City of Simi Valley
Staff Report
Ma
y 4, 2026
To: Cit
y Council
Fr
om: Police Department
Steve Shorts, Police Chief
Subj
ect: Authorization to accept a donation from the Simi Valley Police Foundation for the purchase of a drone, approval of a supplemental budget request for Fund 100, and authorization for the City Manager to execute associated documents Staff Recommendation
I
t is recommended that the City Council:
1. A
uthorize acceptance of a donation from the Simi Valley Police Foundation (SVPF), in an amount not to exceed $15,000, to supplement the Technical Services Team Drone program;
2. A
pprove a Supplemental Budget Request of $15,000 to the General Fund (Fund 100) to reconcile and complete the purchase of a new Mavic 4TD drone for use in the Simi Valley Police Department Technical Services Team Drone program; and
3. A
uthorize the City Manager or designee to execute associated documents.
Ba
ckground
T
he Simi Valley Police Foundation (SVPF) has offered to provide a donation in an amount not to exceed $15,000 to support the Police Department’s Technical Services Team Drone Program, specifically for the purchase of an additional Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) platform and associated equipment. City Council approval is required to accept this donation, as it exceeds the City Manager’s threshold of $10,000 set by Simi Valley Municipal Code § 2-9.110(f).
I
n recent years, the Police Department has expanded its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program to enhance public safety, improve officer safety, and increase operational efficiency. The Department uses drones for a range of missions, including search- and- rescue operations, suspect containment, critical incident response, missing- person searches, and aerial documentation of crime scenes and traffic collisions.
Agenda Item No.
Consent (3)
As use of this technology has increased, so has the demand for the Department’s existing drone fleet. Routine maintenance, repairs, and battery lifecycle limitations periodically place drones out of service, reducing availability during critical incidents and creating operational gaps when multiple incidents occur simultaneously or specialized equipment is needed.
T
o address this need, the Police Department is seeking to purchase an additional drone platform and associated equipment to supplement the existing fleet. The additional unit will provide redundancy, help maintain UAS availability when other drones are out of service, and support simultaneous deployments when operational demands require more than one UAS resource.
T
his purchase will support the Department’s continued use of technology to enhance officer safety, strengthen response capabilities, and provide effective and efficient service to the community.
Di
scussion
T
he City of Simi Valley includes residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, open space, hillside terrain, and critical infrastructure, all of which present a range of public safety needs. The Simi Valley Police Department uses modern technology to improve situational awareness and reduce risk to both officers and the community. Its UAS program supports patrol operations, investigations, and emergency response.
T
he Department currently operates a limited number of drone platforms that are regularly deployed for critical incidents, including suspect searches, missing person cases, and emergency response situations. Because these units are subject to routine maintenance, repairs, and equipment downtime, UAS resources are not always available when needed.
Purchasing an additional drone platform will strengthen operational continuity, reduce service gaps when other units are out of service, and improve the Department’s ability to respond to multiple incidents simultaneously.
T
he full cost will be funded through a donation from the Simi Valley Police Foundation.
No additional City funds are required for this purchase. If approved, the Police Department will obtain competitive bid quotes and issue a purchase order to the vendor whose bid is the most competitive and best meets the Department’s operational needs.
Ongoi
ng costs associated with adding the drone to the Police Department’s fleet are expected to be minimal and will be absorbed within the Department’s existing General Fund (Fund 100) budget, specifically within the Detective Bureau’s operating supplies account. Annual maintenance costs for an individual drone are estimated at approximately $500 to $1,000, depending on the level of service and parts needed, such as batteries, propellers, and other electronic components. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licensing is issued on a three-year basis at an approximate cost of $50 per drone.
In addition, adding one drone to the fleet is expected to increase the insurance liability coverage costs by approximately $1,000 annually.
2 Financial Impact
There is no fiscal impact to the City’s General Fund associated with the initial purchase of the drone and related equipment. Ongoing operating costs are estimated at approximately $2,000 annually and will be incorporated into future proposed budgets for City Council approval.
City Council Priority
This item supports the City Council’s pillar of excellence, under Public Safety, as outlined in the City Council priorities.
Suggested Motion
I move that the City Council:
1. Authorize acceptance of a donation from the Simi Valley Police Foundation (SVPF), in an amount not to exceed $15,000, to supplement the Technical Services Team Drone program;
2. Approve a Supplemental Budget Request of $15,000.00 to the General Fund (Fund 100) to reconcile and complete the purchase of a new Mavic 4TD drone for use in the Simi Valley Police Department Technical Services Team Drone program; and
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute associated documents.
Summary
The Simi Valley Police Foundation (SVPF) has offered to provide a donation in an amount not to exceed $15,000 to support the Police Department’s Technical Services Team Drone Program, specifically for the purchase of an additional Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) platform and associated equipment. City Council approval is required to accept this donation, as it exceeds the City Manager’s threshold of $10,000 set by Simi Valley Municipal Code § 2 -9.110 (f) . The Police Department has expanded its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program in recent years to support public safety, improve officer safety, and increase operational efficiency, using drones for missions such as search - and-rescue, suspect containment, critical incident response, missing -person searches, and aerial documentation of crime scenes and traffic collisions. To support this program, it is recommended that the City Council authorize acceptance of a donation from the Simi Valley Police Foundation in an amount not to exceed $15,000, authorize the City Manager to sign the related document, and approve a $15,000 supplemental budget request to the General Fund to reconcile and complete the purchase of a new Mavic 4TD drone for the Police Department’s Technical Services Team Drone program.
Prepared by: Bryan Samples, Commander
Attachments:
Attachment A – Simi Valley Police Foundation Funding Request 3 Attachment A
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