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Councilmember Buscher noted that the Drone as a First Responder program was also presented to <br />the Fire Protection Council the previous week, at which Deputy Jacobson provided additional <br />details. She noted that the drone has an estimated 45-minute flight time, shorter than some existing <br />drones, but it includes more advanced onboard technology. <br /> <br />Councilmember Buscher explained that the drone can provide real-time situational awareness, <br />including smoke and flame detection, wind conditions, line-of-sight to fire scenes, roof integrity, <br />and potential collapse zones, thereby enhancing firefighter safety and response planning. She <br />referenced its use during the Nowthen fire, where the drone monitored conditions during a complex <br />incident. <br /> <br />Councilmember Buscher added that, because the drone system is integrated with Flock technology, <br />it includes facial recognition capabilities similar to those in existing Flock cameras. Alerts can be <br />triggered not only by 911 calls but also by Flock camera detections, and she cited an example in <br />which Flock technology helped link a suspect in Anoka to a homicide. <br /> <br />Addressing constitutional and privacy concerns, Councilmember Buscher stated that program <br />officials are drafting policies to prevent misuse, emphasizing that the technology would not be <br />used for generalized surveillance or “fishing expeditions.” Regarding cost, she shared that <br />preliminary estimates for a 10-year contract place the first two years under $200,000, with costs <br />increasing significantly in later years, potentially totaling several million dollars, possibly to be <br />levied across participating cities. <br /> <br />Councilmember Buscher expressed personal support for continuing to explore the program, citing <br />unanimous support from fire chiefs, the technology's advanced capabilities, and the importance of <br />carefully addressing privacy and constitutional considerations when communicating with <br />residents. <br /> <br />Mayor Heineman asked whether there are specific weather-related thresholds, such as high winds <br />or heavy rain, that would prevent the Drone as a First Responder system from being deployed or <br />used safely. <br /> <br />Police Chief Bluml stated that increased winds reduce drone battery life. While there are <br />operational limitations in certain weather conditions, drones can still be deployed more frequently <br />than requesting a helicopter. He also clarified his comments on facial recognition, noting that <br />Ramsey’s current Flock cameras do not use it. Instead, they identify and track observable <br />characteristics, such as clothing items (e.g., hats or backpacks), to track movement through an <br />area. He emphasized that this capability differs from facial recognition technology and that the <br />cameras currently in use do not perform facial identification. <br /> <br />The consensus of the Council was to continue researching the Flock camera program. <br /> <br />2.03: Cryptocurrency Ordinance <br /> <br />Police Chief Bluml reminded the Council of a prior presentation by Derek Anderson regarding <br />fraud concerns associated with cryptocurrency kiosks in Ramsey and noted that the Council <br />City Council Work Session / January 27, 2026 <br />Page 5 of 10 <br />