17-2020 Updating the City of Meridian SOP (Drones)CITY OF MERIDIAN RESOLUTION NO. 1 / —
BY THE CITY COUNCIL: BIRD, BORTON, CAVENER,
LITTLE ROBERTS MILAM, PALMER
A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CITY OF MERIDIAN STANDARD OPERATING
POLICY TO ADD A NEW POLICY REGARDING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
(ALSO KNOWN AS DRONES); AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, offer cost-efficient
opportunities for City staff to take photographs, make videos, and gather data to fulfill City
functions with improved efficiency and quality; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Meridian seeks to implement policies by which
City employees will use drones in a manner and for purposes that serve the public, benefit Meridian
residents and visitors, and protect the privacy and safety of the public; and
WHEREAS, City staff, department directors, and City Council have completed the process
for review of a proposed new citywide policy, pursuant to City of Meridian Standard Operating
Policy and Procedure no. 1.3;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN CITY, IDAHO:
Section 1. That a new policy shall be added to the City of Meridian Standard Operating
Policies Manual, Policy no. 6.2.8, Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones), a copy of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit A.
Section 2. That this Resolution and the policy added hereby, shall be in full force and effect
immediately upon its adoption and approval.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Meridian, Idaho, this 25th day of July, 2017.
APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Meridian, Idaho, this 25th day of July, 2017.
ADOPTION OF SOP NO. 6.2.8: USE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (DRONES)
PAGE I OF 1
EXHIBIT A
CITY OF MERIDIAN
STANDARD OPERATING POLICY
NUMBER 6.2.8
SUBJECT: USE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (DRONES)
PURPOSE: To establish policies for the use of City-owned unmanned aircraft, or
drones, for purposes that serve the community, benefit Meridian residents and
visitors, and protect the privacy and safety of the public.
AUTHORITY & RESPONSIBILITY: The following policy shall apply to all City employees
and departments in using City-owned drones, with the exception of the Meridian
Police Department, to the extent that that department has a specific policy in place
for the use of drones by law enforcement officers. Department Directors shall ensure
compliance with this policy within their respective departments.
POLICY:
1. As needed to perform required job functions, an employee may be authorized by his or her
Department Director to use a City drone. All drone operations shall follow the established
policies for operating City equipment.
2. Employees must obtain remote pilot certifications from the FAA prior to operating a drone
owned by City or otherwise approved for City use.
3. Employees operating drones must comply in all respects with: all FAA regulations and
requirements; all City, State, and Federal laws and regulations; and all state and federal
Constitutional guarantees.
4. Pursuant to Idaho Code section 21-213(2)(b), drones may not be used to photograph or
otherwise record an individual, without such individual’s written consent, for the purpose of
publishing or otherwise publicly disseminating such photograph or recording.
5. Employees shall not intentionally record or transmit images of any location where a person
would have a reasonable expectation of privacy (e.g. residence, yard, enclosure) and shall take
reasonable precautions to avoid inadvertent entry into, or recording images of, areas where there
is a reasonable expectation of privacy.
6. Employees may collect information using a drone only while using it for a specifically
authorized use and may not use it to conduct personal business of any type. Employees may use
drone-collected information only for marketing, mapping, management and assessment of City
facilities and construction projects, infrastructure monitoring, and site visits and inspections
pursuant to pending applications/permits.
7. Employees may not use personally-owned drones for City purposes unless specifically
requested and approved by the Department Director.