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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,January 24,2011 Page 6 communities used for their vehicle turnover, with the majority usually closer to 100,000 miles. Councilmember McGehee asked why the department had selected Dodge Chargers. Chief Mathwig noted that, while the Dodge Charger came in second choice to the Chevrolet Caprice and other limited police package pursuit vehicles, the Squad Committee recommended the Charger as vehicle of choice since Chevrolet could not guarantee the state bid price. Councilmember McGehee questioned why the recommendation was for a Che- vrolet Tahoe for replacement of exiting canine vehicles; opining that the dimen- sions of the Charger are larger than other vehicles. Councilmember McGehee further questioned why several of the Department's existing vehicles could not be retrofitted as canine units. Chief Mathwig advised that the design and size of the metal cage for canine offic- ers limited the type of vehicle that could safely house the canines during pursuit, other than the Crown Victoria, scheduled to be discontinued in 2011, and rated the worst for braking and acceleration. Chief Mathwig explained that there was several thousand dollars of additional equipment added after factory for each squad, in addition to other equipment on the canine units, making it less cost- efficient to retrofit that equipment on fleet units scheduled to go out of service due to their high mileage and doubling labor efforts. Councilmember McGehee noted that, in her research with other communities, she had been told that the Tahoe did not handle as well as other police vehicles, got poor gas mileage, and caused resentment from taxpayers in communities when truck-like vehicles were used as squads. Chief Mathwig advised that the vehicles used by the Department were stripped down models, pursuit rated, and according to annual Michigan State Police test- ing of police package cars, the Tahoe rated higher than the Crown Victoria. Chief Mathwig offered to further review ratings with Councilmember McGehee outside the confines of the meeting. Councilmember McGehee questioned the cost difference between the Tahoe and Charger, with Chief Mathwig estimating approximately $3,000 price difference. At the request of Councilmember McGehee, Chief Mathwig further reviewed the projected mileage among vehicles; canine cage design; and significant review of the Squad Committee prior to recommending replacement vehicles. Councilmember McGehee expressed her preference to wait longer to replace the vehicles.