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Home My WebLink AboutAGENDA REPORT 2009 0218 CC REG ITEM 10CM I C),* co is CITY OF MOC��cPARK, OA�.`: �. _.:. City Council Meeting of-------. - -.42 .1 L- 01049!2 AZ• �� A _ I - MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Ron Nelson, Captain DATE: January 28, 2009 (CC Meeting of 2/18/09) SUBJECT: Consider Resolution Amending the Fiscal Year 2008/09 Budget for Purchase of Two Segway Personal Transportation Devices for Use by Police Personnel While Conducting Special Enforcement SUMMARY The Police Department occasionally deploys personnel on foot or bicycle in response to crime trends, special events, or in situations where there is a need for an increased police presence. The use of a personal electric powered Segway transportation device (Segway) would greatly increase the flexibility of our officers' ability to quickly, safely, and silently respond to incidents especially in venues where a normal patrol car would have difficulty navigating through these sometimes crowded locations. This attached resolution, if approved, would add two new Segways to the Police Department's transportation fleet using the Transportation System Management (TSM) Fund (2001). BACKGROUND The Police Department has historically deployed officers on foot or bicycle for situations where there has been an increased crime trend, such as a rash of vehicle burglaries in a particular residential neighborhood. Under these circumstances, the use of a patrol car can diminish the ability of uniformed officers to maintain a stealth patrol. An officer on foot has a limited ability to cover a large area. Deploying officers on bicycles has proven highly effective due to their stealth and extended range, however operating a bicycle over many miles during a patrol shift can be tiring, especially if an officer needs to use his energy to overcome a suspect's resistance while making an arrest. Special events are other situations in which the Police Department deploys officers on foot or bicycle. Events such as the City of Moorpark's (City) Annual "Country Days" celebration, or "3`d of July Fireworks Extravaganza" are typically crowded venues requiring a visible police presence with officers that are able to quickly mobilize in the event of an emergency. Honorable City Council February 18, 2009 Page 2 DISCUSSION Within the past few years, several law enforcement agencies throughout the United States have deployed a new transportation device called a "Segway" in areas where officers once patrolled on foot. The Segway, which is a two-wheeled device in which officers stand up while holding onto a motorcycle-style handlebar for balance, is powered by rechargeable batteries. Current models can travel at speeds up to 12.5 miles per hour, for a distance of up to 24 miles. The Segway is highly maneuverable in crowded conditions, is silent in operation, and has the ability to carry equipment in side- saddle bags. Police Departments that currently use the Segway report that the battery charge easily lasts during a normal 8 -hour patrol shift. Officers on Segways could be deployed either separately or in combination with other officers on bicycle or on foot, thereby enhancing their ability to quickly respond to an emergency. In addition to extra patrol or special events, the Segway could be deployed by the High School Resource Officer (HSRO) on the Moorpark High School campus and adjacent venues such as the Arroyo Vista Community Park and the Vons shopping center during times when the need for extra mobility arises. Many Police Departments that deploy the device have reported an increase in the public's positive perception that their neighborhoods feel safer due to their officers' ability to quickly respond, as well as their overall taller presence while standing on the device. The Ventura County Sheriffs Department's Bomb Team currently deploys a Segway device, used to transport bomb technicians and heavy equipment during explosive related missions. The device has proven to hold up under some of the most rugged conditions, and has been in service for about eight years with virtually no maintenance issues. In addition to the Segway, there is another popular electric- powered personal transportation device known as the T3 Motion 3- wheeled scooter, which is in use by many police agencies. The Moorpark Police Department chose the Segway over the T3 for several reasons. The Segway costs about half the price of the T3. The Segway is much more maneuverable in crowded conditions such as the Moorpark High School campus, requiring less space to navigate a turn than the T3. If an officer has to leave the Segway behind to chase a suspect on foot, the Segway is less likely to be stolen since it requires a bit more training and practice to ride the device than the T3. While deploying officers for special enforcement, they are normally assigned in pairs for their own safety, which is why the Police Department is interested in obtaining two Segway devices. TSM Fund (2001) would be used to purchase the Segway devices. Purchase of alternate fuel vehicles for the City Fleet was included in the City Council adopted TSM program. TSM funds are used for the purpose of addressing air quality in our ,,x1)061 Honorable City Council February 18, 2009 Page 3 community, and electric powered vehicles qualify as alternate fuel vehicles. