Overview
- The Public Health, Safety and Equity Committee, which met Wednesday, voted to advance the Skydio contract to the full City Council without a recommendation.
- Police propose a free 75-day Fourth Precinct trial with branded drones that would launch to certain 911 calls and stream live video to dispatchers and responding officers.
- City officials say drones would give fast situational awareness to improve safety and let crews clear low‑priority calls without sending officers in some cases.
- Dozens of residents opposed the plan at the hearing, raising privacy concerns, distrust of the vendor and fears that footage could be shared with federal agencies like ICE.
- Supporters point to other Minnesota programs and Minnetonka data showing drones were first on scene in about 65% of flights and cleared roughly one in five calls while critics question costs and oversight.