HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 20
Minutes: Town of Los Altos Hills
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
Monday, November 20, 2006 @ 7:00 PM, Council Chambers
1. Roll call:
Member Call Sign Attended Absent
Bob Anderson, Vice Chairman KC6ZWG P
Bob Hall KF6DHX P
David Gilmour WQ1K P
David Pratt K6LWT E
Dru Anderson, Chairman KG6LAD P
Jim Abraham W6EB P
Maynard Stevenson W7MVT P
Rick Ellinger KJ6NU P
Sam Wood K6MSR P
Scott Overstreet N6NXI P
"Smitty" Smithwick W6CS P
Al Whaley N6RPR E
Ray Egan W6FQY E
Edwin R Jones, Secretary W7WPO P
Lynn McLeod KG6YIT P
Terry Smith K7YNO E
Jerry Tomanek KI6BYL P
Gary Waldeck K6AIR P
Associate Members Call Sign
Peter Berman K6PJB
Bob Lisbonne KG6HOD
Ed Radlo AJ6V
Bob Fenwick K6GX
Council Liaison
Dean Warshawsky. not present.
1) Welcome of new member Gary Waldeck, K6AIR.
2) Approval of September minutes was moved by Jim Abraham, seconded by Sam Wood
3) Dru Anderson reported that trenching at the repeater site has been delayed by critical
priorities projects at the water company. (Note: update – trenching is done 12/06.)
4) After a poll of the membership it was decided that the December meeting would be a
Holiday Party on Monday, December 18th at 6:30 PM. Spouses and other special
guests are invited.
5) Up coming events are:
i. January 15, 7:00 p.m. – January meeting. Scott Overstreet will lead
training on W32 HTs.
ii. January 20, 8:30 AM – SPECS annual meeting (set up at 8:00 a.m.)
iii. January 20, 2:00 PM – county quarterly drill
iv. January 27, TBD- tentative date. training session. (Note: we may
reschedule to February because of the activity “load” in January.)
6) Ed Jones gave a report on the Golden Guardian statewide emergency exercise held
recently. One problem was the tendency of the “city” radios to fail after prolonged
transmissions.
7) Bob “Smitty” Smithwick gave a report on the county meeting, particularly on the status
of the progress on the outfitting of the county emergency trailer.
8) After discussion,n it was suggested that the group hold informal checkin daily when
time is available. Suggested times are morning 0800, noon 1200 and afternoon 1700.
9) Dru Anderson gave Ray Egan’s report on packet status. The radios are working fine;
however, there is a minor problem with the software, which does not affect operation.
He will look into it further when he returns.
10) Ed Jones reported that quick guide sheets are located at each operating position and
manual for all radios are in the EOC.
11) Rick Ellinger reported that the new operating manual is now available.
12) Jerry Tomanek reported that the photo ID’s will be available at the next meeting.
2. 13} Rick Ellinger reported that the Festival of Lights DSW sign up sheets from last year
had been lost so participants must reregister at the Los Altos Police Department.
13) A new scenario has been added to those for which we need to plan. Bird flu is now
added to earthquake, fire, etc. Rick Ellinger is on the steering committee planning for
this possibility.
14) Bob Anderson proposed that we have a flashlight standard for committee use during
emergencies. He and Bob Hall are going to do a study and make a recommendation.
15) Scott Overstreet did the SPECS checkin for the group.
16) Jim Abraham reported on the status of the new backup repeater. Currently the duplexer
for our new repeater is on loan to SPECS to replace their faulty one. SPECS is in the
process of buying a new duplexer and when it arrives, our unit will be returned.
17) A vigorous discussion took place about the Red Cross policy of outsourcing
background checks. The issue is the impact on privacy.
18) There was a general discussion about building general community awareness of our
committee’s function in an emergency. Rick Ellinger gave an example of a horseman’s
committee meeting that he sat in on and their lack of knowledge of our roll. It was
suggested that we schedule a council “tour” now that the equipment is in place at EOC
and hooked to the new antennas.
19) At the January meeting Scott Overstreet will give a talk on the internals of the Icon
HT-32 which is the LAH issued portable transceiver. Members are urged to bring their
radios.
20) Adjourned at 8:40, moved by Jim Abraham, seconded by Jerry Tomanek.
Respectfully submitted,
Edwin Jones, LAHECC Secretary