Title
Report regarding a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Axon Enterprises, Inc., for the purchase of additional Unmanned Aircraft Systems with Drone as a First Responder technology in conjunction with Axon Air for a five-year contract in an amount not to exceed $800,000 of which $617,416 will be from the Public Safety Impact Fees and $182,584 will be from the Police Department’s Operating Budget and approving Budget Amendment Number 26.004. (Chris Devan, Police Lieutenant)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Axon Enterprises., for the purchase of additional Unmanned Aircraft Systems with Drone as a First Responder technology in conjunction with Axon Air for a five-year contract in an amount not to exceed $800,000 of which $617,416 will be from the Public Safety Impact Fees and $182,584 will be from the Police Department’s Operating Budget and approving Budget Amendment Number 26.004.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
An unmanned aerial system (UAS), often referred to as a drone, is an aircraft which is controlled remotely from the ground. UAS may be used to provide an aerial observation platform to enhance the efficiency and safety of police operations. The uses of UAS include, but are not limited to, scene documentation, area searches for people and/or evidence, disaster response, tactical operations, and critical incident management.
Drone technology has advanced significantly in recent years, making it an increasingly vital tool in modern law enforcement operations. Over the past seven months, the South San Francisco Police Department (SSFPD) has deployed drones 130 times for patrol and SWAT operations. Notably, the use of drones during recent critical incidents undoubtedly played a key role in saving the lives of both officers and members of the public. While the current drone program has proven effective in enhancing safety and situational awareness, it does have limitations. At present, officers must physically respond to the scene to launch a drone. This means the ability to deploy a drone is dependent on response time by vehicle, which can often delay critical aerial support when it is needed most.
A Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program relies on docking stations at strategic locations throughout the city to house drones that can be remotely deployed. These docking stations allow officers to launch drones from desktop computers and direct them to incident locations in real time. Upon receiving a 911 call for service, a drone can be dispatched immediately - often arriving on scene within minutes, ahead of first responders. Once on scene, the drone provides live overhead video and situational awareness that can be critical for officers, firefighters, and paramedics. This early intelligence helps improve response efficiency, enhances safety for both responders and the public, and supports more informed decision-making during emergencies.
The San Mateo Police Department currently utilizes DFR technology, and the Daly City Police Department is also transitioning their program to include DFR capabilities. Additional San Mateo County agencies are in the early process of transitioning to a DFR program. SSFPD wishes to expand the current drone program to a DFR program. We have identified Axon Enterprise, Inc., as providing a comprehensive solution which is the best fit for our agency. SSFPD currently utilizes Axon Enterprises Inc. for our current drone fleet, Tasers, vehicle fleet cameras, body worn cameras, and related software and storage for digital media.
Axon Air, a division of Axon Enterprise, Inc., is a UAS program built for law enforcement. The system includes automated tracking of pilot, aircraft, flight logs, and live streaming for situational awareness, which increases opportunities for de-escalation. The use of Axon Air will allow for integration with SSFPD’s other Axon camera systems. All video evidence recorded will upload to Axon’s Evidence.com and can easily be transmitted for discovery purposes. The integration of video storage from Body Worn Cameras, In-Car Cameras, and UAS provides a time efficient and cost-effective solution for data storage. Axon Enterprise Inc. has partnered with Skydio, a U.S. drone manufacturer which specializes in autonomous flight technology to provide DRF services to public safety agencies. The partnership between Axon Enterprise Inc. and Skydio represents the optimal choice for SSFPD, as it enables seamless integration of DFR technology with SSFPD’s current technological ecosystem.
Authorizing SSFPD to utilize the Public Safety Impact Fees and the Police Operating Budget for this purpose will equip the department with the following:
• Three Skydio X10 drones and docking stations. Docking stations are weatherproof charging stations which keep drones in a ready-to-fly state 24/7. Three docking stations provide optimal drone coverage of the city based on call volume.
• One stand-alone Skydio X10 drone with 3D mapping camera payload for crime scene/accident reconstruction.
• An end-to-end solution for collecting and recording pilot data, flight data, autonomous flight controls, web-based flight capability, and digital media evidence collection and storage.
SSFPD currently has a multi-year Master Services and Purchasing Agreement (MSPA) with Axon Enterprises, Inc., for our current drone program, Body Worn Cameras, In-Car Cameras, and Tasers. The proposed amendment will incorporate a 5-year contract for Axon Air which will consolidate operations of the UAS equipment onto one platform, and provide the necessary systems, software, licenses, maintenance, hardware, training, and related services for a comprehensive public safety UAS program.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff recommends a five-year purchasing agreement with Axon Enterprises Inc. for a total of $800,000. The itemized costs are as follows:
|
Cost per Year |
Public Safety Impact Fees |
Police Operating Budget |
|
Year 1 - $160,000.00 |
$123,483.20 |
$36,516.80 |
|
Year 2 - $160,000.00 |
$123,483.20 |
$36,516.80 |
|
Year 3 - $160,000.00 |
$123,483.20 |
$36,516.80 |
|
Year 4 - $160,000.00 |
$123,483.20 |
$36,516.80 |
|
Year 5 - $160,000.00 |
$123,483.20 |
$36,516.80 |
|
Total - $800,000.00 |
$617,416.00 |
$182,584.00 |
This program will require Council appropriation of $160,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-26 per Budget Amendment Number 26.004. The remaining years will be appropriated during future budget cycles.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
Approval of the agreement with Axon Enterprises meets Strategic Goals #2: Quality of Life by building and maintaining a sustainable City and #3: Public Safety by rendering skilled police, fire, and emergency service management.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Axon Enterprises., for the purchase of additional Unmanned Aircraft Systems with Drone as a First Responder technology in conjunction with Axon Air for a five-year contract in an amount not to exceed $800,000 of which $617,416 will be from the Public Safety Impact Fees and $182,584 will be from the Police Department’s Operating Budget and approving Budget Amendment Number 26.004.