[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6221875,"mediaKeyId","3611115-cfb6e8f25ae214b68a1a46a3a5aaa59f","parentId",3611115,"title","Moline police seek council authorization for docked Skydio drones for first‑responder program; funding from state violence‑prevention grant","audioSeconds",3519,"startMs",3725000,"endMs",7244000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611115-cfb6e8f25ae214b68a1a46a3a5aaa59f&start=3725&end=7244","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611115-cfb6e8f25ae214b68a1a46a3a5aaa59f/thumbnail_3725000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6221875/Illinois/Moline-police-seek-council-authorization-for-docked-Skydio-drones-for-firstresponder-program-funding-from-state-violenceprevention-grant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221875-47a287607189e09c02fce44f1403112e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775282831&Signature=RrGAU6c7G4cHgAaVRf0uhoCsGgJqWrSQ3dfWkVzrgZ5K8eKxVJcavLVu9KEx42ItTETfKh6G6BRV3uzcItNRweKkMMMaSf36wI0gtjdEea6iBID~jZZPnr2qwH4hpSvwcaDicPjpWUIpuagrkLwvDxHzf2LPSCOjHIYSA2vYTlPVwHvkvkzapjiI-tz-A3imM7brwHttNWrap2nqyy2bR4uF6J0fIU0pMYpTUjpGsCdQzuXMmmxjFaqcgJKXQ52KSb7CKHycStbzqEjlwZpbvERRIcvW~rDTRBdq2gLSFUxHHEU6iDBMmlntqgUBdjA5b2f3KaDm22drfhaq78uWCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Moline, IL","date","2025-05-29T13:42:44Z","article","City police officials described an expanded Drone as First Responder (DFR) program and recommended that the council authorize procurement of docked Skydio drones and two rooftop docks under a multi‑year contract funded by an existing state violence‑prevention grant.

Deputy Chief Andrew Ryan (Deputy Chief, Moline Police Department) and Lieutenant Eli Solis, division commander for the service division and the department’s drone commander, presented the program’s goals, legal context and vendor comparisons. Lieutenant Solis said the department already flies drones but that docked, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) systems would allow rapid rooftop deployment and response times measured in seconds to minutes for many emergency calls.

Why it matters: presenters said docked drones can arrive on scene faster than patrol units, give officers real‑time visual information to support decision making and de‑escalation, and assist fire and other public safety units with situational awareness. The presenters cited Chula Vista Police Department’s DFR program as a proven example and played a video in which the Chula Vista chief described drones as providing \"invaluable information to officers.\" The department said current average response time for its ad‑hoc drone launches is about 13 minutes and that docked systems could cut that to roughly 90 seconds in many locations.

Procurement recommendation and funding
- Vendor recommendation: staff recommended Skydio’s docked package (Skydio X10 and Xtendock) after reviewing quotes from Paladin, Skydio, Brink and Flock. Presenters noted Skydio is U.S.‑manufactured, integrates with the city’s Axon body‑camera ecosystem, and offers obstacle avoidance, ADS‑B aircraft detection and a mesh/5G connectivity fallback.
- Cost and contract term: the recommended total package price quoted to council was about $319,000 (presenters later discussed authorizing up to $350,000 to cover installation and contingencies) and staff proposed a five‑year contract for equipment, software and support. The department estimated additional electrical and Internet installation at about $10,000 per rooftop site.
- Funding source: presenters said the purchase would be paid from Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) violence‑prevention funds already awarded to the city; staff reported the grant balance in hand and said the grant had no immediate mandatory spend‑down date.

Legal and operational context
Presenters described recent Illinois statutory changes that allow expanded use of drones for first‑responder purposes (identified in the presentation as the Drone as First Responder amendment to the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act, effective June 2023). They also discussed FAA requirements and waivers (Part 107 remote‑pilot framework, ADS‑B aircraft‑awareness technology, and agency COA/waiver processes for BVLOS operations). Lieutenant Solis and staff emphasized that policy, privacy safeguards, and flight logs would be maintained and that evidentiary video would be retained on secure cloud services and moved into the city’s evidence system as required by retention rules.

Use cases and technical details cited
Presenters gave examples where docked drones can assist: missing persons, active‑threat or imminent‑harm calls, traffic crash investigation and fire‑scene overview. They showed Chula Vista metrics (presenters cited nearly 22,000 DFR flights there, with thousands of calls where dispatch of a patrol unit was avoided and average first‑on‑scene times under two minutes in many instances) and contrasted that with Moline’s earlier experience (57 callouts to date; average response about 13 minutes for ad‑hoc launches). Skydio X10 technical specifications presented included roughly 40 minutes flight time, up to 45 mph speed, 360‑degree obstacle avoidance, thermal and zoom cameras and a fast recharge profile; presenters noted the docked system can launch in roughly 20 seconds.

Council process and next steps
Staff said they would place the recommended Skydio procurement on the council agenda for formal authorization. No vote was taken during the presentation; presenters requested council direction to proceed to contract authorization. The department asked for authorization to spend from the existing DCEO violence‑prevention grant and to install two rooftop docks so the system can be operational and provide quicker response times.

Quotes from the presentation
- \"Drones provide invaluable information to officers, sharing with them a visual into what is actually occurring. It makes all the difference to officers, dispatchers, and supervisors making split second decisions,\" — Chief Kennedy (Chula Vista Police Department), video excerpt shown by presenters.
- \"This will be funded through Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Violence Prevention Funding that we were became eligible for in 2023,\" — presenter (department staff).

