Minutes – Local Emergency Planning Committee
September 24, 2001 – 9:00 a.m. KPB Assembly Room Borough Building, Soldotna, AK
Present at meeting:
Lois Johnson, CPGH Jan Henry, KPB OEM
Billy Harris, Nikiski FD Helen Donahue, Public
Tom Bowman, AST Len Malmquist, CES
Barb Beeman, MAPTS Mary Jane Hanley, Public Health
Victoria Askin, CISPRI Mike Munger, Cook Inlet RCAC
Doug Newbould, KNWR Mike Tauriainen, Public
Shirley Warner, Soldotna PD Kay Steele, KPB OEM
Carrie Williams, Cooper Landing EMS Bonnie Hanson, KPB OEM
Will Raemaeker, KPB SBB
SPRUCE BARK BEETLE PRESENTATION
Will Raemaeker gave a presentation on the status of the Spruce Bark Beetle Program.
A pilot project has been started about 10 miles East of Homer on East End Road. The idea is to work with the landowners to get their authorization for contractors to remove trees from their property as they are clearing the Right of Way for the Borough. He said that about 50% of the landowners seemed positive over the phone, 25% wanted to see the contract, and the other 25% were not sure.
ROW work will improve public safety. If a tree were to fall across the road, the public can’t get out and responders can’t get in.
The single most effective method of reducing wildland fire is reduction of fuel continuity.
Raemaeker said that there are different issues with each piece of land. Property sizes vary as well as the number of trees per acre. It makes a difference to the harvesters as far as their costs and recouping their costs.
Henry proposed that the LEPC possibly get involved to educate homeowners.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Report on Ninilchik Fair
Harris expressed disappointment that there was not more participation from the committee. He thought that the fair is one of the best opportunities that the LEPC has to be able to inform the public.
He stated that he spoke to Jonathan Pedersen at the fair about possibly putting the LEPC preparedness information on grocery bags. He said Pedersen was very enthusiastic about the project and had expressed disappointment at not being able to attend today’s meeting. Harris said the project has been done in Anchorage.
Fire Prevention Week / Fire Prevention in Schools
Donahue said that several teachers had contacted the LEPC booth. She said there was an interest in the Ninilchik area to have the LEPC make presentations in the classrooms. She would like to see this done separately from fire prevention. Warner said that she responds to specific requests in her area for drills. It was suggested that perhaps an informational brochure could be done, identifying what the LEPC could do as far as education for schools.
CALL TO ORDER
Barb Beemun, Mike Tauriainen and Doug Newbould joined the meeting constituting a quorum. The meeting was called to order at 10:05.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Donahue motioned and Askin seconded to approve the minutes of the June 7, 2001 meeting. There were none opposed.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Malmquist motioned and Donahue seconded to approve the agenda. There were none opposed.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Carrie Williams stated that she had recently been appointed to represent the Cooper Landing area for emergency management. She wasn’t aware that the LEPC had disseminated information in Cooper Landing as to what the LEPC can provide. She was interested in knowing how to access resources.
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Executive Committee
Donahue stated that everything that was discussed at the Executive Committee meeting is on the agenda.
Public Education
Ninilchik Fair
Previously discussed.
Fire Prevention Week and Fire Prevention in Schools
Fire Prevention Week is October 7th through 13th. Fire Departments will visit the schools in their area.
School Projects
When Donna Peterson was principal at North Star Elementary they developed an excellent earthquake plan which the rest of the district copied. They exercise every year to make sure everyone is familiar with the procedures. It was suggested that the earthquake house be brought down.
LEPC Info on Grocery Bags
Previously discussed.
Other
Henry stated that the some LEPC’s turn back money at the end of the year which could be available to fund certain projects and everyone should be thinking about possible projects to propose if there are any additional year end funds.
SERC Report
No one attended the last SERC Meeting. The next meeting of the LEPC/SERC will be held October 24th and 25th.
Henry, Harris and Bowman will be attending.
OTHER BUSINESS
LEPC Budget
Henry explained that the baseline funding is $20,000. There is an additional $4,000 to update the hazardous materials portion of the response plan and $2,000 for the pet annex. Henry stated that the money for the pet annex cannot be used to buy materials. He said that another $2,000 had been applied for to initiate a review of the 470 Fund but it had been denied. $8,000 for the S.O.S. Response Team had also been denied, but DEC will work directly with the City of Seldovia.
OEM Coordinator’s Report
Henry reported that the Borough had received $750,000 from the federal government through Ted Stevens for two projects. One project is $250,000 for a mobile communications vehicle. A committee will be formed to assess what the design and options should be.
$500,000 was received to upgrade the siren system which will consolidate a three year project into one year to 18 months.
Henry stated that the Borough is also in the process of purchasing, through ACS, upgrades to the 911 system. The upgrades will eventually allow identification of the location of cell phone callers in most cases.
Tauriainen asked how the new technology worked. Henry responded that new cell phones will have a GPS locator chip.
The Onstar system in newer cars was discussed. Harris said that he’d seen the system and was impressed.
Snow Glacier Dammed Lake
Henry reported that the dam has released but no more than minor flooding in the Cooper Landing area is anticipated. The projection is that Kenai Keys and Big Eddy will not flood.
If the dam had released earlier when the water was much higher there could have been serious problems.
OEM is participating with the National Weather Service to extend the markings at the lake that they use to estimate water level.
Other
Henry said that in light of the events of September 11 there will be much more emphasis on terrorism. It could be a challenge for rural areas to receive funding since the large metropolitan areas are clearly most susceptible.
New Membership Applications
Len moved and Donahue seconded to accept the applications from Michelle Crawford, Charles Tressler, Michael Nelson, Mark Powell and Dan Gregory. There were none opposed.
American Red Cross Training
Debra Holle was not in attendance. Donahue said that Holle was planning on attending but is most likely tied up with Red Cross response to the terrorism.
The Red Cross is offering train-the-train CPR courses and Holle had wished to talk to the LEPC about the training.
Public Comment
Williams asked if the .75 cent surcharges went to the Borough. Henry replied that they do. 911 is split between the Borough and AST.
The wireline surcharge has been in place for quite a while and just recently the Borough passed an ordinance to collect the wireless surcharge.
Newbould invited everyone to the KNWR 60th birthday celebration on Saturday. He also stated that they will be burning slash piles on Funny River Road.
Donahue publicly thanked the law enforcement and fire personnel that serve on the committee.
Henry stated that the responders in New York and Virginia have enough volunteers however they are seeking funds and if someone wished to do something they could donate blood.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be a joint meeting (no Executive Committee meeting in December) and will be held on Tuesday, December 4, 2001, at 9:00 in the Assembly Chambers.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:43 a.m.