new Ford Explorers (same dollar amount as 15 Chargers would cost) to the previous order of Explorers. They needed to decide by Thursday March 24th so that Ford could add them to the current manufacturing list which closed on Friday, March 25th. These vehicles would not arrive until sometime in 2023, best projection. If they were ordered after March 25th, then they would go on the next production round which would arrive in 2024 or 2025.

Option 2 - Highway Patrol is selling off several of their used Chargers that reached the 55,000 mile odometer mark (as they always have done in the past). They are not getting rid of any of their Explorers so those were not an option. The used Chargers have approximately 55,000 miles on them and are all-wheel drive and cost $18,950.00 for 2018 models (only a few available), $21,000 for 2019 models and $23,000 for the 2020 models. Spending the same $446,345.25 amount would allow the PD to purchase 21 of the 2019’s or 19 of the 2020’s. The PD has purchased used Highway Patrol vehicles in the past (Crown Vics) and they turned out to be very good vehicles. They are well taken care of and maintained, and the PD is usually able to hand pick through the fleet and pick the ones wanted.

After discussion it was decided that the used Dodge Chargers (Option 2) that Missouri Highway Patrol was prepared to sell was the best option to keep the call-out/admin vehicle replacement plan on course. The PD will purchase any year/color of vehicles that become available. The PD will purchase as many vehicles possible keeping the total dollar spent to the originally approved/planned $446,345.25 or less. As of March 24th they already had 5 Chargers come available (3 – 2018’s and 2- 2019’s) which were set aside for IPD to purchase.

Approval of this item authorizes the Finance and Administration Director to issue change orders up to ten (10) percent of the original authorized amount, providing appropriations are available.

The fiscal impact to the City is $446,345.25. Funding is included in the fiscal year 2021/22 adopted budget, budget book page 156, account numbers E (4564-5404).