HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 - Minutes - Amended PageCity of Newport Beach
Study Session and Regular Meeting
October 10, 2017
October 24, 2017
Agenda Item No. 1
similar commercial use. Lt. Psaros discussed State laws, the difficulty in enforcing those related
to drones, and how investigations would be handled. He referenced the information provided in
his handout and reported that he and Mr. Encheff will be conducting training for the Police
Department on how to conduct drone investigations. He noted that, since 2016, the City has
had 85 drone events logged into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
Erin Harlow discussed privacy and safety issues related to using drones and suggested banning
the recreational use of drones.
Jim Mosher discussed his experience with a drone at the Newport Dunes and asked if the City
will be using drones for law enforcement or code enforcement and, if so, if limits will be set.
Kelsey Brewer, ACC -OC Policy Manager, reported that the ACC -OC developed a model drone
ordinance that was reviewed by the FAA to assist cities in dealing with preemption issues. She
indicated that the ordinance has been adopted by many Orange County cities and cities in other
states, and that ACC -OC would be happy to assist the City. She noted that the ordinance does
not add more regulatory laws and was written so the City does not need to purchase additional
technology to enforce the ordinance. She encouraged the City to work with the FAA to enforce
its regulations and agreed that any regulation should be tied to land use authority.
Referencing the penal codes, Mayor Muldoon believed there is no need for an ordinance, but the
City should analyze the model ordinance to see if the Police Department could use the
information for enforcement and educational purposes.
Council Member Peotter; noted that JWA could assist the City in regulating drones since the
City falls within its airspace, expressed concern that officers might not be equipped to handle
this issue, and believed that adding signage may assist with educating drone users.
Council Member O'Neill took issue that the FAA is hindering the City's ability to regulate drones
and protect privacy, Congress and the FAA do not under -stand their -ell. Congress passed laws
that a Federal court used to strike down FAA regulations for drone registration, the FAA's role
needs to be better understood, and the best the City can do right now is send police officers to
try to enforce pre -technological penal codes.
Council Member Dixon noted that some of the non -Class C airspace is in her district, agreed
that the City does not need new regulations, and noted residents need to know where to find
answers. She recommended compiling all the information into one document in order to better
understand what can be done within current regulations and laws, and suggested bringing this
item back for more discussion.
Mayor Pro Tem Duffield stated his son is a commercial helicopter pilot and reported that private
and small aircrafts are not engineered to sustain an impact from a drone. He emphasized his
safety concerns.
SS4. Peninsula Crosswalk Study
Without objection, Mayor Muldoon recommended that this item be continued to the October 24,
2017 City Council meeting.
III. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Corona del Mar High School students Max Johnson, ASB President, Jake Subota, Bridget Connelly, and
Alec Lis discussed the proposed Corona del Mar High School Sport Complex, expressed support for
Proposal B of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and commented on the need for the field lights,
portable public announcement system, and a new track and field. They also believed that the proposed
lights would produce less light pollution than the current pool and tennis court lights.
Volume 63 - Page 373