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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 7Minutes Town of Los Altos Hills EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE October 7, 2014 @ 7:00 PM, City Council Chambers annex 1 Roll call (10 members; 8 others): P = present, E = excused, no mark = absent MEMBER Call Sign Attendance Jim Abraham, Co-Chair W6EB P Dru Anderson, Secretary KG6LAD P Bob Anderson KC6ZWG 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, Co-Chair N6NXI P Sam Wood K6MSR P OTHERS PRESENT Call Sign Attendance Gary Waldeck, Council Liaison K6AIR P Ray Egan, Associate W6FQY P Greg Olsen, Associate K6XM P Bob Rowe, Associate AF6LD P Mark Bailey N6DY P John Pfefferle KJ6CBX P Bill Lattin, new tech license KK6PCA P Carol Starbuck, Associate K6PIG P Item 1: Roll Call: The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by incoming Chairs Scott Overstreet N6NXI and Jim Abraham W6EB. Secretary Dru Anderson KG6LAD took roll. A sign-in sheet was maintained for submittal. a. Introductions: Extended roll call. Everyone introduced themselves and his/her “claim to fame”. b. Welcomed new ham tech Bill Lattin, who recently passed the exam. Item 2: Review/approval of past meeting minutes: Correction: spelling of Kjell Karlsson. Bob Anderson moved to approve with correction; seconded by Dru. Approved unanimously; Duncan will correct and submit to city clerk. 2 Item 3: Public comments from the floor:  Dru asked if meeting night of first Tuesday of the month was still agreeable – it is by all present. She asked for clarification on who to maintain roster roles. Item will be handled offline by Scott/Jim. Duncan will continue to track Monday night net operation.  Duncan KI6VMY encouraged people to regularly go to the ARES RACES county site www.scc-ares-races.org to check out slides posted, and view training available. Item 4: Regular Reports:  Ed W7WPO. SCC EC report. He noted that the county ARES/RACES meeting is Thursday, Oct. 9. He reported he visited W1AW in Conneticut – the Home station for ARRL. He met the woman who publishes the ARRL manual. Sam commended the ARRL strong lobbying effort allows us to keep our frequencies and our priorities on frequencies.  Gary Waldeck, council liaison: Reported on presentation to town council about charter review, which addressed long term life expectancy of ECC. The objective was to verify council support and appreciation of emergency ham operators skills, tools, and value contribution. He reported the presentation was well received by council, who asked for follow-up report from ECC co-chairs on a survey of other communities’ measures for ham support. Gary asked for report back to council in November.  Jim W6EB summarized his finding thus far on common successful ordinances that work for communities, residents, and hams. He said common traits include consideration of basic rights for amateur radio antenna solutions and of federal and state objectives. He found reasonable accommodation on tower heights, setback requirements. Gary suggested that in the reply back to council, the ECC offer a sample regulation for the council to consider for ordinance direction to the Planning Department. Item 5: Old Business:  Continued Review of ECC charter (charges and duties).Scott N6NXI noted that the objective of the monthly meeting is to give the attendees at each meeting the opportunity for new knowledge; get practice on equipment and procedures, and to each time be able to “learn something new” whether you’re an experience or a new ham. He said it is important, in support of the ECC charter, to build individual and group value in providing volunteer emergency communication.He encouraged people to bring questions to the table - anytime. He said we need participation, questions, and good interest. In order to be part of that interest, people need to get clarification to questions, share ideas, and “leave smarter than when you came1” 3  Scott and Jim each reinforced their objectives of active participation and learning at meetings, as well as special drills or activities. Item 6: New Business:  The group congratulated Bill Lattin KK6PCA, in attendance, who recently earned his technician license at the Ham Cram, 9/20, Sponsor: His sponsor is Dru KG6LAD. Bill also is part of the volunteer CERT supervisor team in LAH. He has a degree in electrical engineering. His question to Dru on recommendations for new hams for HT equipment prompted the choice of Tech Talk topic for the meeting.  Duncan nominated Bob Rowe AF6LD and Carol Starbuck K6PIG to Associate Members. Bob Rowe says still plans to participate, but needs to free up some time. Carol is a CERT member and ham operator within the town’s CERT organization; She is one of first net control operators for CERT hams. The ECC membership unanimously accepted the nominations of Bob Rowe and Carol as Associate Members. The Committee thanked Bob Rowe for his years of contributions as a full member, including his immediate past vice president and other supportive activities. Item 7: Tech Talk Kickoff: Show & Tell of favorite HTs, pros and cons. Led by Dru.  Members, associates, and visitors were asked to bring their favorite HT radio equipment with discussion of pro/con experiences. Full discussion by all attendees, the majority brought equipment they used, and each talked about the features they liked, as well as aspects of concern as to ease of operation, and effectiveness. Those who had multiple HT units described the circumstances each are good for, such as portability (for bicyclists), or accommodation of difficult transmission areas. The information provided members, and newer hams, a good thumbnail comparison of favored or disfavored features. It also gave an opportunity for equ ipment to be passed around so people could get a touch and feel experience with the various units. Everyone participated and exchanged ideas. Survey Results and Future Plans: Scott N6NXI and Jim W6EB. Scott continued the survey research during the meeting, and went through the list of suggested topics they’d received from members and associates. Scott sought a show of hands for each. The highest response was to Packet practice sessions. (14); Go-kits (11); Propagation: multipath; reflections; shielding, Antenna basics and choices; (10). For Drills, people favored Message passing using ICS 213 form, Message handling, Area signal coverage drills, Unscheduled emergency drills, Treasure hunt - radio familiarization, and EOC access drills.  Next month’s Tech Talk: Presentation by Bob Anderson KC6ZWG, member of PHWD and BAWSCA boards of directors, on water resources, operation, and district emergency response process. Item 8: Adjournment: 9 p.m. Motion by Bob Anderson KC6ZWG, seconded by Dru. 4 The minutes were approved as presented at the November 4, 2014 meeting.