September 22, 2026
Agenda Item No. 3
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
David Miner, Chief of Police - 949-644-3701, [email protected] PREPARED BY:
Jonathan Stafford, Deputy Director - 949-644-3650, [email protected] TITLE:
Ordinance No. 2026-16: Updating the Military Equipment Use Policy for the Newport Beach Police Department ABSTRACT:
For the City Council’s consideration is the adoption of Ordinance No. 2026-16 which would update the Military Equipment Use Policy (Policy) for the Newport Beach Police Department in accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 481, codified as California Government Code (CGC) §7070, et seq. The proposed ordinance would make minor changes to the Policy to align the definitions of “military equipment” with AB 2546 (2024) and update the military equipment inventory which is an appendix to the Policy. Changes to the inventory would be to add two types of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), delete two types of drones, and delete a decommissioned SWAT van. The ordinance was introduced at the City Council’s September 8, 2026 regular meeting.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and b) Waive full reading of an Ordinance, read by title only, conduct second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2026-16: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Updating the Military Equipment Use Policy for the Newport Beach Police Department.
DISCUSSION:
At its September 8, 2026 meeting, the City Council introduced and passed to second reading Ordinance No. 2026-16. The ordinance would make minor changes to the Policy, add two types of drones, and delete two types of drones and a decommissioned SWAT van from the military equipment inventory which is incorporated in the Military Equipment Use Policy for the Newport Beach Police Department. If adopted, the ordinance would become effective October 23, 2026.
Requested changes to the Policy and additions and deletions to the approved military equipment inventory include:
Aligning the definitions of military equipment with the definitions in AB 2546.
Adding the Skydio X10 and Skydio R10 drones to the authorized list of military equipment.
Deleting a decommissioned SWAT van from the authorized inventory. The vehicle was replaced by a new North Star 235-4 Command Vehicle that was approved for purchase by the City Council on December 10, 2024.
Deleting the BRINC Responder drones and the BRINC Lemur 2 drones from the authorized list of military equipment.
The Newport Beach Police Department posted notice of the changes to the Policy and military equipment inventory on its public website 30 days before the ordinance was introduced on September 8, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for this item. Costs for the additions to the military equipment inventory were previously considered and approved by the City Council in the current fiscal year budget and through Budget Amendment No. 27-017 on September 8, 2026.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – Ordinance
Attachment B – Military Equipment Use Policy (redline) Ordinance No. 2026-16: Updating the Military Equipment Use Policy for the Newport Beach Police Department September 22, 2026
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