City Council:
AN ORDINANCE DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
CONDITION AT THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON
POLICE DEPARTMENT FIREARMS TRAINING
RANGE AND AUTHORIZING EXPEDITED LEAD
REMEDIATION AND NECESSARY ASSOCIATED
REHABILITATION
Whereas, by correspondence dated August 26, 2026, the Acting Commissioner / Chief of the Department of Public Safety has requested that the City Council declare that an emergency condition exists with respect to the Mount Vernon Police Department firearms training range located within Police Department Headquarters, due to the presence of lead contamination and other related deficiencies affecting the safe and proper operation of the facility; and
Whereas, the City of Mount Vernon (the “City”) owns and operates a firearms training range located within the Mount Vernon Police Department Headquarters, which facility is an essential component of Police Department operations, officer readiness, firearms proficiency, and public safety; and
Whereas, the Police Department firearms training range is presently out of service due to multiple conditions affecting its safe and proper operation, including the presence of lead contamination and deficiencies within the shooting and rear impact areas; and
Whereas, the presence of lead contamination constitutes an immediate environmental and occupational safety concern requiring appropriate remediation, removal, cleaning, containment, disposal, and related environmental measures before the facility may appropriately proceed toward restoration and return to service; and
Whereas, the existing range also requires corrective work to the rear shooting area and existing backdrop/backstop, together with appropriate protective measures and other improvements necessary to restore the facility to safe and functional operation; and
Whereas, the continued closure of the City's firearms training range has resulted in substantial operational and financial consequences, including the necessity for Police Department personnel to utilize firearms training ranges operated by other law enforcement agencies, thereby resulting in additional personnel time, overtime, travel expenses, range fees, and other related costs; and
Whereas, the availability and scheduling of outside firearms training facilities are beyond the City’s control and may require Police Department personnel to accept limited or less desirable training times, travel greater distances, remain on duty for extended periods, and incur additional overtime and other expenses; and
Whereas, restoring the City’s firearms training range to service is therefore both a public-safety and fiscal responsibility matter, as a functioning City-owned facility will provide the Police Department with greater control over training schedules, reduce unnecessary travel and overtime, substantially reduce recurring expenses associated with outside facilities, and provide a reliable means of maintaining officer readiness and firearms proficiency; and
Whereas, the Police Department has entered into a contract with Inveris, a qualified indoor firearms range company, for the installation of the range’s target systems and steel, and the City is not seeking through this Ordinance to procure an entirely new range system or to circumvent the City’s normal procurement and budgeting processes for the broader rehabilitation of the facility; and
Whereas, the emergency action authorized herein is intended to be narrowly focused upon the immediate lead remediation and related work necessary to address the existing environmental and safety conditions and permit the facility to proceed toward restoration; and
Whereas, following completion of the lead remediation, the City intends to address remaining physical fortifications, structural improvements, and other capital improvements to the firearms training range through the City's normal capital budgeting and procurement processes, including strengthening of the rear shooting area/backdrop and installation of additional protective and structural measures as may be recommended by qualified professionals; and
Whereas, the anticipated cost of the immediate remediation and associated work is presently estimated at Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars ($25,625.00), subject to final scope confirmation, contractor proposals, professional review, and any required adjustments consistent with applicable law; and
Whereas, funding for the work is anticipated to be provided from budget line A3120.414 - Repairs to Plant, subject to the availability and certification of appropriated funds; and
Whereas, further delay in addressing the lead contamination and associated deficiencies would prolong the loss of the City’s operational firearms training facility, increase the City's continuing personnel, overtime, travel, and outside-range expenses, and may result in further deterioration or additional remediation requirements; and
Whereas, the City has determined that the circumstances affecting the Police Department firearms training range constitute an emergency condition requiring prompt action to protect public safety, safeguard personnel and City property, address the existing environmental condition, and restore a critical municipal facility to safe and functional service; and
Whereas, the City Council finds that the actions authorized herein are necessary, narrowly tailored to the existing emergency conditions, and in the best interests of the City and its residents;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Declaration of Emergency Condition. The City Council hereby declares that an emergency condition exists with respect to the Mount Vernon Police Department firearms training range located within Police Department Headquarters, based upon the presence of lead contamination and related conditions affecting the safe and proper operation of the facility.
