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FC CASE # ~.~ ADMINISTRATIVE FORFEITURE OF 1998 FORD PICKUP By: David Gustafson, Police Chief Background: In September of 1998, the Ramsey Police Department seized, for the purpose of forfeiture, a 1998 Ford 4X4 pickup. This forfeiture was the result of an arrest pertaining to a DUI, or driving under the influence, in which the driver had four prior convictions. On April 15, 1999, the Anoka County District Court ordered said vehicle as subject to forfeiture by the City. The vehicle owner, on April 26, 1999, waived his right to appeal the order, and City prosecutor, Tom Fitzpatrick, issued a properly executed certificate of forfeiture, dated April 28, 1999. US Bank Corp holds a lien on the 1998 Ford Pickup in the amount of $13,958.99, which the City would be obligated to satisfy prior to making title application to the State of Minnesota. Wholesale loan value on this vehicle is $22,000 and the purchase of a new vehicle from the State bid would be approximately $24,000. The State requires that any 'proceeds' obtained from a DUI forfeiture be placed in a special fund to be used specifically for programs and/or items relating to the prevention of DUI's. Staff checked with legal Council and since no proceeds are being obtained, the City is allowed to title said vehicle and list it as part of the City's vehicle inventory. Proposed in the year 2000 budget is a Fire staff vehicle in the amount of $22,000. This forfeited vehicle would fulfill the needed requirements of that vehicle. This vehicle could also be used to a small degree (it is not a heavy-duty truck) in Public Works. At a Council work session on May 3, 1999, Council inquired as to whether the Fire budget of 1999 could incorporate this expenditure within their budgeted line items, or whether funding could be obtained elsewhere. Upon examination, it was determined that the Fire department's 1999 budget could not meet the additional expenditure, but that the capital account under Public Works 1999 budget could cover the required monies. The Public Works capital line item currently has a balance remaining of $46,831, in that the grader that was recently purchased was acquired at a lesser cost ($160,552) than was originally budgeted ($207,383 - which includes trade-in value and equipment replacement funding). A transfer of $14,000 from the Public Works capital line item to the Fire Department's capital vehicle line item would cover the required cost of acquiring the forfeited pickup and remove $22,000 from the requested capital items pertaining to the year 2000 budget. Recommendation: Staff would recommend that the City pay off the lien of $14,000 and retain title of the forfeited 1998 Ford 4x4 pickup. It is recommended that $14,000 be transferred from the 1999 budgeted capital line item under Public Works and be transferred to the 1999 capital vehicle line item account of Fire for the purpose of obtaining the 1998 Ford pickup acquired by DUI forfeiture.