Council approves consent calendar including purchase of five police vehicles after public objection
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Summary
After a public comment urging funds be redirected to social‑service needs, the council unanimously approved consent items 9–15 — including purchasing five 2026 police vehicles costing $331,000 — with staff saying ordering windows and fleet reliability justify the purchase.
A member of the public, Bob Moore, urged the council to reject the purchase of five new police vehicles (item 15) and to prioritize funding for homelessness and direct aid. "You prioritize police cars over people," Moore said during public comment, citing national social‑safety‑net concerns.
City Manager Adam Raymond and other staff explained the timing: vehicle orders are constrained by manufacturer ordering windows and lead times, and the city periodically replaces units that are high‑mileage or damaged. Raymond said vehicles are ordered months in advance and must be outfitted before entering service. Mayor David Friedendahl emphasized that odometer and hour‑meter readings make fleet replacement necessary.
Despite the public comment, the council voted unanimously to approve the consent calendar (items 9–15), which included the purchase of five police vehicles at a total cost of $331,000. Councilmembers indicated they appreciate the public concern and encouraged continued dialogue about priorities as budgets are reviewed.