HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 21-16-05ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 21-16-05
of the
City Manager of the City of Eugene, Oregon
ESTABLISHING DRONE USE POLICIES FOR CITY OF EUGENE
EMPLOYEES.
The City Manager of the City of Eugene finds that:
A. Under the provisions of Chapter IV, Section 16 of the Eugene Charter of 2002; the
City Manager is designated as the administrative head of the City, specifically authorized to
appoint and remove all employees (except as otherwise provided in the Charter), organize, and, as
deemed necessary, disband and reorganize various City departments, and to enforce all ordinances
of the City.
B. The Fire & Emergency Medical Services Department has applied to the Federal
Aviation Administration ("FAA") for permission to use a. drone to assist the Department in
responding to fires and other emergencies.
C. On June 21, 2016, the FAA also published new administrative rules making it easier
to fly drones for commercial and governmental purposes, with an effective date for those rules in
mid-August.
D. Oregon statutes also limit how drones can be used by the public and by public
bodies, in part, in order to protect individuals' privacy interests.
E. In order to ensure that the City of Eugene's use of drones is consistent with State
law and the changing FAA requirements, I am adopting this Administrative Order to regulate when
City employees may use a drone.
NOW, THEREFORE, based upon the above findings, I order that:
Section 1. City of Eugene employees may use drones under the following circumstances:
A. The Fire Department may use a drone to:
(1) Evaluate and respond to a hazardous materials spill;
(2) Undertake search and rescue efforts;
(3) Assist in responding to a structure fire or a wildland fire;
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(4) Assess damage and provide other information about
buildings, bridges, road, and other structures involved in an
emergency;
(5) Provide pictures and videos of the outside of large facilities
and rivers as part of pre -planning for those large facilities or
water rescues on the rivers; and
(6) Assist in Department training activities.
B. Except for activities authorized by paragraph A above, City
employees shall not use a drone without approval from the City Manager and City
Attorney.
Section 2. The Executive Director for each City department shall convey this Policy to
employees within their Department.
Dated and effective this 571day of August, 2016.
Jon R. Ruiz
City Manager
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