Section 2. Authorization for Emergency Lead Remediation. The City Council hereby authorizes the City to proceed expeditiously with the necessary lead remediation at the Police Department firearms training range, including, but not limited to, the removal, cleaning, containment, disposal, environmental treatment, testing, preparation, and other related measures reasonably necessary to address the lead contamination and render the facility suitable for subsequent rehabilitation and restoration.
Section 3. Authorization for Associated Corrective Work. To the extent reasonably necessary to address the emergency condition and facilitate the safe restoration of the facility, the City is authorized to undertake associated incidental work, including necessary demolition, preparation, structural, electrical, mechanical, protective, or other construction activities directly related to the remediation and restoration of the firearms training range.
Section 4. Existing Inveris Contract. The City Council acknowledges that the Police Department has an existing contract with Inveris for the installation of the firearms training range's target systems and steel. Nothing contained in this Ordinance shall be construed to authorize the procurement of a duplicative or entirely new range system or to supersede, amend, or expand the existing Inveris contract except as may be separately authorized in accordance with applicable law.
Section 5. Scope of Immediate Work. The immediate work authorized pursuant to this Ordinance may include, as applicable and as determined by the Department of Public Works, Police Department, and the City's designated qualified professionals and contractors:
1. Lead Remediation, including appropriate removal, cleaning, containment, disposal, testing, and related environmental measures;
2. Rear Shooting Area and Backstop, including necessary strengthening, rehabilitation, repair, and corrective work to the existing rear shooting area, backdrop, and backstop;
3. Protective Measures, including measures necessary to safeguard Police Department personnel, contractors, the facility, and adjacent areas;
4. Range Equipment, including coordination with the existing Inveris contract for the furnishing and installation of necessary hangers, steel components, targets, and related range equipment; and
5. Associated Construction, including incidental demolition, preparation, structural, electrical, mechanical, and other work reasonably necessary to complete the remediation and restore the facility to safe and functional service.
Section 6. Administration and Coordination. The Department of Public Works, in coordination with the Police Department, the City’s designated consultants, qualified environmental professionals, and authorized contractors, is hereby directed and authorized to coordinate and sequence the work in a manner designed to ensure that the lead remediation is properly completed and that subsequent necessary rehabilitation work may proceed without unnecessary delay.
Section 7. Procurement and Professional Requirements. All work authorized pursuant to this Ordinance shall be performed in accordance with applicable federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, procurement requirements, safety requirements, environmental requirements, and the City’s applicable policies and procedures, except to the extent that emergency procurement procedures are lawfully invoked due to the emergency condition declared herein.
Section 8. Funding and Expenditure Authorization. The City Council hereby authorizes expenditures for the emergency remediation and associated work in an amount not to exceed Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars ($25,625.00), subject to final scope confirmation, contractor proposals, professional review, and availability of appropriated funds.
The expenditures authorized herein shall be charged to Budget Line A3120.414 - Repairs to Plant, or such other legally appropriate account as may be approved by the City Comptroller and consistent with applicable budgetary requirements.
Section 9. Future Capital Improvements. Nothing herein shall be construed as authorization for the City to undertake the broader capital rehabilitation or reconstruction of the firearms training range beyond the emergency remediation and associated work authorized herein.
Following completion of the emergency remediation, the City shall evaluate and appropriately scope the remaining fortification, structural, protective, and related improvements, including strengthening of the rear shooting area/backdrop, and shall seek authorization and funding for such work through the City’s normal capital budgeting and procurement processes.
Section 10. Ratification of Emergency Actions. To the extent that any preliminary actions have been taken by duly authorized City officials or departments in response to the emergency condition described herein, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, such actions are hereby ratified, confirmed, and approved, provided that such actions are consistent with the purposes and limitations of this Ordinance.
Section 11. Authorization of City Officials. The Mayor, Acting Commissioner/Chief of Department of Public Safety, Commissioner of Public Works, Comptroller, Corporation Counsel, and such other City officials and employees as may be necessary and appropriate are hereby authorized and directed to take all actions, execute all documents, and perform all acts necessary to implement the purposes of this Ordinance.
Section 12. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this Ordinance shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
Section 13. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon approval by the Board of Estimate and Contract and subsequent adoption by the City Council.