No formal council action was recorded during the presentation; staff said the procurement and contract will appear on a subsequent council agenda for authorization.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Moline City Council Meeting April 15, 2025.","oneSentenceSummary","City police officials described an expanded Drone as First Responder (DFR) program and recommended that the council authorize procurement of docked Skydio drones and two rooftop docks under a multi‑year contract funded by an existing state violence‑prevention grant.","taxTitle","Moline City, Rock Island County, Illinois","taxId",123013,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6221878,"Consultants say public market at Spiegel building is feasible; recommend predevelopment step",3793,0,3793000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611115-cfb6e8f25ae214b68a1a46a3a5aaa59f&start=0&end=3793","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611115-cfb6e8f25ae214b68a1a46a3a5aaa59f/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6221878/Illinois/Consultants-say-public-market-at-Spiegel-building-is-feasible-recommend-predevelopment-step","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221878-351d5d0fe5919dbb7d4de0f9a3d0e8bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775282832&Signature=gFzmG-VYkMfNOutRfHql-uHAhV4HeSaGfh25fuqzAToqjaiBqvGUp59ZoGxdCy1A7u1KMNdoIknqu2LagQ9JGRKbXpxFl2AuZ~3RvrjhmFVneygZL~8-3MPzNcn19RiOKMcafM0ZEwC4Sb5z9xpAfWzfVk21toUdTYUT-ZwrJBxsI8mvvHYSG0xkhwP7AnZThG4109MPng70LyfHmsLb6KQA8ynYBvVtiLQxzOt8Xwbvin4nxq1nSP79-npmXGHCcNxQxArKY-nofvGuQLV1ILBsgLoCyOx18CwE3e2bC7ZbhQWxaZyN0HGCsYlhUPnq4ybbbNzk4lQQeU0PTdFxbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A consultant team led by Andrea Garmon, senior director at New Venture Advisors, told the Moline City Council that a public market concept for the Spiegel building is viable but should move next into predevelopment rather than immediate construction. The study estimated a total development cost in the low tens of millions and projected that properly staged management and funding could produce positive operating results within a few years.

The consultants summarized market analysis, vendor outreach and building concepts conducted over several years. \"One thing that we see across all three models is that we do have EBITDA positive in year 1,\" Andrea Garmon said during the presentation. The analysis relied on prior work by PGAV planners and the Riverland Institute and incorporated local stakeholder interviews and vendor surveys.

Why it matters: consultants said a public market could create jobs, expand food‑based entrepreneurship and strengthen riverfront redevelopment by increasing foot traffic. The study emphasized that the market model combines shared production kitchens, incubation space, retail kiosks and programmatic services to support businesses through growth stages.

Key findings and details from the study
- Market and demand: PGAV's earlier market assessment suggested a public market with eight to nine food vendors could attract significant regional visitation; the consultants reported PGAV’s 50‑mile radius analysis and a regional consumer projection cited in the study. The consultant team also documented robust local interest: they reported 16 vendors responding initially and a follow‑up group of six vendors that reviewed detailed financial models; more than two dozen local organizations indicated interest in providing programming or operational support.
- Building and site: study models compared renovating the Spiegel building (a gut renovation with structural reinforcement) against an alternative three‑floor model on an adjacent parcel. The consultants concluded the alternate parcel had logistical restrictions for truck access and was probably not compatible, while the Spiegel site offered community value tied to its historic presence. A rooftop restaurant was modeled as a revenue enhancement but was flagged as higher risk because no operator had been secured during outreach.
- Financials and operations: the team produced detailed cost estimates and pro forma scenarios, and presented versions with and without the rooftop restaurant. Their summary said the models showed operating stability after early years, but the group stressed that diversified funding would be required; the consultants gave a ballpark cost range for development in the low‑to‑mid‑tens of millions. The report recommended exploring a public‑private partnership (P3) management structure in which the city could act as landowner or developer and a nonprofit or private operator would manage daily operations.
- Funding and partners: presenters noted a contribution recorded in the study and thanked named philanthropic partners and local groups that provided study funding and support; consultants said most public markets are funded through multiple sources rather than by a single city budget line.

Discussion and next steps
Council members and staff asked questions about structural soundness, construction timing, and whether cost savings from renovation justified reuse of the building. The consultants said a gut renovation of the Spiegel building would require significant interior reinforcement and that cost differences between new build and renovation were smaller than some expected; they also noted certain historic preservation credits could be available if the building shell is retained.

The firm recommended proceeding to predevelopment: identify development partners and potential operators, finalize a preferred site, refine programming and design, and secure a diversified funding package before moving to construction. The consultants specifically cautioned against building immediately and recommended phasing and pilot programs (for example, pop‑ups) to test demand during predevelopment.

No formal council vote on construction or funding was recorded during the presentation. Consultants and staff said the next formal actions would be to identify partners and, if the council directs, return with more detailed predevelopment recommendations and a funding plan.","New Venture Advisors told Moline City Council that a public market concept centered on the Spiegel building is financially plausible and could support small‑business growth and food‑access programs, but recommended moving into a predevelopment phase rather than immediate construction.","actionData","errors"]

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Moline police seek council authorization for docked Skydio drones for first‑responder program; funding from state violence‑prevention grant

Consultants say public market at Spiegel building is feasible; recommend predevelopment step