HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 21 - Drone First Responder MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, CITY MANAGER
MEETING DATE: AUGUST 4, 2026
SUBJECT: MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME PREVENTION AUTHORITY (MVCPA) GRANT
PROGRAM FOR DRONE FIRST RESPONDER (DFR) INITIATIVE
RECOMMENDATION: City Council consider approval of Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention
Authority (MVCPA) grant program for drone first responder (DFR) initiative
and an ordinance to appropriate the funds.
FUNDING SOURCE: Upon approval of the attached appropriation ordinance, funds will be
available in the Grant Fund in an amount not to exceed $133,333.
BACKGROUND: The Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) provides
grant funding to support law enforcement initiatives that prevent criminal
activity, including motor vehicle theft, burglary of motor vehicles, catalytic
converter theft, and other vehicle-related crimes through specialized
enforcement, technology, equipment, and public education. The program
encourages innovative policing strategies that improve the detection,
investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of motor vehicle offenders
while increasing the recovery of stolen vehicles and enhancing public
safety.
The Police Department submitted a grant application to the Texas Motor
Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) requesting funding to
establish a Drone First Responder (DFR) Initiative Program. The MVCPA
has awarded the City of Grapevine $133,333 to purchase the equipment
and technology necessary to implement the Department's initial Drone
First Responder capability.
The program will utilize unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to rapidly
respond to critical incidents, motor vehicle theft, burglary of motor
vehicles, catalytic converter theft, suspicious vehicles, vehicle-related
criminal activity, and other high-priority calls for service. By providing
responding officers and supervisors with real-time aerial intelligence, the
program will enable faster incident assessment, improve situational
awareness, enhance coordination during critical incidents, and increase
the effectiveness of law enforcement operations involving motor vehicle
crimes and other crimes.
The grant award supports the Department's ongoing commitment to
leveraging emerging technology to combat crime while enhancing public
safety and operational effectiveness throughout the community.
The awarded amount, $133,333, requires a 20 percent local cash match
of $26,667, resulting in a total project cost of $160,000 (see Resolution
2026-011, approved on April 21, 2026). The grant cycle is September 1,
2026, to August 31, 2027.
Staff recommends approval
MH
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-060
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE
APPROPRIATION OF REVENUE IN THE AMOUNT OF
$133,333 IN THE GRANT FUND TO BE RECEIVED
FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME PREVENTION
AUTHORITY (MVCPA), HEREINAFTER REFERRED AS
THE "GRANT PROGRAM" AND AUTHORIZING THE
APPROPRIATION OF $133,333 IN THE GRANT FUND
FOR EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE
GRANT WHICH ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE
APPROVED GRANT, DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the City of Grapevine has received approval for grant funds for
the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA) Grant Program, funding the
Drone First Responder (DFR) Initiative Program; and
WHEREAS the City will continue to fund Grapevine Police Department training
efforts in association with the grant; and
WHEREAS all constitutional and statutory prerequisites for the approval of
this ordinance have been met, including but not limited to the Open Meetings Act and
Chapter 211 of the Local Government Code; and
WHEREAS the City Council deems the adoption of this ordinance to be in the
best interests of the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS:
Section 1 . That all matters stated hereinabove are found to be true and
correct and are incorporated herein by reference as if copied in their entirety.
Section 2. That the City Council hereby authorizes the amount of$133,333
in revenue to be appropriated in the Grant Fund based on approval of the Motor
Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority Grant Program.
Section 3. The City Council hereby recognizes that there is a 20%
matching fund requirement for the amount of $26,667 for a total project cost of
$160,000.
Section 4. That the terms and provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed to
be severable, and that if the validity of any section, subsection, word, sentence, or
phrase shall be held to be invalid, it shall not affect the remaining part of this
ordinance.
Section 5. That the fact that the present ordinances and regulations of the
City of Grapevine, Texas, are inadequate to properly safeguard the health, safety,
morals, peace and general welfare of the inhabitants of the City of Grapevine,
Texas, creates an emergency for the immediate preservation of the public business,
property, health, safety and general welfare of the public which requires that this
ordinance shall become effective from and after the date of its final passage, and it
is accordingly so ordained.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 4th day ofAugust 2026.
APPROVED:
William D. Tate
Mayor
ATTEST:
Tara Brooks
City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Matthew C.G. Boyle
City Attorney
Ordinance No. 2026-060 2