Open Letter to the Council: $500K Command Truck

April 10, 2026

Open Letter to the Cape Coral City Council

Council,

Curious about Consent Agenda item 5 Resolution 85-26 New Mobile Command Center for $502,888.  Took this picture of the current asset at a Bike Night event.  Still looks brand new!

Review of Adopted Budgets

FY 24 Adopted Budget    $1,500,000 plan for FY26

FY 25 Adopted Budget   $1,500,000 plan for FY26

FY 26 Adopted Budget    $1,500,000 unfunded for FY26

This resolution:  $502,888 funding from Speed Zone Camera Fund.  Why was it unfunded in FY26?   The unfunded wish list is on page 361 in the FY26 adopted budget - it is not totaled but looks like around $150,000,000. Is this needed more than the other projects?  Since this is less than the predicted budget, what is the difference in features?  Now that we are making extra revenue from the Speed Cameras...we just must go spend it versus reducing current expenses?  How about using the extra revenue to fund the School Resource Officers?  My guess is that they are not fully funded by the School District or Charter schools.  The Police department uses $88,206,373 from the General Fund. Nothing wrong with reducing that!

What other costs are required to equip this asset?  

• No picture of the new asset to compare with this.

• Description is a F450 Ford Gas Engine versus a Freightliner Diesel. If the current vehicle is 20 years old, how much is it really used, how many miles on it?  

  • (Diesel Semi trucks are designed to last 700,000 miles).

• How often is it used?  

• What is the resale or trade in value.  

• Have we looked at the used vehicle market?  

Since we have Police Trucks that pull boats, etc.  What about a 5^th wheel command center?  Much less without a motor and cab and not used often (Huge savings on maintenance).  I imagine this command center sits most of the time.  A trailer without an engine is way more practical and will have all the necessary features versus a Semi-Truck.

These questions should always be answered in a briefing to show that cost savings were considered to the taxpayer.  

• Why is this needed?

• What does it replace?  If a vehicle what is the market value of the old asset?

• Does this save other cost or improve a service?

• In the case of the Police Department:  Does Lee County have a duplicate capability?  We should not need a mobile command center at the same time.  (Share). We pay property taxes to Lee County too!

  
  

I am sure you do not have time to research every expenditure, that is why you need citizen volunteers that are happy to spend time on looking at these projects.  I would recommend that you each have a list of residents that are willing to do this work for you as I have done here. 

Enjoy your weekend.

Tom Shadrach