Good morning and welcome to the September 9th Rules Committee meeting.

I'm Supervisor Shimon Walton, Chair of the Rules Committee.

Today I am joined by Supervisor Safai, and I'd like to entertain a motion to excuse Supervisor Peskin for this morning's meeting.

Yes, on the motion to excuse uh member Peskin from today's meeting.

On that motion, uh Vice Chair Safai.

Safai I uh Chair Walton.

Aye.

Walton I motion passes to excuse Member Peskin from today's meeting.

Thank you.

Motion passed.

Supervisor President Peskin is excused.

Today our clerk is Victor Young, and I would also like to thank Kalina Mendoza from SFGov TV for broadcasting this morning's meeting.

Mr.

Clerk, do you have any announcements?

Yes, public comment will be taken on each item on today's agenda.

When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, please line up to speak on your right.

Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways.

Email them to myself, the rules committee clerk at VICTOR dot YOUUNG at SFgov.org.

If you submit public comment via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors and included as part of the file.

You may also send your written comment via US mail to our office at City Hall.

One, Dr.

Carlton B.

Goodlit Place, Room 244, San Francisco, California 94102.

Please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices.

Documents to be included as part of the file should be submitted to the clerk.

Items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors Agenda of September 17th, 2024, unless otherwise stated.

That concludes my initial announcements.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Clerk.

And just for the public for today, uh we are going to actually call some items out of order.

So we're going to start with item seven, then we'll go to five and six because these are all items that uh are reflective of the need from the police department.

And then we will go back to item one.

So with that said, Mr.

Clerk, would you please call item number seven?

Item number seven is ordinance approving the police department's inventory and policy related to the use of unassisted aerial vehicles or drones and making findings consistent with their criteria in state law.

Uh this matter is listed as a possible committee report.

Thank you so much.

And I know we have representation from PD here today to report.

Good morning, Chair Walton, Vice Chair Safai.

My name is Carl Nasita, and I'm Principal Legislative Liaison for the San Francisco Police Department.

I'm joined by acting lieutenant for special investigations, Eric Batchelder.

So I'll begin with just a brief introduction on the purpose of this ordinance, why we're here before you today before I turn it over to acting Lieutenant Belcher Batchelder to discuss SFPD's drone program.

So as you know, AB 481 required SFPD to receive approval for a use of equipment policy for certain types of military equipment that the department had prior to December 2022.

The use policy approved by the Board of Supervisors address the equipment the department had acquired prior to January 1st, 2022.

This approved use policy does not include drones under AB 41 categories of equipment acquired after January 1st, 2022, which are not included in the initial use policy.

Still must obtain Board of Supervisors approval of a use policy.

Then in March of 2024, voters approved Prop E, which included an authorization for SFPD to use drones.

So in compliance with Prop E and AB 41, the department is bought for you today with an unassisted aerial vehicle inventory and policy, also known as the drone policy, to supplement the approved equipment policy from December of 2022.

And now I'll turn it over to acting Lieutenant Batchelder.

I'm the uh acting uh lieutenant for the technical services unit at strategic investigations.

Um of the program highlights uh following the passage of proposition E, SFPD deployed six unmanned aircraft systems or drones as part of uh initial deployment with uh more on the way.

Uh these drones are SFPD's first air support in 24 years.

All drone operators are trained and certified with a remote pilot slice, a remote pilot's license, part 107.

It's issued by the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure that drones are operated in accordance with all laws and manufacturers approved flight manuals.

To more effectively and efficiently respond to crime, SFD is integrating drones and other technologies, including automated license plate readers and public safety cameras.

Drones are deployed within the city and county of San Francisco, San Francisco Airport property, and during SAPD operations outside of San Francisco as allowed.

Benefits include faster response times, situational awareness, more precision, de escalation, officer safety, avoiding unnecessary police chases, and a force multiplier during staff shortages.

The authorized use and responsibilities.

Under Prop E, the SFPD is authorized to use drones along with or in lieu of vehicles during pursuits and to assist with active criminal investigations.

Under the policy submitted to the Board of Supervisors, drones will be used for training and simulations, critical incidents, exigent circumstances, search and rescue, mission missing persons, crime scene investigation during suspicious device assessments, planned operations, and disaster response.