2000_0828_packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Date: August 28, 2000 Item No.: E.2 Departm nt A rov t: er A rove I: AgendaSection: OrrTaria_7?t tonal Business Item Description: Appro a for the Roseville Police Department to accept the donation of a used golf cart to implement the Citizen's Park Patrol Program BACKGROUND The Roseville Police Department has long recognized the need for improved patrol of our city's parks, but due to lack of appropriate equipment and limited personnel the department has not been in a position to implement an effective park patrol program. In June of 1997, the police department requested approval from the city council to apply for a COPS Advancing Community Policing Grant, and the City Council granted approval for the police department to apply for the grant. The Request for Council Action read as follows: The grant request of approximately $58,000 will cover the cost of shirts, jackets and rain slickers with logos for the volunteers, three motorized and enclosed golf carts for patrolling trails and parking lots, ..". Unfortunately, the department was not awarded the COPS grant. The department has been approached by a group of local businessmen that will donate a used, gasoline powered golf cart to the police department. The value of this golf cart is estimated to be$1,500.00. The donors wish to remain anonymous. The donors have also stipulated that the donated golf cart be used solely by the police department for the purpose of implementing and conducting a volunteer citizens' park patrol program. PROPOSED ACTION Upon acceptance of the golf cart donation by the City Council, the Roseville Police Department Community Relations Coordinator will introduce a volunteer citizens' park patrol program to the community. Volunteers for the program will be trained by the Community Relations Coordinator at no additional cost to the City. Through the use of a golf cart, the volunteer citizens' park patrol will have access to areas and trails of the parks that the patrol officers cannot access in the squad cars. And, by using the service of community volunteers (who will be furnished with police department radios to call for assistance if needed) the parks will be safer for everyone to use. John Konchal, who lives near Reservoir Park and who wants to patrol that park, has offered to assist in the coordination of the volunteer citizens' park patrol program. Mr. Konchal has been a St. Paul Reserve Officer for twenty-five years and will be an integral player in the establishment of the park patrol program. Mr. Konchal has also offered to store and trailer the golf cart for the police department. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The golf cart is a donation; therefore, there is no cost to the city for the initial purchase. There will be costs associated with the golf cart (i.e., maintenance and fuel); however, it is difficult to estimate what costs will actually be until the program is implemented. It is the departments plan to cover any accrued costs for operation of the golf cart under the police operations budget.