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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 21 Minutes Town of Los Altos Hills EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE July 21, 2009 @ 7:00 PM, Council Chambers Roll call: Member Call Sign Attended Absent Jim Abraham W6EB P Dru Anderson KG6LAD E Bob Anderson KC6ZWG E Ray Egan W6FQY E Charlie Ellinger KI6JPM E Rick Ellinger KJ6NU P Andy Fawcett KI6MAF P David Gilmour WQ1K E Bob Hall KF6DHX P Edwin R Jones, EC, Chair W7WPO P Andrew Kirk WB6CLS E Lynn McLeod KG6YIT E Scott Overstreet N6NXI P David Pratt K6LWT E Bob Rowe AF6LD P Miles Seiver KI6LDU P Terry Smith K7YNO E "Smitty" Smithwick W6CS E Maynard Stevenson W7MVT P Jerry Tomanek, Secretary AF6HY P Gary Waldeck K6AIR P Al Whaley KV6U P Sam Wood K6MSR P Other Hams present Liz Wilson K6AOL P Walt Wilson N6XG P Duncan MacMillan KI6DMU P Council Liaison Rich Larsen KI6VMW P Chairman Ed Jones called the meeting to order at 7 pm. Visiting the meeting were Steve Garcia, Town safety officer and hams Duncan MacMillan KI6VMY, Liz Wilson K6AOL, and Walt Wilson N6XG. Steve mentioned that new vests and helmets were ready for silkscreening. Jerry Tomanek moved to approve the minutes of the prior meetings, Gary Waldeck seconded and the motion passed. Al Whaley provided an update on County matters. The MAC training program is getting formalized. A new packet bulletin board is going up. Mt View, Cupertino and Gilroy will be setting up satellite nodes and our Los Altos Hills node has been established. Ed Jones will compile the names of our members who have MAC status and submit to County. We discussed the alternate EOC antenna status. Al Whaley said that the Foothill De Anza police chief Levine can be our advocate. Jim Abraham noted that the police building on the Foothill campus will now have emergency backup power. Jim Abraham moved that it be the sense of the committee to support an approach to Chief Levine, Rick Ellinger seconded, motion passed. Gary Waldeck spoke about establishing an alternate repeater on Vargas Peak in the east bay. Steve Garcia said the Town has agreed to support this and has approved funds up to $500 for it. Jim Abraham moved, Jerry Tomanek seconded and the following motion passed: “The Los Altos Hills Emergency Communications Committee (ECC) recommends that the town begin support of a second backup repeater system that is less likely to be affected by a calamity that might cause our local systems to fail. The backup system should have/be: Located beyond the local LAH geographic area Excellent radio line of sight view to the town Demonstrated radio coverage throughout the town Will supply emergency services to the town if needed. The Vargas Peak Radio Association’s (VPRA) repeater system located in Fremont, CA meets these technical criteria. In addition, it has a trustee who is also a member of the town’s ECC and who has committed its use in support of the town’s needs. It is recommended that the VPRA system be selected as the backup repeater.” Ed Jones reported that the Town net on Monday nights will become more important. Committee members will be asked to sign up to serve as net control. We discussed the duties and training of AECs. An AEC should be able to open the EOC, assign an activation code, operate all the radios in the EOC, handle message traffic, have basic ICS training and net control experience, should attend ECC meetings and drills, participate in local nets. Scott Overstreet said the SPECS president Jerry Haag has a list of requirements and he will forward it to Ed Jones. Rick Ellinger noted that ARRL has some requirements as well. There is a question as to whether 25 watt mobile radio equipment is needed by an AEC. Ed Jones will poll Stanford, Mt View and Cupertino for their lists. Jim Abraham felt that AECs should have periodic refreshers on SEMS. Steve Garcia distributed town property tags for town issued radios and asks for submission of their serial numbers. Some members felt the tags were too large. Ed Jones led a discussion on repeater management and maintenance. He felt that two members have done very well carrying the burden but more people are needed. The Los Altos Hills Emergency Group, organized as a club, holds the license and frequency coordination. Sam Wood volunteered to learn about the repeater and help. Scott Overstreet felt that we should not force the Emergency Group to accept new members but should allow the Group to select and approve them. Rick Ellinger stressed the importance of being able to operate 24/7 and the liability of not doing so. Scott agreed that we need more control operators and Ed wants to formalize the list of both control operators and maintenance/repair personnel. Gary Waldeck moved to table the discussion, Rick Ellinger seconded and the motion passed. Ed Jones led a discussion about a drill that will test radio transmission and reception throughout the town. Scott Overstreet suggested that the drill include testing our two town repeaters, the Vargas Peak repeater and the SPECS repeater. Ed felt that we should also test all the county frequencies. A test design will be prepared and a date selected. Officers were elected for the next year. Jim Abraham moved that Ed Jones continue as Chair, Rick Ellinger seconded and the motion passed. Miles Siever volunteered to serve as Secretary, Jim Abraham moved to approve, Rick Ellinger seconded and that motion also passed. At 8:45 pm Rick Ellinger moved to adjourn, Jim Abraham seconded and the motion passed. Respectfully submitted, Jerry Tomanek LAHECC Secretary