HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 20
Minutes
Town of Los Altos Hills
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
April 20, 2010 @ 7:00 PM, Council Chambers
Roll call:
Member Call Sign Attended Absent
Jim Abraham W6EB P
Dru Anderson KG6LAD P
Bob Anderson KC6ZWG P
Ray Egan W6FQY P
Charlie Ellinger KI6JPM E
Rick Ellinger KJ6NU E
Andy Fawcett KI6MAF E
David Gilmour WQ1K
Bob Hall KF6DHX P
Edwin R Jones, EC, Chair W7WPO P
Andrew Kirk WB6CLS
Duncan MacMillan KI6VMY
Lynn McLeod KG6YIT
Scott Overstreet N6NXI P
David Pratt K6LWT
Bob Rowe AF6LD P
Miles Seiver, Secretary KI6LDU P
Terry Smith K7YNO
"Smitty" Smithwick W6CS E
Maynard Stevenson W7MVT P
Jerry Tomanek AF6HY E
Gary Waldeck K6AIR E
Al Whaley KV6U P
Sam Wood K6MSR E
Other Hams present
Council Liaison
Rich Larsen KI6VMW
Chairman Edwin Jones called the meeting to order at 7:07 pm.
Chairman Edwin Jones suggested that due to lack of quorum the minutes from the
January, February, and March ECC meetings be approved at the May meeting.
Steven Garcia described a joint CERT/HAM exercise that will take place on May 26,
2010. It will include an incident command post at the Town’s EOC and command
posts at CERT trailers. Garcia asked for at least three radio operators at each
command post and at the EOC, but understood that it may not be possible to
fully staff all of the posts. There will also be field assignments for HAM operators.
Chairman Edwin Jones added that he would like to have packet stations at each
command post. The FCC allows use of such stations by non-licensed individuals
(CERT members, for example) as long as an amateur radio operator manages
the radio’s operation. Mike Sanders said that the exercise will begin when
individuals are activated at around 4pm. There will be four main incident areas:
Waldorf School, ARC 7 at the El Monte Fire Station, the stables at Fremont Hills
Country Club, and the Town EOC. Each location will have a CERT supervisor
present. Scott Overstreet mentioned that handheld radio reception may be
marginal at Waldorf School. Packet radio communication from the school would
be especially difficult. He suggested using the SPECS repeater for voice
communication from that location. Sanders felt that the lack of packet radio at
some incident locations would add realism to the exercise. Sanders stated that
the main goals for the drill would be to observe the HAM communications system
and to see how many CERT members respond to the incidents. The Incident
Command System will be used. Garcia expected about 40-60 CERT members to
respond. Sanders reported that the fire district is now offering free CPR lessons
and will soon begin offering free first aid lessons. Al Whaley presented a
tabulation of the radio equipment needed at each command post. Andy Fawcett
has created an antenna mount that attaches to the CERT trailers. Whaley said
that the 220 band would be used for packet communication and the 2 meter and
440 bands would be used for voice. He suggested that there be a TNC packet
bulletin board at the EOC. Jim Abraham added that it would be wise to store a
car battery in each trailer to power radios in case the generator fails. He also
recommended 9913 coax or RG-213 be used for radio connections.
Steve Garcia reported that “light” vests have been purchased for new ECC members.
“Heavy-duty” vests were not purchased.
Jim Abraham said that a new Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of Los
Altos Hills and the Los Altos Hills Emergency Group became effective on April
15, 2010.
At 8:07 pm Bob Anderson moved to adjourn the meeting, Bob Rowe seconded, and the
motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Miles Seiver
LAHECC Secretary