Busy Cheney council approves vehicle lease

The Cheney City Council approved a Police Department request to lease three new patrol vehicles as one of 16 agenda items at a busy council meeting May 10.

The agreement with First Capital Leasing Equipment Corporation will allow the department to lease three fully equipped, 2017 all-wheel-drive Ford Police Interceptors for four years at $44,918.69 per year. Police Chief John Hensley said the agreement is similar to one enacted four years ago, with the only difference being the 2017 Interceptors will have new computers that will stay with the department for 7 – 8 years.

According to lease information, the average age of the vehicles being replaced is seven years, with the average mileage standing at 103,828 miles. Councilman Ryan Gaard asked Hensley if there would be any changes with the newer vehicles.

“The 2017s will look just like the 2016s,” Hensley said. “The only difference is the grills — ours are chrome-plated, these are black.”

In another vehicle-related agenda item, the council approved a Light Department request to put up for auction a 1999 Ford Aerial Double Bucket Truck. The truck was declared surplus in April 1995 when the department ordered its new bucket truck, and put a minimum sale price of $11,000 on the older vehicle.

Since then the city has had no offers, and Light Department Director Steve Boorman recommended putting it up for auction through J.J. Kane Auctioneers, with no minimum bid set.

“It probably won’t bring (in) the $11,000,” Boorman added.

At the request of the Cheney Municipal Court, the council approved a contract with the Spokane Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) for victims of domestic violence court services. Washington state law requires individuals arrested for offenses involving domestic violence make an appearance before a magistrate within one judicial-day after their arrest so courts can make determinations on restrictive needs such as no contact orders.

Often, this requires domestic violence victims to make a court appearance also. Terri Cooper, Cheney Municipal Court’s administrator/commissioner, said the YWCA has victim’s rights advocates trained and with experience to help victims through these appearances, advocacy the courts are required to provide by law.

The no-cost contract runs for one year, and can be automatically renewed. The council also approved another contract with the YWCA to allow the organization to set up an information kiosk in the Municipal Court lobby that provides public information for domestic violence victims.

Council also voted to renew a maintenance agreement with Black Box Network Services to take care of the city’s phone system. The five-year, $3,950 a year contract was set to expire in 2016. Black Box Network Services first entered into an agreement to maintain the city’s phone system in 2011.

The council also approved three separate contracts authorizing summer roadwork on Betz Road, Washington Street and sidewalk removal and replacement at several locations along First Street.

In ordinances, the council held the first reading of an ordinance establishing an overlay, approved unanimously by the Planning Commission on April 11, for the Washington Court residential area across Elm Street from Eastern Washington University. The ordinance establishes zoning and land use regulations for limited residential development along Washington Court which Public Works Director Todd Ableman said would conform to R-3 multifamily regulations, but would be more “campus-style” in nature.

Finally, the council approved passage of the city’s 2016-2021 capital facilities plan, as well as held the first reading of ordinances repealing outdated language in sections of the city’s building and construction codes.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.