View of Mount Rainier at sunrise from Gig Harbor
[photo courtesy of JoAnne Gray, PEP-C]
Peninsula Emergency Preparedness Committee Meeting Minutes
Monday, 3 March 2003
Presiding / Conducting: Dave Watson, General Chair
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Board of Directors: Don Lee, Hugh McMillan, Bob Jardin, Fred Ramsdell
Committee Members: Dave Watson, Sue Watson, JoAnne Gray, Sue Gillmore, Mary Ramsdell, Colleen Franz
Called to order: 6:04 p.m.
REPORTS
Minutes from December 2, 2002 - Moved and seconded to approve, Approved.
Treasurer's Report: Approved
Committees
1. PARET: Mark Yordy. Not in attendance.
2. Webmaster: Sue Gillmore. The number of visitors on our website continues to climb; 477 visitors in December, 605 in January and a record high of 1207 in February. Emails from the general public to PEP-C have increased as well. While most of these emails are businesses looking to sell us their emergency preparedness products, many have been compliments, many have been requests for inclusion on our PEP-C Pointers newsletter list and some have been water barrel requests. Feedback from the public regarding the website has been appreciated and useful for improving its user friendliness.
That the website is being found nationwide is also reflected in an email PEP-C received in mid February from a writer for USA Today working on a piece about what survival experts are recommending as we head for war with Iraq. The writer asked if someone from PEP-C would be interested in talking with him. Dave Watson responded to his invitation and had a good interview. If nothing else, such a request indicates that PEP-C has acquired a very good and professional reputation. This is good.
Heightened interest in February regarding Sheltering In Place information led to the inclusion of official instructions on the website. Many thanks to JoAnne Gray for supplying many good resources on the subject. Sheltering In Place information can be found in two places on the website at present: under Hot Topics (because its a "hot topic" right now) and in the Family Preparedness Section alongside Response Plan information and Evacuation Plan information. And there's a great photo making the rounds right now over the Internet that has been uploaded to the evacuation plan page having to do with soaring gasoline prices. If you haven't seen it, go take a look!
3. Training: JoAnne Gray. Our dreams have finally come true! Pierce County has finally welcomed PEP-C to join their efforts in training neighborhoods throughout the county in preparedness and disaster response. Many thanks to those committee members who were instrumental in this milestone achievement, especially Dave Watson. PEP-C members were invited in December to meet with Gretchen O'Connor, Barbara Nelson, and Judi Holley in December from Pierce County DEM to overview the PC-NET program (Pierce County Neighborhood Emergency Teams). Trainers were invited to participate in a training seminar in January held at the home of Dave and Sue Watson. Many thanks to the trainers for attending (we had perfect attendance) and to Pierce County for conducting this seminar.
On Friday, December 6th, 2002, Sue Gillmore gave a brief presentation to the Gig Harbor Rotary Club. While most of the club members were probably interested in her public speaking style (Rotaries are clubs for public speakers), a couple of individuals did express interest in learning more and left their business cards.
We are looking forward to participating in Pierce County's first PC-NET Academy on March 29, 2003 from 8 am to 5 pm at the State Farm Insurance Headquarters in Dupont, Washington.
On Saturday, March 8th, Don Lee will be doing an introductory presentation for PC-NET for a new neighborhood. On Friday, March 28th, he will be giving his presentation to a Girl Scout Troop and their parents by special request from Kristi Carter.
On Monday, March 10th, Dave Watson and Don Lee will be at The Lakes to meet with their Board of Directors to re-introduce them to the PC-NET program. They will be meeting with the Neighborhood Preparedness Captains on Tuesday afternoon, March 18th, to start the PC-NET training process.
Our supply of PEP-C pamphlets is running low. JoAnne proposed that since their usefulness is increasing we ought to take advantage of the volume discounts available from the printer and order 20K this time. A motion was made to order 20K pamphlets for $1816.96, including tax. The motion was seconded and approved.
4. Water: Marsh Allen (not in attendance). Barrels are HOT! Dave Watson led a discussion on the possibility that we may incur shortages and asked the committee if we should consider limiting sales. A concern was also expressed about people buying up our barrels to re-sell at jacked up prices. It was proposed that PEP-C should continue to acquire as many barrels as we can for as long as we can and make them available to all those who want them. The committee was in agreement.
5. PIO: Hugh McMillan. The Gateway newspaper gave PEP-C great coverage on their PC-NET training meeting in January; however, Hugh was a little disappointed that no pictures were included. The Editor suggested that Hugh take a few pictures of our committee meeting tonight and submit them with a write up including reference to our website and availability of water barrels for sale.
6. KGHP: submitted by Keith Stiles (not in attendance). Due to the relative mild winter to this point, and the lack of any major emergencies, KGHP does not have any specific emergency action to report. The last three months have included regular programs and steps to improve the operation as follows:
KGHP has now passed to a 24 hour per day, 7 day per week operation with the successful installation of an automation system, which was acquired by gift. A (second) newer, more reliable, and even more functional automation system has been acquired, is now on hand, and is expected to be operational within the next six weeks.
In January we made the first use of our association with the AMBER network, a system now being used by broadcasters in many states to alert the public to the possibility that a child has been kidnapped. AMBER alerts come from the State of Washington and KGHP is now in a position to receive them and broadcast them.
