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Finance committee forwards ODOT-funded drone pilot to full council amid privacy questions
Summary
The Amherst Finance Committee voted to forward ordinance 26-15, authorizing the mayor to enter an agreement for an ODOT drones-for-first-responders pilot, after the police chief described the ‘drone in a box’ system and fielded questions about FAA waivers, cameras and long-term costs.
Chair opened discussion of ordinance 26-15 on the drones-for-first-responders pilot and the mayor said the budget includes $300,000 for the program, which will be reimbursed through an Ohio Department of Transportation grant. "There is $300,000 in the budget for this program. It's reimbursement," the mayor said.
Police Chief Rosenberg told the committee the system is a "drone in a box" mounted on a city building that can reach calls for service in about 90 seconds and operate autonomously en route. "The drone itself can respond to calls for service within 90 seconds," Rosenberg said, adding that Lorain County EMA approached the city and that reimbursement from the grant is expected within roughly 30 days.
Committee members pressed Rosenberg on operational and privacy safeguards. Councilor Wacholz asked who would pilot the drone and how line-of-sight rules would be handled; Rosenberg said the grant includes an FAA waiver to allow remote operation and that an operator would typically log in from a police station or authorized remote location. On whether the drone would be automatically launched for some 911 calls, Rosenberg said dispatchers could dispatch it from a keyboard. He addressed camera concerns by saying the cameras are "pointed upward facing the direction they're going" and described a public transparency portal that would publish flight logs and times so citizens can review flights.
The chief estimated potential post-pilot operating costs at a wide range: "At the end of the two years, potentially ... 25,000 to 50,000 per unit per year," and said the city could walk away if ongoing costs are too high. He also said vendor contracts include coverage for crashes or other losses.
Councilor Rotenberg asked whether the program could be used for non-emergency events such as a parade; Rosenberg said this pilot is for first-responder deployments and pointed to departmental surveillance policies. Rosenberg also agreed to share current drone policies and to add a layer specific to this automated, boxed system.
Councilor Wacholz moved, and a colleague seconded, to send 26-15 to the full council with an emergency clause. The committee approved the motion 5–1. The ordinance will now go to the council floor for a final vote and any further policy conditions.
