Carlsbad City Council Agenda: New Police Vehicle, In-Car Video Systems

CARLSBAD, CA—The City of Carlsbad will discuss various issues at this week's City Council meetings. The online agenda shows the top issues facing the city, including the need to purchase a new police vehicle and upgrade existing cars with video systems.

At the Tuesday, Feb. 4 meeting at 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive in the council chambers, the Carlsbad City Council members were expected to approve consent calendar items, including purchasing a replacement police patrol vehicle and appropriating $85,000 for the fiscal year 2024-25 Fleet Vehicle Replacement Fund.

City Manager Geoff Patnoe stated that a Carlsbad police patrol vehicle was "significantly damaged in a crash in October of 2022." The cost to repair exceeds $35,000, so that vehicle will be auctioned off as a "total loss," he said. They will replace the defunct vehicle with a hybrid police patrol vehicle, as the city has unsuccessfully attempted since 2023.

"In late 2023, staff determined that the damaged vehicle should instead be replaced with a new hybrid police patrol vehicle as soon as vehicles were more readily available to order from Ford Motor Company," Patnoe said. Those vehicles were now available for order in 2025, though the cost may exceed the previously authorized amount, and more funds would need to be released.

According to the agenda's consent calendar, the council will also discuss agreements to update the Police Department's computer-aided dispatch and in-car video systems to reflect technological changes.

The city manager has suggested a resolution authorizing an agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc. for the computer-aided dispatch system that does not exceed $2,452,419 over nine years.

Although the dispatchers' CAD system is fully functional, at 21 years of service, it is nearing the end of its service life, Patnoe said.

They would also attempt to negotiate a Motorola Solutions, Inc. agreement for in-car video equipment and services for 94 police vehicles, not to exceed %572,548.35, with a term ending in July of 2029, according to the agenda.

Agendas and staff reports are emailed to you directly, and if you want to provide input, email council@carlsbadca.gov before the meeting or come in person and fill out a request to speak before your item begins, the city clerk advised.

See the full agenda for Feb. 4, 2025, online.