HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/16/2004 - STAFF REPORTS (6) DATE: June 16, 2004
TO: City Council
FROM: Chief of Police and Director of Procurement & Contracting
APPROVE PURCHASE OF AIRCRAFT ENGINE AND RELATED EQUIPMENT FOR
CITY-OWNED FIXED WING AIRCRAFT
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council approve the purchase and installation of an
aircraft engine and related components from Blue's Aviation Service, San Bernardino,
CA, in the amount of $34,842.24 for the City-owned fixed-wing aircraft utilized by the
Palm Springs Police Aero Squadron.
SUMMARY:
This is a recommendation for the Police Department to replace the Aero Squadron
airplane's engine and related components. Currently, the aircraft's engine is near
maximum allowable (per FAA guidelines) tolerances for piston cylinders.
The sources of funding for this upgrade are grants received for this purpose and
donations from the Aero Squadron.
BACKGROUND:
The Palm Springs Police Aero Squadron has been in existence for approximately 50
years. Since the beginning, the group has been comprised of volunteer pilots, aircraft
owners, and observers that provided our only locally-controlled air operations in the City
of Palm Springs. Missions were dependent, however, upon the availability of pilots and
their personally owned aircraft.
The Aero Squadron acquired its first airplane in 1985. In 1992, the Squadron replaced
its first plane with a 1974 Cessna 182 Skylane. This plane is a high-wing aircraft, well
suited for law enforcement operations.
Since acquiring the Cessna, the Aero Squadron has been called upon to assist with
numerous law enforcement missions including search and rescue for lost hikers,
missing children, missing at-risk adults, surveillance, transportation of personnel and
prisoners, pursuits, aerial photos for search warrants and major crime scenes, etc.
Lately, the Aero Squadron has been requested more frequently by our narcotics task
forces to provide aerial coverage for surveillance, search, and arrest warrant execution.
In many cases, the Police Department personnel are relying upon the crew in the
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airplane not only to help prevent the suspects from escaping, but to provide critical
officer safety intelligence from their aerial platform.
The airplane, 30 years old, has had many engine repairs over the years to the point that
it has no tolerance left for further repairs. The aircraft is now in need of a new engine.
The last time the engine was maintained (per FAA guidelines) it was necessary to bore
the piston cylinders down to their lowest tolerance. Once again, the piston cylinders
need to be bored but there is no tolerance left to do so.
In addition, the hoses and cables are the original equipment on a 30-year-old aircraft.
This necessitates the replacement of the entire airplane engine and related
components.
No general fund monies are being utilized for this acquisition. The Aero Squadron
donated a portion of the funds required ($5000) from funds collected as dues and from
fundraising activities. Funds have been designated and are available as follows:
.30 1 '
$24, 842.24 3201-43929 Forfeited Assets - Local
$ 5,000.00 3012-43921 Forfeited Assets - Federal PSNTF
$ 5,000.00 3014-52031 Safety Augmentation - Police Aero Squadron
GARY / , RON Harold E. Good
Chief o' P ice Director of Procurement & Contracting
APPROVED:
City Manager
Attachments: 1. Minute Order
REVIEWED BY D�EPI OF FINANCE
AC)Lw
MINUTE ORDER
APPROVING THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF
AN AIRCRAFT ENGINE AND RELATED COMPONENTS
FROM BLUE'S AVIATION SERVICE, SAN BERNARDINO,
CA, IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,842.24 FOR THE CITY-
OWNED FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT UTILIZED BY THE
PALM SPRINGS POLICE AERO SQUADRON
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this Minute Order, approving the purchase and installation of
an aircraft engine and related components from Blue's Aviation Service, San
Bernardino, CA, in the amount of $34,842.24 for the City-owned fixed-wing aircraft
utilized by the Palm Springs Police Aero Squadron, was adopted by the City Council of
the City of Palm Springs, California, in a meeting thereof held on the 2nd day of June,
2004.
City Clerk
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