After extended public comment and council questions about privacy, retention and budgeting, the Federal Way City Council voted unanimously Jan. 6 to implement a drone-as-first-responder (DFR) program and authorized the mayor to execute vendor contracts.

Police commanders described the recommended system—a Skydio-based setup integrated with the city’s Axon evidence-management platform—and proposed two docked drones and two docks, located at City Hall and the Performing Arts & Events Center. Command staff said the vendor’s platform can lock the camera in a horizontal view while the drone flies to a scene and records only when pilots determine it is needed; video recorded on deployment would be downloaded to the city’s Axon server and handled under existing evidence-retention and public-records procedures.

Finance and operations: Staff presented a five-year contract with an estimated annual cost of $95,545.34 (after tax) and a one-time computer cost of roughly $4,300 for the remote-pilot workstation. The city expects vendor discounts tied to an existing Axon master agreement to expire Jan. 31; staff warned prices could rise if Council delays execution.

Use cases and limits: Police described use for active critical incidents, search-and-rescue, perimeter overwatch, and targeted interdictions; commanders said pilots will be sworn personnel and that FAA waivers (beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations) and pilot training are required before full deployment.

Privacy and oversight concerns: Multiple public speakers urged caution, citing local court rulings and studies about automated license-plate reader programs; councilmembers pressed staff on retention periods, encryption and audit trails. Command staff said recorded drone footage would be retained consistent with evidence categories, secured on the Axon server, subject to criminal-justice-data protections and public-records review and redaction rules.

Council action: Councilmember Martin Moore moved approval; the motion authorized the mayor to sign contracts with the recommended vendors and allocate first-year funding from state seizure funds. The motion passed unanimously.

What’s next: Staff will submit required FAA waiver applications, finalize contract execution, and return with implementation details and periodic reporting on operations and policy safeguards.