HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 2275-2008Suggested by:
CITY OF KENAI
ORDINANCE NO. 22?5-2®08
Administration
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, AMENDING
KMC 23.55.040 BY RAISING THE UNIFORM ALLOWANCE FOR POLICE
DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES FROM $600 TO $800.
WHEREAS, KMC 23.550.050(a) now lists the uniform allowance for police department
employees at $600 per year; and;
WHEREAS, the budget for the 200'7-2008 fiscal year authorizes uniform allowance for
police department employees at $800 per year; and;
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Kenai to increase the uniform
allowance for the police department employees from $600 to $800.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI,
ALASKA, that KMC 23.55.040 is amended as follows:
(a) The following annual allowances are established to defer the cost
of uniform cleaning, maintenance, and replacement for second and
succeeding years of service:
Police
- [$600]
800
Fire
Animal Control
Dispatch
- $500
- $500
- $300
Payment shall be made in advance in July and January installments.
(b) On hiring, the respective department head shall issue from stock
or purchase from appropriate funds a basic uniform and equipment
issue.
(c) Public Works departments, Water & Sewer, and Animal Control
personnel shall be authorized to purchase from appropriated funds,
safety shoes, hard hats, and other OSHA required items. Laundry service
will also be provided for those clothing items furnished.
Ordinance No. 2275-2008
Page 2 of 2
PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, this sixth day of
February, 2008.
PAT PORTER, MAYOR
ATTEST: _
~~,~~.~/
Carol L. Freas, City Clerk
Introduced: January 16, 2008
Adopted: February 6, 2008
Effective: March 6, 2008
Kenai P®lice ®epartent
Memorandum
to: Rick Koch, City Manager
From: Chuck Kopp, Chief of Police
Date: 01/08/07
Re: Police Uniform Allowance Increase
This proposal is to raise the Police Uniform Allowance to an equitable level, given
current costs of acquiring, maintaining, repairing, and replacing uniform apparel and
associated items.
The current wuform allowance has not been increased since 1986, and is inadequate to
maintain a professional police appearance. Urvform replacement and cleaning costs have
increased significantly in the past 21 years. It is recommended that the uniform allowance
be raised from $600 to $800 annually.
The following is an itemized list of clothing and equipment officers purchase and
maintain.
Annual costs: Unit Total
Woal blend uniform long sleeve shirts (x2) 79.00 158.00
Wool blend uniform short sleeve shirts (x2) 74.00 148.00
Wool blend uniform trousers (x2) 82.00 164.00
Uniform Police Patches sewed on uniform (x6) 5.00 30.00
Dry cleaning (monthly) 30.00 360.00
$860.00
Three-year costs:
Uniform footwear (Danner boots) 200.00 200.00
Uxterior Bullet Resistant Vest Carrier 250.00 250.00
Utility (I3DU) uniform 70.00 70.00
Rechargeable flashlight 120.00 120.00
Duty Leather gloves 60.00 60.00
$700.00
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Five-year costs:
Plain clothes gun holster 65.00 65.00
Plain clothes badge carrier 35.00 35.00
Plain clothes handcuff carrier 35.00 35.00
$135.00
Comparison to Other Agencies
Kenai Police Department
Uniform Allowance = $600 (Two $300 checks per year)
Dept. provides majority of operational equipment, uniform accessories and all duty
leather gear, to include cold weather gear and summer coats.
Officers purchase Department approved wool blend uniforms, battle dress uniforms
(BDUs for training), exterior vest carrier, rechargeable flashlight, winter and summer
footwear, off duty leather gear and duty leacher gloves.
Dept. does not pay for dry cleaning. Dry cleaning costs listed above ($360/yr) only pay
for 2 uniform dry cleanings per month. Uniforms soiled with blood or any body fluids
must be professionally cleaned. OSHA discourages integration of uniform wear with.
personal/family laundry. The wool blend uniforms are machine washable, and dry-clean
recommended.
Soidotna Police Department
Uniform Allowance = $1200 (One check per year)
Dept. provides majority of operational equipment, uniform accessories and all leather
gear, to include cold weather gear and summer coats, and cold weather winter boots.
Officers purchase Department approved wool blend m~iforms, summer footwear, and
leather gloves.
Dept. does not pay for dry cleaning.
Palmer Police Department
Uniform Allowance = $570 (two checks for $285)
Allowance is for Uniform Maintenance /Cleaning only
Everything except boots provided by Department. Officers are not required to purchase
or replace equipment with their uniform allowance.
Dept. provides officer with $500 leather jacket for duty wear after 5 years of service.
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Homer Police Department
Uniform Allowance = $0
Dept. provides everything except boots and gloves.
Dept. pays for dry cleaning service. Dry cleaning service comes to Homer PD three times
per week, picking up uniforms for cleanhig and pressing at department expense.
Alaska State Troopers
Uniform Allowance = $0
Department provides everything, and all replacement items as frequently as needed.
Dept. pays for dry cleaning service.
Conclusion
The Uniform Allowance at KPD has not been adjusted for 21 years, while costs of many
items have more than doubled. Officers must pm~chase and maintain the above listed
uniforms and equipment at their own expense, or allow those items to deteriorate to stay
within the current uniform allowance.
An option to increasing the uniform allowance is to have the department pay for the
Three-year cost items currently purchased by the officers. An nzcrease in the uniform
allowance to $800.00 atmually will help alleviate cuurent costs associated with uniform
purchase, care and mah~tenance, and contribute to the professional appearance of the
Kenai Police Department.
Agencies that do not provide an allowance to purchase uniforms incur a great deal of administrative time
and paperwork costs associated with weeldy purchase orders, returned items, refunds, or partial refunds.
Agencies that provide a uniform allowance pass along the burdens of ordering, returning, cleaning and
maintaining equipment to tluose officers.
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