Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 20 - 1 - Minutes: Town of Los Altos Hills EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE Monday, August 20, 2007 @ 7:00 PM, Council Chambers Roll call: Member Call Sign Attended Absent Jim Abraham W6EB A Dru Anderson, Chairman KG6LAD P Bob Anderson, Vice Chairman KC6ZWG P Ray Egan W6FQY P Charlie Ellinger KI6JPM A - E Rick Ellinger, EC KJ6NU A - E David Gilmour WQ1K P Bob Hall KF6DHX P Edwin R Jones, Secretary W7WPO P Andrew Kirk WB6CLS A - E Lynn McLeod KG6YIT P Scott Overstreet N6NXI P David Pratt K6LWT A Miles Seiver KI6LDU P Terry Smith K7YNO A "Smitty" Smithwick W6CS P Maynard Stevenson W7MVT P Jerry Tomanek KI6BYL A - E Gary Waldeck K6AIR A - E Al Whaley N6RPR P Sam Wood K6MSR P Associate Members Call Sign Peter Berman K6PJB Bob Lisbonne KG6HOD Ed Radlo AJ6V Bob Fenwick K6GX Other Hams present Larry Carr, DEC KE6AGJ P Council Liaison Jean Mordo Ki6AXE A - E 1) The group welcomed the new member Miles Seiver. Miles is a high school student and just recently earned his technician license. He is very active in computer work. 2) The police chief of the DeAnza / Foothill Collage Campuses, Ron Lavine gave a talk. He first gave a history of security and emergency preparedness at the two campuses. He then described his facilities for emergency operations and expressed his desire to establish cooperation between our organizations. He said that he has been meeting with the town staff to establish an agreement for resource sharing cooperation since the Foothill campus - 2 - is embedded inside the town limits. He said that he is could use some volunteer help from the city in helping set up radio communication facilities and operation. He said he could offer us space for an alternate EOC and possibly a tower location for our antennas. He also described the problems of recruiting volunteers from a student population which is transient, ie., has only a short period of association with the school. He asked for a single point contact and Dru said she could be the contact and would speak to town staff as to what their future objectives were for the Foothill/LAH relationship, and that she would pursue who else on the committee might be interested in assisting Chief Levine with resource planning. 2) Larry Carr, district emergency coordinator, attended the meeting and gave his thoughts on how Los Altos Hills and Foothill Collage cooperation would fit into county operations. He also encouraged people to attend the classes he is offering on the first Saturdays of each month. Although they are billed as part of the MAC training, he said anyone who is interested in the subject – whether they plan to strive for MAC designation or not – is welcome to sign up. 3) Scott Overstreet moved and Bob Anderson seconded a motion that: “The Los Altos Hills Emergency Communication Committee strives to have 100% of the group trained in ICS by the end of the year.” The membership, along with Larry, strongly supported that goal. 4) Dru Anderson notified the membership that new Standing Committee Rules are that committee chairmen “time out” after 2 one-year terms. Since she has served since December 04, she graciously decided that it is time for “change.” She noted that she has spoken to many about the leadership role of chair and other lead functions and further noted receipt of a memo form Rick Ellinger stating that he was willing to volunteer for the combined position of committee chairman and continue as EC for the commencing fiscal year. The attending members supported his offer by unanimous preference. Formal election for chairman will take place at the September 17 regular meeting of the LAH ECC. During the course of the next year, the objective is to train and prepare a Chairman Elect as well as EC Elect for the following service year. Dru Anderson then moved and Lynn. McLeod seconded that the election slate be: Rick Ellinger – Dual one-year role as Committee Chair and EC Ed Jones -- Secretary Ray Egan – Technical Lead Antenna Subcommittee (Note: the posted “Election Confirmation” will take place at the Monday, Sept. 17 LAH ECC regular meeting.) Dru reiterated that someone needs to step up to the responsibility of Training Officer, in support of the chairman and of the EC, to coordinate equipment training and scheduled trainings with the city and with the county. Currently, that role – greatly needed – remains without a volunteer. The training officer, she noted, should be regarded as the “point” person, not the person to “do all the work.” That should be a shared role among the committee membership. 6) Al Whaley commented on some recent equipment purchases and proposed that we reactivate the equipment subcommittee. Dru Anderson deferred formal action until the next meeting, but requested Scott Overstreet to consult with interested members and establish an equipment plan for the EOC, mobile packages, and update on HT and related individual committee member issued equipment needs. 7) Ray Egan reported that the antenna at Westwind Barn is operational; however operators must bring coax to connect form their radio to the antenna junction box. He then reported on the status of the redesign of the antenna at the Cuesta Tank. The tower will stay as is at forty feet with the crossarm eight feet down from the top of the tower. A new antenna with droop to avoid excess signal into the Sierras needs to be purchased. Ray Egan then moved and Scott Overstreet seconded that the committee approve purchase of this antenna and required coax to complete project. - 3 - 8) Sam Wood discussed our possible uses for the buried cable between the water company offices and the La Cresta Tank. Scott Overstreet proposed that the cable be tested before any further action is taken. Dru asked that a complete proposal be brought to the committee. 9) Adjourned at 9:35, moved by Scott Overstreet and seconded by Lynn McLeod. Respectfully submitted, Edwin Jones W7WPO LAH ECC Secretary