AGENDA ITEM REPORT
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A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE DRONE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000) AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, OR DESIGNEE, TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT (FDLE) FOR THE PURCHASE OF FOUR (4) DRONES.
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BACKGROUND:
The City applied for and was awarded grant funding from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Drone Replacement Program Grant in the amount of $100,000.00.
DISCUSSION:
The awarded grant funding will be used to purchase four (4) Skydio drones, each costing $25,000, equaling $100,000 dollars. Drones have become an essential tool for police departments, enhancing public safety and operational efficiency. They are deployed in search and rescue missions, evidence collection at crime scenes and traffic crashes, and during SWAT operations for aerial overwatch. Drones also assist K-9 units in searches, monitoring large crowds, and helping locate missing or endangered individuals. In cases involving serious crimes such as burglaries, sexual assaults, or aggravated batteries, drones are used to search for suspects who may still be in the area. Additionally, they provide aerial surveillance during City events like the Butterfly Festival to ensure public safety.
Also for consideration on this agenda by separate resolution, staff is requesting $100,000 in Federal Law Enforcement Trust Funds (LETF) to purchase the corresponding software and subscription services for the Skydio drones through Axon to fully-implement the drone program over a five (5) year period. All associated hardware and software components are developed and manufactured in the United States and are fully compliant with Rule 60GG-2.0075, Florida Administrative Code, in compliance with the grant requirements. Skydio and Axon have an established track record of collaboration with other Florida agencies, who have successfully leveraged the same grant to acquire drones without issue.
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