Local Emergency Planning Committee – Combined Meeting
Minutes
June 7, 2001 – 9:00 a.m. Assembly Room Borough Building, Soldotna, AK
A combined meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Local Emergency Planning Executive Committee and Full Committee was held on June 7, 2001, in the Assembly Room of the Borough Building in Soldotna, Alaska. Chair Harris called the meeting to order at 9:05.
Present at meeting:
Tim Navarre, KPB Assembly Ryan Deines, Phillips Alaska, Inc.
Jonathan Pedersen, Public Steve O’Connor, CES
Billy Harris, Nikiski FD Helen Donahue, Public
Victoria Askin, CISPRI Darell Jelsma, Ak. Oil Sales
Barb Beeman, MAPTS Michael Tilly, Kenai FD
James Baisden, Kenai FD Robert Painter, Homer FD
Sue Hecks, SOS Rick Warren, Agrium
Mike Munger, CIRCAC Lloyd Richardson, UNOCAL
Mary Jane Hanley, Public Health Paul Richards, BP Exploration
Jim Seeberger, Ak. Railroad Nils Monsen, AST
Becky Hutchinson, AK USA FCU Doug Newbould, USFWS
David Squires, Seward FD Lois Johnson, CPGH
Mike Tauriainen, Public Phil Nash, ASDF
Shirley Warner, Soldotna PD Jan Henry, KPB OEM
Ron Rogalsky, Alaskan Command Bonnie Hanson, KPB OEM
Introductions took place.
MINUTES OF MARCH 22, 2001 MEETING
Donahue motioned and Pedersen seconded to approve the minutes of the March 22, 2001 meeting and asked unanimous consent. The minutes were approved with none opposed.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Donahue asked to amend the agenda to add 5E – Elections, and 6D – Quorum Regulations. There were none opposed.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Executive Committee
Donahue stated that an Executive Committee meeting was not held in June and invited everyone to the next Executive Committee meeting.
Public Education
Beeman stated that there was a great turnout at the Home Show but she was out of town for the Sports Recreation & Trade Show.
Henry thanked everyone that showed up to help at the shows. The KPB had three adjacent booth spaces: LEPC, Spruce Bark Beetle and the Mayor’s Office. Henry felt it was very effective. Spruce Bark Beetle had computer mapping and were able to print out aerial maps of people’s homes depicting the beetle kill problem.
Donahue said that that while she was in Juneau in Lancaster’s office, they were given a map to display showing the beetle kill problem, and that many people were not aware of the problem.
Harris felt that the reason there hasn’t been a major fire so far is due in part to the Firewise program. Henry mentioned that with some of the last Project Impact grant funds they had entered into a cooperative effort with the American Red Cross to produce PSA’s about the fire danger.
SERC Report
Henry stated that the SERC reviewed the LEPC budgets. Decisions were made regarding funding levels which are slightly different than the past. There is a base funding amount calculated using a formula that considers population at risk, hazards in the area, etc. The KPB, Anchorage and Fairbanks will receive a base funding of $20,000. $16,000 in special projects was applied for. $4,000 was approved for a hazardous materials annex. $2,000 for support in rewriting the rules and regulations of the 470 Fund, $2,000 for supplies to assist in the support of sheltering animals, and $8,000 for funding of the SOS were denied. A letter has been submitted asking for reconsideration of the SOS funding.
With the end of FY01, monies were turned back into ADES and the KPB LEPC received an additional $4,000 for public outreach. Hanson has ordered a variety of items that can be given away at public events. The next event is the Kenai Peninsula State Fair in Ninilchik. A signup list will be circulated later.
Pet Annex
Beeman stated that there is nothing new to report, partially due to the summer season.
Elections
Donahue asked Harris if he was interested in remaining as chair. Harris responded that he was, as he was not yet retiring. Donahue motioned to reelect Harris as chair. Beeman seconded and asked for unanimous consent. The motion passed with none opposed.
Harris thanked the committee and stated that he would continue to strive to help constituents of the KPB be as prepared as possible.
O’Connor motioned to reelect Donahue as vice-chair. Askin seconded. O’Connor asked for unanimous consent and Pedersen seconded. The motion passed with none opposed.
Donahue thanked the committee and stated that she would work toward everyone being personally prepared, and that she may not be going back to Juneau.
OTHER BUSINESS
LEPC Budget
Henry said that he had nothing to report that had not previously been covered.
Harris expressed concern about the DEC’s lack of concern about anything but hazmat and oil spills. The KPB is more prone to have for instance a flood problem than an oil spill problem. He stated that he, Henry and Hecks spent time in Juneau talking to legislators about the LEPC funding level, and thanked Donahue for the work she did out of Lancaster’s office, and felt that she was partially responsible for the $90,000 in funding that was restored.
