Here's a nice round number for you: 410. That's the number of posts the City Desk has seen since its inception back in 2008. I missed 400, so 410 will do. No fireworks here, you have to visit Tangled in Wires for that.

But I digress.

There was lots and lots of good stuff at tonight's City Council meeting. Of course, there is not lots and lots of space for me to type away to my heart's content in tomorrow's newspaper, so I had to choose just one issue to write about.

What did I choose? The one that caught the attention of all the face-for-TV reporters who turned out with their cameras to tonight's meeting (I, by way of contrast, have a great face for a newspaper or website).

That issue is, of course, the possibility of a $2 surcharge on tickets to Live Nation concerts at SPAC. But you can read about that in the paper.

The one item that is not likely to garner any attention at all outside of this blog was the very last item on tonight's agenda. It was a last minute addition by Commissioner of Public Safety Ron Kim, and one that might have been overlooked by another reporter who isn't so attuned to things with two wheels and a tiny seat.

It's a little-known fact that the Saratoga Springs Police Department has what might be the most expensive police bikes in the state, if not the whole country. But, before, I start a screaming match about waste in the police department, readers should know that most of the cost of these bikes is donated.

Why such expensive rides? Serotta Competition Cycles, a world-class manufacturer of custom road and mountain bikes, has it's main fabrication facility in Geyser Crest. While some Serotta models can fetch up to $18,000+, the bikes the police department uses cost closer to $3,400, and $2,000 (the frame) is donated by Serotta to the city.

Kim's motion allowed Serotta to make said donation, while the city budgeted the remainder to purchase the bicycle's drive components, wheels, lights, and other equipment. While other police bikes (such as this one) can be had for much less, the Serottas have at least three distinct advantages: 1) They are unique, hand built, and no other police force in the world has them. 2) They are built in town, keeping money that might otherwise go out of the state right here in our own municipality. 3) As a bike shop employee, I can tell you that the Serottas will last a whole lot longer than a bargain bike.

It is not beyond the realm of reason to think that a Serotta police bike will last at least three times as long as a cheaper ride, therefore justifying the cost.

But if you ask me, I'll bet that first reason is the most important to the officers patrolling on the bikes.