HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 11
Minutes
Town of Los Altos Hills
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
April 1, 2014 @ 7:00 PM, LAH Council Chambers
Roll call (10 members + 4 others): P = present, E = excused, no mark = absent
Member Call Sign Attendance
Jim Abraham W6EB P
Dru Anderson KG6LAD E
Bob Anderson KC6ZWG E
Ray Egan W6FQY P
Andy Fawcett KI6MAF P
Jim Heintzelman KD6Y P
Edwin R Jones, EC W7WPO P
Andrew Kirk WB6CLS P
Duncan MacMillan, Chair KI6VMY P
Scott Overstreet N6NXI P
Bob Rowe, Vice Chair AF6LD P
Sam Wood K6MSR P
Others Present Call Sign Attendance
Larry Carr KE6AGJ P
Kjell Karlsson KD6BPP P
Bruce Martin P
Dave Stewart KJ6JQT P
Gary Waldeck W6AIR
1. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by chair Duncan MacMillan KI6VMY, who took
roll call via attached ICS 211A Check-in List.
2. Review and approve past meeting minutes – Upon a motion by Jim Abraham, duly
seconded, the March 4, 2014 minutes were unanimously approved.
3. Public comments from the floor – There were no public comments from the floor.
4. Update on the County and State – Ed Jones W7WPO reminded the group that packet radio
training will be held Saturday, April 5, in Sunnyvale. Ed also mentioned that there will be a
county-wide exercise April 12. Larry Carr KE6AGJ volunteered to give new hams a tour of
the county comm. facility if they show up that day.
5. Comments by Council Liaison – none, Gary Waldeck W6AIR absent.
6. Old business
a. Youth Commission presentation – Duncan reported that the March 18 presentation to
the Youth Commission was well received. Miles Siever's assistance in the
presentation was especially helpful.
b. Membership renewal – Duncan reminded the group that seven (7) ECC members are
due for reappointment at the April 17 Town Council meeting.
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c. Our Town newsletter – Duncan reported that he submitted a draft of the ECC article
which will appear in the June issue of the town newsletter. Further editing will be
required.
d. ECC Activity Summary – Ray Egan W6FQY circulated a chart showing recent
member activity. No one seems in danger of failing tomeet activity requirements.
e. Back-up EOC – Jim Abraham W6EB said that this study would have to continue for
several more months due to his current workload.
Andy Fawcett KI6MAF and Scott Overstreet N6NXI indicated that the town had no
intention of bringing Heritage House up to current earthquake standards as an rated
EOC. Furthermore, we cannot use the closet at the back of the council chambers for
a backup EOC because there isn't room there.
Larry Carr and Sam Wood K6MSR both suggested running coax from the antennas
to terminate in either a vault or some temporary portable radio setup. Then, we could
hook up to Heritage House, council chambers, a shipping container, or any other ad
hoc arrangement.
Jim Abraham said he would investigate where the conduits presently run. The
consensus seemed to be that ECC should define what equipment is needed for a
backup EOC, but the town should determine where it is to be located.
f. Increasing ARK-EOC connectivity – Ray suggested using the ARES/RACES packet
backbone; in particular, a packet link from the ARK to their Mountain View BBS and
back to the LAH EOC as a means of getting packet connectivity between the ARK
and EOC. Andy Fawcett said the Mountain View connection might be difficult due to
poor line of sight and, even if the Mountain View repeater could be accessed, others
using that repeater might not hear our relatively weak signal and cause doubling
when they transmit. Ed said he would investigate using 220 MHz and the
ARES/RACES packet backbone.
7. New Business
a. Town EOC/CERT drill – Duncan reminded attendees of the EOC/CERT drill from 3:00
to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, May 14. In particular, we will need to staff the ARK and
EOC and can expect packet and voice traffic.
b. Larry Carr volunteered to start a separate weekly net for new hams prior to our
Monday night check-ins so they can get more comfortable with using their radios and
how to participate in a net. Ed said he would assist. They will coordinate with Carol
Starbuck K6PIG.
8. Upcoming events (https://www.scc-ares-races.org/activities/events.php)
a. Packet Operations Type III, Part A, 04/05, 0900, SV Public Safety HQ
b. EC Council Meeting, 04/10, 1900, SCC EOC
c. County-wide Comm. Exercise, 04/12, 0800, Edith Morley Park, Campbell
d. Ham Cram - Amateur Radio License Testing, 04/19, 0800 - 1700, Google, MV
e. Packet Ops Type III, Part B, 05/03, 0900, Sunnyvale Public Safety HQ
f. Town Pathway Run, 05/10, 0800 - 1100, Westwind Barn
g. Town EOC/CERT drill, WEDNESDAY 05/014, 1400 - 1730, ARK & EOC
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h. Intro to Emergency Communications, 05/14, 1800, 1000 Villa St, MV
i. Ham Cram - Amateur Radio License Testing, 05/24, 0800 - 1700, Saratoga Fire Sta.
j. Town Picnic, 06/01, 1100 - 1600, Purissima Little League Fields
k. Packet Ops - Type II, Adv/Troubleshooting, 06/07, 0900, Cupertino
l. Message Passing - Tabletop, 06/21, 0900, TBD
m. Fundamentals of Emergency Comm. NIGHT, 06/25, 1800, 1000 Villa St, MV
9. Adjournment – There being no further business, it was moved and duly seconded to adjourn
at 8:13 p.m., which was unanimously approved.
Prepared and respectfully submitted by Duncan MacMillan KI6VMY