In 2002, the City of Sugar Land accepted a monetary donation of $106,075 from the 100 Club.  The donation was used to purchase a new 2002 Winnebago for public safety use as a mobile command vehicle for major events and emergency incidents within the City of Sugar Land.

In 2014, a request was submitted under the leadership of the Emergency Management team of the Fire Department addressing the need to replace the City’s current mobile command vehicle due to its age, increasing maintenance & repair costs, and out-of-date technology.

In 2017, City Council authorized the purchase of a new vehicle in the amount of $319,798.50.  The funding source for this purchase was from the use of restricted tax notes for the purchase of Fire department capital items and $108,000 in police seizure funds.  Due to limited funds allocated for this project, several electronic and equipment components were not included in the initial purchase such as computers, audio, video related items. 

In 2018, the police department identified available funds in the state seizure fund that could be used to purchase several of the unmet equipment needs for the mobile command vehicle.  Due to the timing of available funds, there was no way to include the vehicle and all of the needed equipment in one purchase process.  As such, staff is requesting the use of $42,894 from state seizure funds to purchase mobile command vehicle related equipment (audio, video, computer, mast, and vehicle leveling system) and $49,000 for twenty police SWAT rifles due for replacement ($40,000) and a police identification card machine ($9,000).  The mobile command vehicle is currently being built by LDV incorporated and the buildout equipment requested in this agenda item will be added as a change order to the original vehicle purchase.

Staff recommends City Council to authorize a budget amendment in the amount of $91,894 from the State Seizure fund balance. This funding will be used for the purchase of the Mobile Command build out equipment and to purchase SWAT Rifles and Training equipment.