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the average American car emits approximately 1.14 Ibs of CO2 per mile. The Segwa)(s impact, based on the production of electricity to charge the battery, is .081 Ibs per mile. Police Department staff solicited bids from four Southern California Segway dealers for two properly outfitted Segways for police service. All four dealers returned the bid information. All four bids were for two properly outfitted Segways, including sales tax. Their bid responses are as follows: Bidder Dealer Quotes Segway of Long Beach $11,908.93 Segway of Santa Barbara $13,067.70 Segway of Pacific Beach $13,655.50 Segway of Orange County $14,966.29 The lowest responsible bidder is Segway of Long Beach. In addition to the monetary bid, Segway of Long Beach offered free shipping /delivery, free police training course, and a free parking stand. FISCAL IMPACT The fiscal impact to the city includes the original purchase price of the devices and electricity to charge the batteries. According to Segway Inc., the lithium Ion batteries in the device require 1.04 kWh of electricity to fully charge, which costs on average .16 cents. Assuming the Segway device would be used 200 days per year, the electricity costs would be $32 each per year, however, it is unlikely they would be used for 200 days per year. The maintenance costs should be very minimal if at all. The Sheriffs Bomb Team Segway has been in use for about eight years and has never needed any service except for occasional air in the tires. Training costs should also be very minimal. Segway, Inc. requires that law enforcement officers have at least four hours of certified training to be able to safely use their device, and Segway, Inc. provides a certified trainer at additional cost. The Moorpark Police Department currently has one officer who is a certified Segway trainer, and who would provide the necessary training without the additional cost of hiring a trainer from Segway, Inc. It is estimated that four or five officers would initially be trained, using the currently allocated police training budget. ,�atl()f2 Honorable City Council February 18, 2009 Page 4 STAFF RECOMMENDATION (ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED) Adopt Resolution No. 2009- ,authorizing an amendment to the FY 2008/09 Budget to allocate $11,909 from the TSM Fund (2001) for the purchase of two new Segway personal transportation devices; Award the purchase of the Segway devices to Segway of Long Beach, the lowest responsible bidder; and authorize the City Finance Department to process the necessary purchase order to obtain the devices with the allocated funds. Attachments: 1. Draft Resolution 2. Vehicle Description �0 OF Honorable City Council February 18, 2009 Page 5 RESOLUTION NO. 2009 - ATTACHMENT? A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2008/09 BUDGET TO ALLOCATE $11,909 FROM THE TRAFFIC SYSTEM MANAGEMENT FUND (2001) TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET ACCOUNT WHEREAS, on July 2, 2008, the City Council adopted the budget for Fiscal Year 2008/09; and WHEREAS, a staff report has been presented to said Council requesting a budget amendment allocating $11,909 from the Traffic System Management Fund for the purchase of two new Segway Personal Transportation devices; and WHEREAS, Exhibit "A" hereof describes said budget amendment and its resultant impacts to the budget line item(s), NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. A budget amendment allocating $11,909 from the Traffic System Management Fund for the purchase of two Segway Personal Transportation devices, more particularly described in Exhibit "B" attached hereto is hereby approved. SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall cause a certified resolution to be filed in the book of original resolutions. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of February, 2009. Janice S. Parvin, Mayor Attest: Maureen Benson, Assistant City Clerk Attachment: Exhibit "A" — Budget Revision '100C Honorable City Council February 18, 2009 Page 6 EXHIBIT A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM! MANAGEMENT FUND TO PURCHASE TWO SEGINAY PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION DEVICES FOR USE BY POLICE DEPARTMENT DURING SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT FY 2008109 FUND ALLOCATION FROM: Fund Title Fund- Account Number Amount Trans ortabon System Management Fund 2001 -5500 $ 11 909.00 $ 11,909.00 $ 41, 909.00 $ - $ - $ - Total $ 11,909.00 DISTRIBUTION OF APPROPRIATION TO EXPENSE ACCOUNTS: Account Number Current Bud Revision Amended Budget 2001- 9200 -0000-9505 30, 000.00 $ 11,909.00 $ 41, 909.00 $ - $ - $ - Total 30,000.00 $ 111909.00 $ 41 ,909.00 Finance approval: 61 A Honorable City Council February 18, 2009 Page 7 Vehicle Description SPECIFICATIONS Segway PT (Personal Transportation) Device • Two (2) i2 Base Model Segway PT • Two (2) i2 Police Package: o Lower Cargo Frames o Accessory Bar o Comfort Mats o Police Reflectivity o Handlebar Bag o Tail Light • Two (2) i2 Universal Cargo Plate Kit • Two (2) i2 Hard Side Case and Structure ATTACHMENT 2