We are grateful to Peninsula Light Company for assistance during the Fall with certain tree trimming and removal at our main transmitter site, for the checking of calibration of certain of our technical measuring equipment and for consultation on matters involving Radio Frequency Radiation (Emission) Safety.
Our major concern for operations continues to be the Proposal filed with the FCC to turn our translator frequency (and the Mercer Island School District Main Frequency) over to a station that wants to move into the greater Seattle metro market from Oregon. Members of the PEP-C committee were most helpful in providing support for KGHP when documents were filed in August/September. To date the FCC has issued no decision (i.e. Ruling) and there is no information as to what the decision (if there is one) will be, or when it might come. The "normal" time for the FCC to take action on these things is sometimes said to be "about six months," which would work out to about the end of March. If we (and KMIH) lose out on this issue, we are trying to find a possible solution, about which the only known expectation is that, if possible, will cost money.
Other than that, KGHP has carried on its full normal programming, including the broadcast of both Peninsula High School and Gig Harbor High School football games, basketball games, and some of the TCC basketball schedule, together with regular features of local events and news. It is hoped that members of the PEP-C committee have seen one or more of the recent KGHP stories in The Gateway. The support and interest of all is appreciated.
7. Peninsula School District: Dave Watson. Training meetings for the Principals and other selected school personnel throughout the Peninsula School Districts with fire district officials has been completed and went very well. Dave also announced that Pierce County's Pierce Responder System is leading the nation in mitigation for and response to school violence events.
8. Fire District 5: Bob Black. Not in attendance.
9. Fire District 16: Fred Ramsdell. All is well.
NEW BUSINESS
1. April 5, 2003 Health and Safety Expo, 9 am - 3 pm. Dave Watson, Don Lee and JoAnne Gray will be available throughout the day to man our booth. JoAnne Gray announced that the company who provides the Quake-Hold products is making Light Sticks available to us at a wholesale cost of 98 cents each in units of 48. A discussion followed concerning shelf life and longevity of the light stick. It was proposed that we purchase one unit of light sticks and re-sell them at the Expo for $2 each and measure the public response. Don Lee cautioned the committee about getting involved in too many product sales. A motion was made to purchase one unit of light sticks, re-sell them for $2 each and measure the public response. Motion was seconded and approved. The question was raised about the present location of the mylar space blankets. Don Lee and Dave Watson will check to see if they have them.
2. April 22-23, 2003 Partners in Emergency Preparedness Seminar in Bellevue. Attendance was confirmed for Marv Nauman, Don (& Tonya Lee) and Hugh McMillan. PEP-C will reimburse each for the $195 application fee.
3. PEP-C's membership with the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce has expired (Feb 28, 2003). The renewal fee is $87.50. The question was raised and discussed pertaining to benefits PEP-C receives through its membership. The consensus was that PEP-C does not really benefit from its membership in the Chamber. It was therefore decided not to renew our membership. A motion was made to that effect; seconded and approved.
4. June 7, 2003 Gig Harbor Maritime Parade. The Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce is also now requiring parade participants to acquire a $1 million liability insurance policy for that one day in order to participate. It was estimated that this would cost PEP-C $200 to $300 and the question was asked again, is it worth it? The general consensus was a resounding, "No." It was proposed that if we could acquire the insurance for as little as $100, that we participate. The committee agreed. Dave Watson will investigate insurance policies.
Don Lee proposed teaming up with Pierce County / PC-NET this year and will call Gretchen O'Connor to see what she thinks. Dave Watson suggested using one of their county trucks to haul our water barrels and maybe use their Water Buffalo Vehicle as well. Maybe have barrel walkers too?
The theme this year is once again, "Unity in the Community." Should we decide to move forward with participation this year, JoAnne Gray suggested we use the music, "The More We Get Together, Together, Together....the [Safer} We'll Be and ask the Gig Harbor High School Choir to make a recording of it for us.
Rather than convene a parade meeting, it was decided to get together at the Health and Safety Expo to share information and make final decisions about the parade. A motion was made to proceed with parade participation if an insurance policy can be acquired for up to $100. Motion was seconded and approved.
5. Key Peninsula Fair, August 15, 16, and 17, 2003. The issue was raised again concerning benefits to PEP-C for participation. Last year's fair had more of a carnival focus rather than an information focus. Fred Ramsdell announced that a new manager has been hired to oversee this year's fair and that the focus might be different than last year. He will inquire and gather more information and details for the committee.
6. Colleen Franz, who has been serving the committee as Treasurer for many years, announced that her house is on the market and she will be moving in the near future. She proposed that a new Treasurer be elected/volunteer as soon as possible so that she can bring them up to speed and make for a smooth transition by June. It was proposed that she send the Secretary, Sue Gillmore, an email with a job description for dispersement throughout the broader membership of the committee.
7. Laptop Proposal. Don Lee proposed that PEP-C acquire its own laptop computer now that we are getting more involved in the PC-NET training presentations. Most groups would have access to a TV to which the laptop could be hooked up for viewing a PowerPoint presentation. Dave Watson suggested looking into purchasing a surplus laptop, including Microsoft Office software, through the school district. A motion was made to investigate and acquire a surplus laptop with MS Office for up to $100. Motion was seconded and approved.
ADJOURNMENT
