TO: Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Cale Curtis, City Manager
DATE: September 4, 2024
Title
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MARGATE, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A DRONE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT/APPLICATION TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUESTING UP TO $75,000.00 FOR THREE DRONES
BACKGROUND: The Florida Legislature amended Section 934.50, Florida Statutes during the 2022 session. The law required the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) to establish a list of approved drone manufacturers for governmental entities. Governmental agencies using any drone not produced by an approved manufacturer must implement a plan to discontinue the use of such drone by January 1, 2023. In April of 2023, DMS published Rule 60GG-2.007, Florida Administrative Code, which archived the initial approved vendor list and published minimum security requirements for the purchase of drones by governmental agencies in Florida.
During the 2023 Legislative Session, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was appropriated approximately $25 million in nonrecurring funds to implement the Drone Replacement Grant Program under Section 30 of Senate Bill 2502 (2023). This bill amends Section 934.50(7), Florida Statutes and creates the Drone Replacement Grant program guidelines. Funds will be awarded to reimburse law enforcement agencies who relinquish noncompliant drones to FDLE that will be provided to the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida (USF) to analyze if the drones present cybersecurity concerns.
RECOMMENDATION: Approval
FISCAL IMPACT: Up to $75,000.00
CONTACT PERSON: Michael Palma, Chief of Police