Agenda Item Wording:
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Authorization to purchase four police services canines from Gold Coast K9 Services - Authorize a sole source purchase to replace four (4) police services canines from Gold Coast K9 Services in Ventura, CA, and purchase the required supplies and training for a total project cost of $87,400. Appropriate an additional $10,300 in Asset Forfeiture Funds.
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Agenda Date: 04/06/2026
Prepared by: Chief Jason Salazar, 713- 4215, Jason.Salazar@visalia.gov ; Captain Daniel Ford, 713-4151, Daniel.Ford@visalia.gov ; Lieutenant Clay Moffett, 713-4408, Clay.Moffett@visalia.gov ; Financial Analyst Liz Ybarra, 713-4250, Liz.Ybarra@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation: Authorize a sole source purchase to replace four (4) police services canines from Gold Coast K9 services in Ventura, CA, and the required supplies and training for a total project cost of $87,400. Appropriate an additional $10,300 in Asset Forfeiture Funds (621) and transfer funds from CIP CP0611 to CIP CP0747 so that all available funds are in a single account.
Summary:
The Visalia Police Department has utilized the services of police service canines for more than 40 years. Police service canines have proven to be a valuable tool in enhancing officer and public safety through a variety of service applications such as their ability to search, track, assist in apprehensions of suspects, locate evidence, and as valuable community outreach assets. Police service canines can be utilized to assist in searching, tracking, and locating persons or evidence beyond the abilities of their human partners and can also be deployed in situations to minimize risk to police officers, enhancing both officer and community safety.
Beyond this service, the Visalia Police Department has historically involved its police service canines in a variety of community outreach events and public engagements including, but not limited to: Coffee with a Cop, Hometown Heroes, and service club and school presentations. Police service canines have proven to be a great tool for making positive connections with the community and interactions with officers.
Currently the department has one police service canine assigned to the Patrol Division and it is nearing the end of its service career. These requested canines will be utilized in the Patrol Division to assist in searching for and locating individuals who are attempting to evade arrest and pose a risk to public safety. Additionally, the four police service canines will be cross-trained in scent detection; three in narcotics scent detection, and one in explosive scent detection
The Visalia Police Department has been waiting for the new California POST guidelines regarding guidelines for Police K-9 units. These guidelines recommend minimum training and evaluation benchmarks for K-9 Patrol and Detection functions. The standards that were established by California POST were minimum standards for basic canine handler/team training, the deployment of canines during patrol operations, performance standards for Police Canines, and scent detection standards. The Visalia Police Department K9 Unit will meet or exceed all standards outlined in California POST K-9 Guidelines.
Background Discussion:
The Visalia Police K9 Unit currently consists of two (2) police service canines and their officer handlers, a patrol canine and narcotics detection canine. The K9 Unit staffing levels historically consisted of six (6) patrol service canines and one (1) narcotics detection canine but five (5) of these police service canines have been retired over the last few years. This proposal seeks to replace four (4) of those previously retired of police service canines.
Gold Coast K-9 Services is the sole provider of monthly maintenance training to the Visalia Police Department K9 Unit (Gold Coast also provides training services to various other agencies in the Tulare/Kings Counties area). Additionally, Gold Coast K-9 Services sell an almost fully trained canine when it is assigned to the handler compared to the other California vendors that sell “green” dogs, meaning they have a very basic level of training. Gold Coast canines are trained to meet the requirements outlined by POST and will be ready to start training with the officer upon delivery.
In addition, Gold Coast also deals in smaller numbers which means they can focus on quality and not quantity. The other vendors are importing larger number of canines for their accounts, which means the quality of canine can diminish. Gold Coast K-9 Services has provided maintenance training and Police Service Canine to the City of Visalia for several years. They are known for their professional services and commitment to providing the best canines for California Law Enforcement needs.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs:
There is a total budget of $77,146 to make this purchase, which is currently budgeted into two separate Asset Forfeiture accounts. CIP 6210/CP0747 has a budget of $61,000 and 6210/CP0611 has a remainder budget of $16,146 to replace canines from a previous budget year. Staff is requesting to transfer the funds from 6210/CP0611 to 6210/CP0747 and appropriate an additional $10,300 from the Asset Forfeiture Fund.
The cost of the dogs will be offset by a donation of $27,341 which was received March 4, 2025, from the Friends of Police K-9 and community members, and a previous credit from Gold Coast. There is a total of 6 operable patrol vehicles dedicated to the K-9 unit, therefore, there is no need to purchase any vehicles. These specialized units are on a regular replacement schedule of 7 years, and 75,000 miles. The police canine vehicles are ready for use.
There will be additional ongoing operating cost as indicated in the table below.
Prior Council Action: N/A
Alternatives: Do not replace the Police Canines
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
Authorize a sole source purchase to replace four (4) police service canines from Gold Coast K9 Services in Ventura, CA and purchase the required supplies and training for a total project cost of $87,400. Appropriate an additional $10,300 in Asset Forfeiture Funds 621 and transfer funds from CP0611 to CIP CP0747.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 04/06/2026
Attachments: Gold Coast K-9 Services Quote
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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