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Police ask for 10‑year Axon contract, motorcycles and limited drone program; staff says long‑term savings offset front‑loaded costs
Summary
Police presented a supplemental request to replace the existing Axon contract with a 10‑year agreement that staff said includes hardware refreshes, AI features and discounted fleet replacements; the front five years carry higher costs but staff project net savings over 10 years. The department also proposed hybrid motorcycles and a small drone program as operational tools.
Police staff described a proposed 10‑year replacement contract with Axon that would expand the department’s body‑camera and evidence management platform, include equipment refreshes every two years and offer reduced unit prices over the contract life. “If we get a new contract…we're gonna end up saving $91,000 over the course of a 10 year contract,” a police presenter said, while acknowledging the first five years would require higher outlays before longer‑term savings materialize.
Staff also explained requests for two hybrid motorcycles (estimated about $76,000 each under the tax note) and a scaled drone program for specific operational uses; presenters emphasized recruitment and trail‑response benefits and described training and maintenance plans. Councilors questioned which expenditures are urgent and which are “gravy,” and asked staff to separate immediate required refreshes from optional advanced AI features before final budget decisions.
