M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Mayor and Town Council
From: Rafael G. Casals, Town Manager
Date: May 20, 2015
Re: Purchase of Two (2) Segway SE-3 Patroller Units
REQUESTTitle
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER TO SEGWAY INC. FOR THE PURCHASE OF TWO (2) SE-3 PATROLLER UNITS IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 24,621.00, AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXPEND BUDGETED FUNDS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
In order to maintain the existing level of Police visibility, responsiveness, and enhance our community policing efforts within our community, Town staff is requesting to purchase two (2) Segway SE-3 Patroller Units. The Segway SE-3 Patroller Units were designed with the direct input of trusted law enforcement and security professionals and have proven to improve community policing programs by increasing an officer's interaction, visibility and responsiveness. These Patroller Units are eleven (11) times more efficient than the average American car and over three (3) times more efficient than even the highest mileage scooters. As zero-emission vehicles, the Segway Patroller Units have the capabilities of transitioning from outdoor to indoor at any given time.
The Patroller Unit(s) would be an invaluable tool that would be operated by our Neighborhood Resource Unit's officers. In many ways our officer's focus on the style of community oriented policing, adding the Patroller Unit(s) would amplify their efforts. These are the most significant advantages to patrolling in the Segway:
· Visible and help project a stronger police presence
· Able to efficiently patrol a larger area, 3x faster than on foot and with less fatigue
· Capable of traveling indoors, outdoors and over varied and uneven terrain
· Empowered to easily facilitate positive interaction with the community
· Able to proactively quickly gather intelligence during patrols from observations and citizens to ultimately deter crime
· To patrol Town parades and events
· A magnet that can be used as a great public relations tool
For case studies and testimonials from other Police Jurisdictions, please see Attachment "A" to this memorandum.
These Patroller Units will display a more visible and obvious security presence throughout the Town and are ideal for the police officer who will require frequent mounting and dismounting during any given patrol period.
The proposed Patroller Units will be striped and fortified with all the standard equipment and the vehicles will be operated on a daily basis, by police personnel assigned to the Town. The source of funding for the proposed purchase is the Town's Police Impact Fee fund.
In accordance with Section 3.10 of the Town Charter, the Town Manager has made a written recommendation to the Town Council and the Town Council has determined that it is impracticable to competitively bid items because they are available from only one vendor (Attachment "B"), and the Town Council finds that approval of the Vendor for the purchase of the goods is in the best interest of the Town. Additionally, the following Police Jurisdictions have purchase the Segway SE-3 Patrolling Unit (City of Miami, City of Delray Beach, and Monroe County Sheriff's Office) at same price of $ 11,999.00 (Attachment "C")
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the attached resolution authorizing the Town Manager to issue a Purchase Order in the amount of $ 24,621.00 to Segway, Inc. (Sole Source Vendor) be adopted.