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Police, fire seek drones, new dispatching and a shared public‑safety complex in CIP
Summary
Police and fire departments requested funding for a municipal drone program, completion of body‑worn cameras, a replacement dispatch console and long‑term planning for a shared public‑safety complex with design and acquisition funding identified in bond allocations.
City public‑safety leaders told the Jan. 7 workshop they want targeted CIP funding to modernize response capabilities and address aging facilities.
Police Chief Duffy outlined items that include a municipal unmanned aerial vehicle program to provide rapid situational awareness at incidents, continued funding to complete the department’s body‑worn camera program, a new evidence impound area with secure fencing and power, replacement of an aging dispatch console that lacks manufacturer parts, and traffic‑data software for real‑time speed and routing analysis.
Fire Chief Hart Donnelly said the drone program has immediate rescue and firefighting uses — "it may take us 4 minutes to get there in the boat, but it would take us a minute to get there with the drone" — and described station improvements across headquarters and outlying stations (window replacement, HVAC, roof and tower stair repairs) while urging work to relocate headquarters out of a known flood zone.
City Manager Colin Kennedy and department heads said the public‑safety complex remains a long‑term priority. The city has bond funds and expects to pursue grants and real‑estate acquisition to reach a shovel‑ready status that would improve candidacy for additional external funding. Staff cautioned that some of the largest facility requests are outside the five‑year window and will require future bond or grant action.
Councilors and staff agreed the CIP presentation should better distinguish near‑term, fundable items from longer‑term bond‑backed projects to avoid confusion in public and council discussions. No formal votes were taken at the workshop.
