Over $25 million in FY99 will be spent on new fire stations, police
district offices and vehicle acquisitions/replacements and technology improvements.
Police District Offices/Communications Center/Headquarters Garage
To better reach out to citizens the Police Department has decentralized its operations.
This fall, officers assigned to District I will report to their new office near Tampa
International Airport while District II officers will move to their new office located
near Busch Gardens. The new communications center is scheduled to be completed next
April
and will house both fire and police personnel. Total cost of these facilities is
approximately $6.7 million.
Police
Take-Home Car Program
Substantial funding is included to address the aging fleet of our Police Department. In
FY99, the City will acquire 172 marked and 18 unmarked cars as part of the Police
Take-Home Vehicle program. Additional vehicles will be purchased in the next budget to
complete the program. Benefits anticipated are increased police visibility, improved
response times and lower vehicle maintenance costs.
Fire Station Construction
Design and/or construction of three fire stations will begin in FY99. Station #12 on
Hillsborough Avenue and MacDill is being rebuilt with Florida Department of Transportation
funds due to the widening/realignment of Hillsborough Avenue. Design of Station #13's
relocation to Annie and 29th Street near Busch Gardens and the new Station #23 in Hunters
Green will begin during FY99 with construction to follow. This is in addition to nearly
$1.0 million budgeted for City-wide fire station improvements. These efforts will help
address some of the Fire Department's critical needs and improve response times.
Fire Vehicle Replacement
In FY99, the Fire Department will be receiving five engines/pumpers and two rescue
vehicles ordered in FY98. For FY99, two replacement engine/pumpers and three rescue
vehicles will be ordered. These replacements will have a marked impact on the reliability
of the Fire Department vehicles.
