For City Council Meeting [May 12, 2020]
TO: Honorable City Council
APPROVAL: Rod Foster, City Manager
FROM: Mark P. Kling, Chief of Police
Title
Request City Council to Approve the Purchase of Sixty (60) Colt LE6940 Rifles from ProForce Law Enforcement in the Amount of $67,126.10.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND
The Police Department is in need of patrol rifles. The patrol rifle supply consists of 36 Colt LE6940 style rifles, and an additional 60 are needed to assign each officer their own rifle.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The patrol rifle offers the benefit of precision target acquisition at distances in comparison with shotguns and handguns. The department owns 36 Colt LE6940 style patrol rifles, which are currently being shared by all officers. The benefit of precision is lost when multiple officers share from a pool of rifles, as shared rifles are not sighted specifically for one user. The results from firing an improperly sighted rifle places officers into a disadvantage position and increases the risk of a round not hitting the intended target. However, this type of risk can be mitigated by assigning a dedicated rifle to each sworn officer. This practice will ensure that in the unfortunate event a rifle must be deployed, the officer will be confident the weapon is accurately sighted and precise.
Additionally, a rifle assigned to each officer will be better maintained and accounted for, thus preserving the service life of the rifle and the department’s inventory as a whole. This benefit is consistent with police department handguns, which are assigned to and cared for by each individual officer.
In order to maintain continuity in rifle models and ensure each patrol officer has a personally assigned rifle, staff has determined that 60 additional Colt LE6940 rifles are needed.
The formal bidding requirement was waived for this purchase, as ProForce Law Enforcement is the sole distributor of Colt rifles in the Western United States. Staff has worked with the purchasing department and determined that this purchase request is acceptable as specified under Rialto Municipal Code 2.48.060 - Sole Source Provision.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action does not meet the definition of a project as defined by Section 15378 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and excludes the following:
1. Continuing administrative or maintenance activities, such as purchases for supplies, personnel-related actions, general policy and procedure making
2. Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The City of Rialto has outlined key goals and objectives relating to public safety.
Goal 5-8: Provide effective and comprehensive policing services that meet the safety needs of Rialto.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
Funding in the amount of $67,126.10 is available in FY17/18 COPS Annual Allocation Account No. 214-500-6977-2021 for the purchase for sixty (60) Colt LE6940 rifles from ProForce Law Enforcement.
Per Rialto Municipal Code Section: 2.48.145 a vendor disclosure form is attached.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
This report does not impact the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
This action does not trigger a requirement for a business license.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the purchase of 60 Colt LE6940 patrol rifles from ProForce Law Enforcement in the amount of $67,126.10.