REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Fred A. Wilson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Robert Handy, Chief of Police
Subject:
title
Approve implementation of Public Safety Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) one-year pilot program
body
Statement of Issue:
City Council approval is requested for a joint public safety Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) one-year pilot program to include the Police Department, Fire Department and Marine Safety Division.
Financial Impact:
The program would require the purchase of SUAS systems as well as the training of personnel assigned to the program. Partial funding will be from the FY 2017/18 adopted budget in account number 32440213 and additional funding will be absorbed within next year's budget, if necessary. The City's standard procurement and purchasing policies as outlined in Municipal Code Section 3.02 will be utilized for this purchase.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve the implementation of the one-year pilot public safety Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) program.
end
Alternative Action(s):.
Do not approve and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
The Police Department has conducted extensive research and has developed a plan to start a SUAS program to include joint training and testing exercises with the Fire Department. The benefits of this program are many and will enhance public safety in a variety of ways
As technology evolves, it is important for our agencies to take advantage of these advances to enhance public safety. SUAS programs are being created throughout the State of California by both police and fire departments with overwhelmingly positive results. SUAS are currently being used in crime scene and traffic collision photography, tactical deployments involving SWAT, shark detection and missing person's searches, and to assess structure fires and natural disasters with real time aerial photography capabilities.
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