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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 Public Safety Impact Fees and $182,584 will be from the Police Department’s Operating Budget and approving Budget Amendment Number 26.044.
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WHEREAS, the City of South San Francisco (“City”) staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the South San Francisco Police Department (SSFPD) to purchase additional Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) with Drone as a First Responder technology in conjunction with Axon Air; and
WHEREAS, UAS is often referred to as a drone, which is an aircraft controlled remotely from the ground; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, drone technology has advanced significantly in recent years, making it an increasingly vital tool in modern law enforcement operations; and
WHEREAS, over the past seven months, SSFPD has deployed drones 130 times for patrol and SWAT operations; and
WHEREAS, the current drone program has proven effective in enhancing safety and situational awareness, but it does have limitations, as officers must physically respond to the scene to launch a drone, which can often delay critical aerial support when it is needed the most; and
WHEREAS, Drone as a First Responder program relies on docking stations at strategic locations throughout the city to house drones that can be remotely deployed; allowing officers to launch drones from desktop computers and direct them to incident locations in real time; and
WHEREAS, upon receiving a 911 call for service, a drone can be dispatched immediately - often arriving on scene within minutes, ahead of first responders; and
WHEREAS, the drone provides live overhead video and situational awareness that can be critical for officers, firefighters, and paramedics; and
WHEREAS, this early intelligence helps improve response efficiency, enhances safety for both responders and the public, and supports more informed decision-making during emergencies; and
WHEREAS, SSFPD wishes to expand the current drone program to a Drone as a First Responder program and has identified Axon Enterprises, Inc., as providing a comprehensive solution which is the best fit for the City; and
WHEREAS, the department currently utilizes Axon Enterprises, Inc., for the City’s current drone fleet, tasers, vehicle fleet cameras, body worn cameras, and related software and storage for digital media; and
WHEREAS, Axon Air, a division of Axon Enterprises, Inc., is a UAS program built for law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, the system includes automated tracking of pilot, aircraft, flight logs, and live streaming for situational awareness, which increases the opportunities for de-escalation; and
WHEREAS, the use of Axon Air will allow for integration with the SSFPD’s other Axon camera systems; and
WHEREAS, Axon Enterprises, Inc., has partnered with Skydio, a U.S. drone manufacturer which specializes in autonomous flight technology to provide Drone as a First Responder service to public agencies; and
WHEREAS, the partnership represents the optimal choice for SSFPD, as it enables seamless integration of Drone as a First Responder technology with the department’s current technological ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, authorizing SSFPD to utilize Public Safety Impact Fees and the Police Department’s Operating Budget will equip the department with three Skydio X10 drones and docking stations, one stand-alone Skydio X10 drone with 3D mapping camera, and an end-to-end solution for collecting and recording data and storage; and
WHEREAS, the amendment will incorporate a five-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; and
WHEREAS, the total cost for a five-year contract will be $800,000 at a cost per year of $160,000 of which $123,483.20 will be from Public Safety Impact Fees and the balance of $36,516.80 will be from the Police Department’s Operating Budget; and
WHEREAS, this program will require Council appropriation of $160,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-26 per Budget Amendment Number 26.004; and
WHEREAS, the remaining years will be appropriated during future budget cycles.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of South San Francisco hereby approves an Agreement for a five-year contract for the purchase of additional Unmanned Aircraft Systems with Drone as a First Responder technology in conjunction with Axon Air in an amount not to exceed $800,000, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of South San Francisco hereby approves the agreement cost per year of $160,000.00 of which $123,483.20 will be from Public Safety Impact Fees and $36,516.80 will be from the Police Department’s Operating Budget.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby approves Budget Amendment Number 26.004.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of South San Francisco hereby authorizes the City Manager to execute the purchase agreement in substantially the same form as Exhibit A and any other documents on behalf of the City to carry out the intent of this resolution, subject to approval as to form from the City Attorney.
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