TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Drone Replacement Program Financial Assistance Agreement Between Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and City of North Port, and Authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as Applicable Under the City Charter, to Execute Any Additional Funding Documents After Legal Review, Should the Grant be Awarded to the City.
Recommended Action
Approve the Drone Replacement Program Financial Assistance Agreement between Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and City of North Port, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute any additional funding documents after Legal Review, should the grant be awarded to the City.
Background Information
During the 2022 Florida Legislative Session, Section 934.50 of the Florida Statutes was amended. The change to Florida Statutes dictates that by July 1, 2022, governmental agencies using any drone(s) not produced by an approved manufacturer must implement a plan to discontinue the use of such drone(s) by January 1, 2023. This grant provides funding for the Recipient to replace drones that are not in compliance with Rule 60GG-2.0075, Florida Administrative Code.
To be eligible for payment under this program, the unallowable drone(s) must not be at end-of-life and must still be in working condition. The amount awarded to the Recipient is based on the initial purchase price and total flight hours for the device(s), in accordance with the depreciation schedule in Appendix A. In order to receive reimbursement for this program, drones purchased from companies not in compliance with Rule 60GG-2.0075, Florida Administrative Code, must be surrendered to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). In accordance with program guidelines established in the 2023 legislative session, noncompliant drones are to be given to the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida (USF) for analysis.
Funds received under this program must be used to acquire drones which are in compliance with Rule 60GG-2.0075, Florida Administrative Code. The approved drone(s) must have a purchase date of January 1, 2022 or later. The City of North Port is requesting program funds in the form of a cash advance in order to purchase the compliant drone(s).
This award is a cost-reimbursement agreement based on the depreciation value of the noncompliant drone(s) as explained in Appendix A. This funding is “first-come, first-served” and will be available to qualifying agencies until funding has been depleted.
The attached Drone Replacement Program Financial Assistance Agreement has been reviewed by the City Attorney and is legally correct as to form, with a modification made for City signatures. Once approved, City signatures will be obtained, and the agreement will be returned to FDLE for execution.
Strategic Plan
Good Governance
Financial Impact
This agreement will pay the City on a first come, first serve basis for reimbursement of noncompliant drones until funds are depleted. Funds received under this program must be used to acquire drones that are in compliance with Rule 60GG-2.0075, Florida Administrative Code. Based on FDLE’s table of prorated value, the expected reimbursement is calculated to be $13,544.
Revenue Account: 001-0000-334.20-03
Expenditure Account: 001-2100-521.64-00
Procurement
Procurement code, policies, and procedures will be followed when the purchases are made.
Attachments:
1. Financial Assistance Agreement
Prepared by: Jennifer Sadonis, Grants Coordinator
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager