Oak Park council approves police drone, confirms youth-assistance appointees; county commissioner outlines business supports and park work

The Oak Park City Council on Feb. 17 voted to buy a DJI M30T drone for the Public Safety Department and unanimously approved appointments to the Oak Park Youth Assistance board, the council announced during a roughly 30-minute meeting at City Hall.

The council also heard an update from Oakland County Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles on county programs for small businesses, a third phase of ARPA-funded 3D-printer support for manufacturers and an upcoming closure related to park renovation work at Shepherd Park.

The drone purchase will come from Unmanned Vehicle Technologies and, according to Public Safety Director Steve Cooper, the device "is the DJI M30T" and is intended to "provide real time, situational awareness" to assist in search-and-rescue, crime-scene work, crowd monitoring and fireground operations. Cooper told the council the department's stated purchase price is $14,643.75, and later asked the council to authorize a purchase in the amount shown in the meeting packet as $14,643.57. He said the purchase includes Federal Aviation Administration training for six operators; the department listed an annual warranty/insurance cost of $1,200 (the first year free) and a software package that Cooper said costs $3,000 per year and is included for the first year to integrate drone flights with the city’s evidence system.

Nut Graf: The council framed the purchase as a public-safety investment that city staff say will improve officer safety and response capabilities. The meeting record shows unanimous support in roll-call votes for the drone purchase and other routine items, while residents raised concerns during public comment about communication around snow-emergency parking and traffic impacts from an upcoming closure of I-696.

Cooper described capabilities the council can expect to use: high-resolution and thermal imaging, a rangefinder, a loudspeaker and a spotlight, plus mapping software for evidentiary documentation. He said the drone is rated to operate in wind, snow and rain and will be used for locating missing people, aiding search-and-rescue operations, crime-scene processing and assisting fire operations. "Drones have been valuable tools for law enforcement agencies, nationwide for many decades," Cooper said.

Council members asked whether annual insurance and software costs were covered; Cooper said the first year of insurance and the first-year software license are included with the purchase, with ongoing costs thereafter. The council approved the purchase by roll call: Council member Crawford (yes); Mayor McClellan (yes); Council member Radnor (yes); and Mayor Pro Tem Sean Whitehead (yes). The motion and second were not recorded with individual mover/second names in the minutes.

The council also approved two appointments to the Oak Park Youth Assistance Board. The youth assistance program, administered through the Oakland County Circuit Court Family Division and created in 1983, operates via tri-sponsorship among the circuit court, local municipalities and local school districts to serve teens at risk. The council voted unanimously by voice to present Tim Chikorski and Trustee Zondra Clark to the local sponsors for final approval.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: Approved by voice vote; the consent package included minutes, payment requests, authorization to advertise for CDBG 2024 bids, a new zoning verification fee and other routine items.

- Payment of legal invoices: The council approved payment of invoices submitted by Garrin Luco Miller, PC, for legal services in the amount of $15,340.48 (roll call: Mayor McClellan yes; Council member Ratner yes; Mayor Pro Tem Whitehead yes; Council member Crawford yes).

- Oak Park Youth Assistance Board appointments (Tim Chikorski; Zondra Clark): Approved by unanimous voice vote.

- Purchase of public-safety drone (DJI M30T) from Unmanned Vehicle Technologies: Approved by roll call (Crawford yes; McClellan yes; Radnor yes; Whitehead yes). The Public Safety Department presented a purchase price of $14,643.75 and a packet figure of $14,643.57; first-year insurance and first-year software were described as included.

Public comment and other business

Resident Ken Sherman raised concerns about how snow emergencies are communicated and reported seeing timed parking tickets despite social-media posts he said advised residents to move vehicles. He also asked what the city is doing to help businesses and manage traffic after an announced multi-year closure of I-696; Sherman asked whether businesses have contacted the city about impacts. Council members acknowledged those concerns and noted that 696 closures and simultaneous park construction will create near-term disruptions. Commissioner Smith Charles, in her county update, told the council that Shepherd Park will be inaccessible beginning March 1 while renovation work is under way and urged residents to use alternative parks such as Catawba Park during construction.

In her county report, Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles, who represents Oakland County’s District 17, encouraged small businesses to explore CEED lending through the U.S. Small Business Administration and described an Oakland County initiative that has provided 3D printers and training to manufacturers using ARPA funds; she said county staff are recruiting businesses for a third phase of that program. "Text is best," Smith Charles told residents and said her office number is (248) 807-4363 for follow-up.

Council logistics and announcements

Council members thanked residents who supported recent park millages and reminded residents that the warming center would be open during an upcoming cold spell. The council also promoted a Langston Hughes Black History Month event at the library and noted work to improve the Shepherd Park parking lot and other facilities.

Ending: The meeting adjourned after the call to the audience and routine closing remarks; no further formal actions were recorded.