Donahue spoke about the way the 470 Fund is currently set up. The Mat-Su LEPC will only receive $7,500 in base funding because they don’t have the oil industry that the KPB does. They do have many risks but the risks aren’t recognized by the 470 Fund. She felt that the LEPC’s needed to look at changing the wording. Henry stated that he felt the State LEPC Association recognized the need for a change. He asked for guidance from the LEPC as to whether to take a more aggressive position with the DEC.
Richardson proposed that an agenda item be included for the next meeting to hold a brainstorming session to identify anticipated hazards.
Hecks asked about the draft legislation that was worked on in Juneau. Donahue replied that it’s been looked at, but that nothing’s been done. A draft could possibly be introduced in January.
Harris felt the proposed changes should come from the State LEPC and asked about Jim Studley. Henry replied that he thought Studley was gone; Haines has no funding.
OEM Coordinator’s Report
Henry stated that the Borough Assembly reviewed OEM’s budget. The budget was approved intact; there are no major increases or cuts. The Assembly approved a capital improvement project of $150,000 to bring the 911 system part way to full compliance. Also approved was a three year proposal to upgrade and improve the siren system.
The project of installing a tower at the Alternative 911 site located at the Soldotna Police Dept. is still in process and should be completed in early August.
Henry spoke about HB186 which would allow for a surcharge of 75 cents per month per cell phone. The bill has been passed by the legislators but has not been transmitted to the Governor. After it has been transmitted the Governor has 20 days to review it and it would then be enacted into law in 90 days. He said that there are no hard numbers yet, but felt it would produce a fairly substantial amount of revenue to help offset 911 expenses that are currently coming out of the general fund.
Henry stated that the OEM is working with the American Red Cross (ARC) to put together 19 shelter kits, the administrative equivalent of what the ARC would need to start up a shelter.
Henry said that the Project Impact window film project is still in progress. The money has been encumbered and they are working toward completing the Homer hospital and three Homer area schools.
Henry said that the Emergency Management Weather Info Network (EMWIN) satellite based notification system has been ordered for the Alaska State Troopers. This would allow them to always receive warnings, even if landlines are down. The warnings may include tsunami, earthquake, flooding, weather, etc. It will be paid for out of the current year OEM budget.
Squires said that the City of Seward is looking at a similar system and it is hoped that that will move forward.
Henry reported that there has been involvement with the Division of Forestry (DOF) in the Homer and Soldotna areas. DOF has requested that the KPB provide an individual to act as a liaison between Incident Command and the KPB to facilitate communications, and use of Borough resources. As a result four persons in the KPB have been identified to act as liaison in the event of a major fire event.
Henry mentioned that he and the Mayor participated in a Ship Escort Response Vessel System (SERVS) drill in Homer. A lot of equipment was mobilized in the Yukon Island area. He encouraged anyone interested to participate in any upcoming drill.
Henry stated that there have been a number of conversations with the Community Alert Network (CAN) organization. Some problems have been identified and OEM is working on resolving those problems.
Warren asked what KPB personnel had been appointed as a liaison to the DOF. Henry replied that there were two people out of Maintenance, one person from Safety, and one from Spruce Bark Beetle. He confirmed that it was for fire response only.
Donahue asked about the status of the generators that were awarded from FEMA. Henry responded that the two generators had been received and were being stored at Maintenance.
Donahue asked if anything is still being done with Project Impact. Henry stated that the OEM is trying to focus on two areas, earthquakes and fire, with the emphasis on fire.
New Membership Applications
Donahue motioned and O’Connor seconded to appoint Marvin Towell as an alternate to Warner, Mike Tilly to replace James Baisden, and to appoint Baisden as Tilly’s alternate and asked for unanimous consent. The motion passed with none opposed.
Harris expressed that he was glad about the number of members that were in attendance.
Johnson stated that Paul Mitchell had left the hospital. Richardson motioned and Nash seconded to move Johnson into the primary position formerly held by Mitchell. The motion passed with none opposed. Johnson will try to find an alternate from the hospital.
Quorum Regulations
Donahue cited the past problem of reaching a quorum. It is possible to change the bylaws to reflect what constitutes a quorum. There was a discussion that hopefully in the future, with the increase in alternates, there will no longer be a problem reaching a quorum. It was generally agreed that for the credibility of the committee, lowering the percentage of those constituting a quorum may not be wise.
Public Comment
None.
Next Meeting
September 11, 2001, 2:00 p.m. – Executive Committee, Conference Room “C”.
September 26, 2001, 9:00 a.m. – Full Committee, Assembly Chambers
Donahue said that at the next Executive Committee she’d like to hear any ideas on possible presentations.
Squires stated that they had held a tabletop exercise in Seward last month involving the hospital, the prison, city officials and others. The scenario was a major earthquake. Everyone went to their designated place but there was a problem in that no one had thought about self preservation. There was a problem with communications with other agencies and the radio systems were not utilized. A more complete exercise had been scheduled for May 30, but it was cancelled. He anticipated a community-wide exercise at the end of July.
Adjournment
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.