Agenda Item Wording:
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Authorize the City Manager to sign a contract with Gold Coast K-9 - Authorize the City Manager to approve a five-year service contract with Gold Coast K-9 located in Ventura, CA in the amount of $90,000 and appropriate $27,000 from the General Fund.
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Deadline for Action: 1/21/2025
Submitting Department: Police Department
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Chief Jason Salazar, ext. 4215, jason.salazar@visalia.city <mailto:jason.salazar@visalia.city>;
Lieutenant Mona Whaley, ext. 4205, mona.whaley@visalia.city <mailto:mona.whaley@visalia.city>;
Financial Analyst Liz Ybarra, ext. 4250, liz.ybarra@visalia.city <mailto:liz.ybarra@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
Authorize the City Manager to sign a 5-year service contract with Gold Coast K-9 in the amount of $90,000 and appropriate $27,000 from the General Fund. While the final contract has not been finalized, the contract will not be signed until it has been reviewed and approved by the City Attorney, Finance Director and Risk Manager.
Summary:
The Visalia Police Department Canine Unit consists of six police service canine positions including five patrol canine positions and one narcotics detection canine. The Department is recommending entering into a contract with Gold Coast K9 to take over our K9 team training. Gold Coast K9 has been in business for over 30 years, and they specialize in training police canine teams. Gold Coast K9 has proven to be a leader in producing consistently high standards for canine teams. Gold Coast K9 will provide local police service dog maintenance training in both patrol and detection.
Background Discussion:
The Visalia Police Department has utilized police service canines for more than forty years. Police canines can be utilized to assist in searching, tracking and locating people or evidence beyond the abilities of their human partners. They can also be deployed in situations to minimize risk to police officers, enhancing officer safety. Beyond the service enhancement benefits provided by canines, they are utilized in various community outreach events and public engagements.
To maintain proficiency in these areas, canine teams must train consistently. The recommended minimum training standard, set by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), is 16 hours a month with an annual evaluation. To reach this training threshold, one training day would be an eight-hour block training with Gold Coast’s POST certified trainer while the remaining days each month would be two to three-hour trainings with the handler and canine during the work shift.
Recently the Visalia Police Department Canine Unit utilized an in-house K9 trainer. Due to changes within the unit, the Department is required to locate a new K-9 training provider to ensure compliance with best practices and legal mandates. Department staff began reviewing training providers, including Gold Coast K9, Law Dog K9, and Meyers K9. The City’s most recent canine acquisitions were made from Gold Coast K9 which included having Visalia’s assigned canine handlers attend Gold Coast's basic handler training before going into service. Gold Coast's canines and subsequent training have met the department's high standards and have been successful additions to the Canine Unit. Additionally, multiple local agencies currently utilize Gold Coast K9 to purchase and train their canines/handlers, creating an operational consistency with our law enforcement partners should the need for mutual aid arise.
Due to the urgency for a need of obtaining a trainer, the Department obtained quotes from the three vendors listed above in lieu of the traditional bid process. Gold Coast K9 was the least expensive. This quote includes a local day training each month and access to 3 additional training days at Gold Coast’s training facility in Ventura.
At this time, the Department has (2) canines, but it is anticipated the number will increase as more canines are acquired. This price is bundled for the K9 unit as a whole.
Fiscal Impact:
Process a budget adjustment in 2102 for $9,000 for K-9 training services for the remaining expenditure in FY 24/25 and budget $18,000 for FY 25/26. The ongoing annual expenditure will be budgeted during the bi-annual budget process. The annual cost of $18,000 is for the entire canine unit.
Prior Council Action: None.
Other: N/A
Alternatives: Deny the contract and provide alternative direction.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to sign a 5-year service contract with Gold Coast K-9 in the amount of $90,000 and appropriate $27,000 from the General Fund.
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: Attached quote from Gold Coast K-9.