DATE: September 16, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Police Department
TITLE: APPROVAL FOR THE PURCHASE OF DRONE AS FIRST RESPONDER DRONES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council approve a five-year contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the purchase of two Skydio Drone as First Responder (DFR) drones in an amount not to exceed $682,556; authorize the purchase utilizing Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract; and authorize the Financial Services Director, or designee, to execute the purchase order. In addition, staff is requesting an additional ongoing annual appropriation increase of $45,833 to the General Fund starting FY 2027-28.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On April 23, 2025, City Council unanimously approved a thirteen-month trial period for the Police Department to begin a DFR program. In August 2025, the Police Department launched the program in the downtown area. Since that time, the Police Department has utilized the services of Flying Lion, Inc., a private contractor, to supplement the department's staffing needs and provide a dedicated visual observer. As part of the FY 2026-27 budget process, City Council approved the expansion of the drone program by authorizing an ongoing annual appropriation of $100,000 to the General Fund.
Since the trial period was approved last year, the Police Department has been operating its DFR program with one drone stationed at City Hall.
Since launching the DFR program in the downtown area, the department has achieved significant results. The drone has responded to approximately 1,300 calls for service and arrived first on scene for 1,039 of those calls. The drone's average on-scene arrival time is 1 minute and 49 seconds, significantly enhancing public safety response times in the area.
Drone operators have resolved 392 calls for service without requiring a patrol officer response, freeing up patrol officers and making them availabl...
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