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Emergency Communications Committee: Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Los Altos Hills City Council Chambers. 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Roll call: (8 members; + 6 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 E
Edwin R Jones, EC W7WPO P
Andrew Kirk WB6CLS P
Duncan MacMillan KI6VMY P
Scott Overstreet, Co-Chair N6NXI E
Sam Wood K6MSR P
Others Present Call Sign Attendance
Gary Waldeck,
Council Liaison K6AIR E
Ray Egan - associate W6FQY E
Burt Raphael - associate KK6GNB P
Bob Rowe - associate AF6LD P
Bill Gibbons – associate K6GH P
Neil Katin – associate AI6FI P
Bill Lattin - associate KK6PCA E
Greg Olsen - associate K6XM E
Ben H. L. Hu - CERT Recon AI6FY P
Kjell Karlsson KD6BPP P
1. Roll Call: Co-chair: Meeting called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Jim W6EB. He noted that Co-chair Scott
Overstreet and Council Liaison Gary Waldeck were absent due to illness.
2. Minutes: June 2. Dru KG6LAD, ECC Secretary. Changes requested by Duncan KI6VMY and Ed
W7WPO were logged. Motion for approval, with acceptance of the changes, was made by Bob
KC6ZWG, seconded by Ed W7WPO. Approved unanimously by roll call vote of members.
3. Public comments from the floor:
a. Volunteers were sought for the Los Altos Art & Wine Festival July 11 & 12. Andy Kirk and
Bill Gibbons volunteered. The event is a credit for SCC ARES/RACES MAC program.
4. Reports:
a. SCC EC: Ed W7WPO, EC. Ed reviewed the volunteer list for the LAH July duty for the
SPECS net including the UHF repeater (2 meter and 440). The dates are July 6, 13, 20, 27.
Ed announced that the LAH frequency drill will be Saturday, July 25, 2-4 p.m. Volunteers
will meet at the EOC to get maps, assignments, and frequency lists/instructions. Participants
are required to have at least 2 antenna options, and be able to change frequencies to test the
coverage from various locations in the town. Jim W6EB & Ed W7WPO will be net controls.
b. LAH City Council report was deferred.
c. Report on Town Picnic ECC table activity. Several volunteered. Opening and setting up
included Duncan KI6VMY, Ed W7WPO, and Dru KG6LAD. Dru also set up “recruitment
LAH_ECC-FINAL-Minutes_July-7-2015 2
posters” for applicants for ECC; 3 people signed up for interest and they were sent
applications by the City Clerk.
d. Report on LAH July 4 Parade. Ed W7WPO reported that parade and coverage went well
with just one issue, which was a stuck radio. Someone’s headset became unplugged which
caused the key to remain open. For FT60 Yaesu, either hold in or secure the headset plug.
e. Report on PG&E gas/electrical emergency response presentation June 16 at Town Hall. Dru
KG6LAD reported the talk as very thorough and well attended. She will supply a PG&E
safety handout to be kept in the radio room.
5. Old Business:
a. ECC QRG (Quick Reference Guide): Update. Neil AI6FI, lead for the QRG subcommittee.
Neil reported a successful initial meeting of the group; each person is taking on specific
assignments for the QRG technical segments. A second meeting is planned later this month.
b. LAH antenna ordinance progress, Planning Commission subcommittee: Jim W6EB. Jim
reported that he and Town Planning Director Susan Avila went on an antenna tour to visit a
variety of antenna installations. He said that they are working on modeling the LAH
proposed ordinance after the Atherton antenna model, which takes into account more
flexibility in dealing with placement on properties.
6. New Business:
a. Election of Officers for 2015 Fiscal Year: Bob KC6ZWG, hearing that each of the current
officers were willing to continue service, made a motion to re-elect the current officers – Jim
W6EB and Scott N6NXI as co-chair, and Dru KG6LAD as secretary. The motion was
seconded by Sam K6MSR. Ed W7WPO moved to close nominations, seconded by Duncan
KI6VMY. The motion to re-elect officers was approved unanimously by roll call vote. Jim
W6EB thanked everyone and extended his gratitude for the support of the committee
members and associates in working together to help get things done.
b. Jim W6EB summarized the current activity by the Town’s Historical Committee and its
proposal that it will present to Council on revised use of the Heritage House, and addition of
a new building for multi-use, including quarters for the EOC/radio room needs. Since he will
be out of town on the date of the presentation, he asked Duncan KI6VMY to attend the
presentation on behalf of the ECC. Others may choose to attend as well.
c. Action to procure antenna for the ICOM 7000. Jim H. KD6Y. Deferred to July meeting.
However, there was an antenna discussion by Jim W6EB relative to the AT&T proposal to
modify/add to its cell tower installation. Several expressed concern about ensuring careful
planning to avoid potential RFI issues if AT&T adds antennas near the LAH installations.
Jim will follow up. There also was a discussion regarding some county frequencies that are
difficult to access from the EOC
d. Planned upcoming presentation to the Traffic Safety Committee by SCCFD on wildland fire
planning for emergency access. Dru KG6LAD, who is a member/secretary of the TSC,
invited anyone interested to attend.
e. Radio Room: Dru KG6LAD proposed distribution of emergency flashers that have been
stored in the supplies closet. It was informally agreed to make them available at the next
meeting as handouts for go-kits.
7. Tech Talk: Monday night net procedures practice; radio room tour & packet station operation.
a. As a follow-up to the previous meeting presentation on the EOC operation,
equipment, and process, Marsha Hovey, town consultant for emergency planning,
conducted a tour of the EOC and described its features and information organization.
The tour included a review of access to the EOC, radio room, as well as to the
generator. It was agreed that at the next generator test by Town Engineer Richard
Chiu, that the ECC chairs will be notified so they or other members can observe its
operation. Marsha will let Engineer Chiu know.
8. Adjourn. Prior to the tour above, on motion, the meeting adjourned at 8:25 to the EOC.
Respectfully submitted: Dru Anderson KG6LAD, ECC Secretary