REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  September  19, 2017
CATEGORY:  Consent - Law and Justice-9.

SUBJECT:

Authorize Use of County-Owned Vehicles by Search and Rescue Volunteers and Citizens Volunteer Patrol.

Supervisorial District No. :  All

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Anthony Bertain, Lieutenant (530) 245-6095

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Tom Bosenko, Sheriff; Pat Minturn, Public Works Director

RECOMMENDATION

Authorize the use of two County-owned vehicles, a 1995 Chevrolet K2500 4x4 by the Search and Rescue Volunteers (SRV), and a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis by the Citizens Volunteer Patrol (CVP), under the following conditions:  (1)  The vehicles will not be included in the County replacement program; (2) the SRV and CVP will be responsible for fuel and maintenance costs of the vehicles and the cost of biennial smog inspections; and (3)  the Sheriff’s Office will be responsible for the semi-annual safety vehicle inspection expense of $75 per vehicle and costs related to Defensive Driving Training of the SRV and CVP.

SUMMARY

With approval of the recommendation the SRV team will be authorized use of a 1995 Chevrolet K2500, 4X4, quad cab pickup, with approximately 106,530 miles.  Additionally, the CVP will be authorized use of a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis four door sedan with approximately 116,100 miles.  Both vehicles have been parked awaiting a decision on disposition as both were previously replaced in the fleet.

DISCUSSION

The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit consists of highly dedicated volunteers.  The volunteers are assigned to specialty units such as Flying Posse, Dirt Bike Team, Mountain Team, etc.  The volunteers are available on-call, willing to respond and assist the Sheriffs’ Office with any number of incidents or emergencies. Teams participate in monthly trainings/meetings to stay proficient in each of their individual skill sets. 

SRV have expressed a need for a reliable vehicle that is designated to haul volunteers and specialty equipment when needed to trainings and missions. This 1995 Chevrolet K2500 4x4 fits the need as expressed. If SRV no longer finds the need to use the vehicle, or if it is replaced, the vehicle will then be returned to the County to be sold as determined by Fleet Management.  The surplus proceeds upon such sale will be deposited in the Fleet replacement fund.

The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office CVP consists of highly dedicated volunteers within the community.  The CVP are assigned in geographical areas. The volunteers are available on-call, willing to respond and assist the Sheriffs’ Office with any number of incidents or emergencies to support Sheriff’s Office permanent full time staff members. The program is designed to provide supplemental detection and reporting of suspicious persons and activities to the Sheriff’s Office and is composed of civilian volunteers who are residents of Shasta County. Examples of their activities include: patrolling the streets as a high visibility "eyes and ears" for the Sheriff's Office; providing business, residential, vacation and vacant home checks; assisting in the event of emergencies; and participating in Business Watch and Neighborhood Watch activities.

The CVP has expressed a need for a reliable vehicle that is designated to provide transportation for volunteers who conduct volunteer patrols within the community. The 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis fits the need as expressed. If the CVP no longer finds the need to use the vehicle, or if it is replaced, the vehicle will then be returned to the County to be sold as determined by Fleet Management.  The surplus proceeds upon such sale will be deposited in the fleet replacement fund.

The Board has previously approved similar surplus vehicle assignments to SRV and CVP groups. The Sheriff’s Office will take responsibility for the cost of semi-annual safety inspections in order to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle. Fleet Management will work with the Sheriff’s Office to help track the safety inspections.  Fleet management includes the volunteer vehicles in the Fleet Management capital asset lists but does not include them in the total number of vehicles reported for the County’s fleet size.  This vehicle will be tracked as an “Out of Service” vehicle meaning not in the County’s replacement or operations programs.

ALTERNATIVES

The Board may choose to not approve this request in which case the Sheriff’s Office, SRV, and CVP will work to identify an alternative solution to find vehicles for these volunteer groups.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

Fleet Management Division of the Public Works Department has recommended both of these vehicles for the SRV and CVP and concurs with this recommendation.  The County Administrative Office has reviewed the recommendation.

FINANCING

The Sheriff’s Office has agreed to be responsible for costs related to Defensive Driving Training for SRV and CVP as well as the $75.00 semi-annual vehicle safety inspection charge.  In the event the County sustains any insurance losses from the operations of these vehicle, the difference between fair market value and any insurance proceeds would be charged to the Sheriff’s Office.  The Fleet Replacement Fund will lose the current surplus auction value of the vehicle; however when the vehicle is later returned for surplus at auction there will likely be some remaining value which will be recouped.