Council posts AB 481 report, sidelines two drones pending public hearing and introduces retroactive drone authorization

The Soledad City Council accepted the Police Department's AB 481 annual report on July 1 and directed staff to publicize a public hearing on the inventory and related policy on August 5.

Staff said two drones now appear on the inventory: a larger unit acquired in 2022 with limited deployments and maintenance issues, and a smaller unit purchased in March 2026. Because both units were not properly reported and the department did not receive prior council approval for the acquisition, staff said the drones are sidelined and cannot be used until the council retroactively approves the purchases and the related use under the city's military‑equipment policy.

City staff introduced Ordinance 782 to retroactively authorize the small drone; staff read the purchase price into the record as $1,459. Staff explained the drone is intended for public-safety missions such as search and rescue, major collision investigations, disaster response and active-shooter reconnaissance. The Lieutenant described policy safeguards: trained operators, restrictions to missions with legal justification, and a practice of diverting the aircraft from private areas (for example, not observing backyard or window privacy) when encountered during a mission.

Council accepted the AB 481 report for posting and reached consensus to schedule a public hearing; it also introduced the retroactive authorization ordinance. Staff noted state law also requires the policy review and an additional public hearing on the policy itself.