White Plains Urban Renewal Agency

THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS Official Proceedings of the Common Council Vol. 101 City of White Plains, N.Y., December 23, 2015 No. 37 THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS OFFICERS Mayor.... THOMAS M. ROACH Council President.... JOHN M. MARTIN City Clerk.... ANNE MCPHERSON ________ COUNCIL MEMBERS: Nadine Hunt-Robinson Milagros Lecuona John Kirkpatrick John M. Martin Dennis E. Krolian Beth N. Smayda The Special Meeting of the Common Council called for Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at five o'clock in the evening in the Common Council Chamber, Municipal Building. Mayor Roach presiding and the following Members present: Mrs. Hunt-Robinson, Mrs. Lecuona, Mr. Kirkpatrick, Mr. Krolian, Mr. Martin and Ms. Smayda ________ The Mayor called this Special Meeting to consider legislation on the prohibition on the launching, landing and operating of drones at and during the City's New Year's Eve Spectacular Event to be held on December 31, 2015, and legislation. ________ Communication received from the Police Chief. Mr. Martin moved that it/they be filed and spread in full upon the minutes. Mrs. Lecuona seconded the motion. Carried. TO THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS Dear Mayor and Council Members: TO THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS Dear Mayor and Council Members: Unmanned aircraft systems (popularly known as drones) have become increasingly available to private citizens for personal and recreation uses due to their decline in cost. Drones can fly at altitudes below the navigable airspace (generally at 400 feet) which is not within the jurisdiction, regulation and control and control of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As such, there is a very real public safety concern when it comes to the use of drones during large public events over public streets. The City of White Plains will be conducting a New Year's Eve Spectacular event on Thursday, December 31, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. through 2:00 a.m. on January 1, 2016, featuring music, entertainment and fireworks, on Mamaroneck Avenue from Main Street to Martine Avenue; Main Street from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to North Broadway; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard from Quarropas Street to Main Street; Court Street from Martine Avenue to Main Street, and Martine Avenue from Mamaroneck Avenue to South Lexington Avenue. Over ten thousand people are expected to attend and participate in the event. The use of drones could result in a ground impact accident resulting in collateral injury and/or damage to innocent bystanders and property. This Department recommends that the launching, landing and operation of drones during the New Year's event be banned as such drones could pose a serious threat to the life and property of the public. Accordingly, attached for your consideration is legislation prohibiting launching, landing and operation of drones during the New Year's event. Sincerely, James M. Bradley Chief of Police Dated: December 21, 2015 ________ Mr. Martin offered the following ordinance and asked unanimous consent to move its adoption, "Ordinance of the City of White Plains relating to the prohibition of the launching, landing and operation of drones at and during the City's New Year's Eve Spectacular Event to be held on December 31, 2015." Unanimous consent granted. Mr. Martin moved adoption of the following ordinance. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLANES RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION OF THE LAUNCHING, LANDING AND OPERATION OF DRONES AT AND DURING THE CITY'S NEW YEAR'S EVE SPECTACULAR EVENT TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 31, 2015. WHEREAS, drones, which are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can fly under the control of a remote pilot or via a geographical positions system (GPS) guided autopilot mechanism, have become increasingly available to private citizens for personal and recreational uses due to their decline in cost; and WHEREAS, drones can fly at altitudes below the navigable airspace (generally at 400 feet) which is not within the jurisdiction, regulation and control of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and WHEREAS, there is a very real public safety concern when it comes to the use of drones during large and WHEREAS, drones can fly at altitudes below the navigable airspace (generally at 400 feet) which is not within the jurisdiction, regulation and control of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and WHEREAS, there is a very real public safety concern when it comes to the use of drones during large public events over public streets;, as such use could result in a ground impact accident resulting in collateral damage to innocent bystanders and property; and WHEREAS, the City of White Plains will be conducting a New Year's Eve Spectacular event on Thursday, December 31, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. through 2:00 a.m. on January 1, 2016, featuring music, entertainment and fireworks, on Mamaroneck Avenue from Main Street to Martine Avenue; Main Street from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to North Broadway; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard from Quarropas Street to Main Street; Court Street from Martine Avenue to Main Street; and Martine Avenue from Mamaroneck Avenue to South Lexington Avenue; and WHEREAS, over ten thousand people are expected to attend and participate in this event; and WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety has recommended that the launching, landing and operation of drones during the New Year's event could pose a serious threat to the life or property of the public, as the impact of the unmanned aircraft system could result in serious physical injury or death to the innocent bystanders on the ground as well as substantial damage to property. NOW, THEREFORE, the Common Council of the City of White Plains hereby ordains and enacts as follows: Section 1. The launching, landing and operation of drones during the New Year's Eve Spectacular event on December 31, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. through 2:00 a.m. on January 1, 2016, on Mamaroneck Avenue from Main Street to Marine Avenue; Main Street from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to North Broadway; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard from Quarropas Street to Main Street; Court Street from Martine Avenue to Main Street; and Martine Avenue from Mamaroneck Avenue to South Lexington Avenue shall be prohibited. Section 2. This Section shall not apply to authorized public safety agencies or operators having obtained approval from the City of White Plains Department of Public Safety or from the Federal Aviation Administration. Section 3. Any person found to be in violation of this ordinance shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a fine of $500. Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect immediately. Mr. Kirkpatrick seconded the motion. Adopted by the following roll call vote: Mrs. Hunt-Robinson, Mr. Kirkpatrick, Mr. Krolian, Mrs. Lecuona, Mr. Martin, Mrs. Smayda and the Mayor - 7 - 0. ________ On motion of Council President Martin, seconded and duly carried, the Common Council adjourned the meeting. ________ Anne M. McPherson, CMC City Clerk meeting. ________ Anne M. McPherson, CMC City Clerk