Lincoln renews military-equipment ordinance after review; 74 drone flights logged in 2023

The Lincoln City Council reviewed its annual military-equipment report and voted to renew Ordinance 10 45 B on May 14 after staff concluded the department complied with statutory requirements under Assembly Bill 481.

A staff presenter explained AB 481 requires local governing bodies to review and approve the use of certain military-grade equipment and to publish a military-equipment use procedure and annual report on the department's website. City staff told the council that, in 2023, the department recorded no uses of military equipment requiring special authorization and that there were no public complaints tied to military equipment use. The report recorded 74 drone flights used for operations such as missing-person searches, perimeter checks and scene assessments; staff said pilots are licensed and records are logged.

Council members asked whether the agency ever turns down offers of surplus equipment (for example, armored vehicles) and about the lifespan and disposal of highlighted chemical items. Staff said larger agencies sometimes receive such equipment but Lincoln lacked the operational need for heavy armored vehicles; disposals of out-of-service items were coordinated with Placer EOD.

After discussion, the council moved to adopt the renewal. A roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval.

Staff posted the military-equipment use procedure and the annual report online as required by statute; the city will continue public complaint procedures and internal audits described in the ordinance.