Town of Atherton City Council Special Meeting Minutes – October 5, 2022
MINUTES
Town of Atherton
City Council
OCTOBER 5, 2022
STUDY SESSION MEETING
Mayor DeGolia called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
STUDY SESSION AGENDA
ROLL CALL – Polito, Hawkins-Manuelian, Lewis, Vice Mayor Widmer, Mayor DeGolia – Present
PUBLIC COMMENT - None
ACTION ITEM
1. DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AUTONOMOUS DRONE PROGRAM; APPROVAL OF AN ASSOCIATED
LEXIPOL POLICY; AND ACCEPTANCE OF DONATION TO FUND THE
PROGRAM.
Police Chief McCulley presented the item and introduced Tyler Roberts from Palladium Technologies to provide an overview and demo of their drone technology. Chief McCulley noted that there are various configuration options related to the tools that impact the cost, but the basic cost for the first year would be approximately $40,000 for leasing the equipment and maintenance and support.
Councilmember Widmer inquired about the auditing plan for the program and any data captured to which McCulley responded.
Council discussed concerns for resident security / privacy and McCulley noted that the internal policy will only allow deployment for select authorized calls.
City Attorney Ebrahimi reminded staff and Council that the purchase of this equipment will trigger a need to be reported on the Military Surplus list annually.
Tyler Roberts provided a thorough overview of the drone technology and took the Council through a live demo of a deployed drone.
Council engaged Roberts with several questions related to the drone technology including controls, charging, video storage, and piloting.
Town of Atherton City Council Special Meeting Minutes – October 5, 2022
MOTION by Widmer, Second by Polito to approve the Lexipol Drone Program Policy and accept the resident donation funding the initial outlay of the Autonomous Drone Program and its operation for one year.
AYES: Polito, Hawkins-Manuelian, Lewis, Widmer, DeGolia NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
STUDY SESSION
2. DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING POTENTIAL CHANGES TO
THE CURRENT NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE (ATHERTON MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 8.16).
Police Chief McCulley introduced the item sharing the current noise control ordinance details and resident recommendations / suggestions to revise the ordinance. He noted a few of those recommendations to include lower the social gathering noise limitations and increasing the penalties for violations.
Public Comments:
• Mark Dubovoy commented on the item
• Michelle Swenson commented on the item
Council discussed the various concerns related to Noise within Town including increasing fines, raising the level of citation to misdemeanor, and lower the noise level allowed.
City Attorney Ebrahimi noted the Government Code limits the Town’s ability to fine for violations that are infractions and by raising the penalty to a misdemeanor the limitations are not the same.
Mayor DeGolia and Councilmember Lewis advocated for revisions to the current Ordinance.
The Council directed staff to revise the Ordinance lowering the allowable decibel levels on specific days, to define a number of people for social gatherings and to increase the penalties for repeat offenders including giving the Police Department the option of citing violators with a misdemeanor offense.
COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMENTS - None
ADJOURN
Mayor DeGolia adjourned the meeting at 4:25 p.m.
____________________________
Anthony Suber
City Clerk