NWTEMC Monthly Meeting

MINUTES

October 21st, 2010 10:00 AM

Hosted by Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe

Red Cedar Hall,

Jamestown Tribal Campus

1033 Old Blyn Highway

Sequim WA 98382

Tribe/Agency / Name / E-mail
American Red Cross / Michelle Kelley /
Colville Tribe / Del Ostenberg /
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe/COO / Annette Nesse /
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe/ARC Volunteer / Celeste Dybeck /
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe / Brandy Williams /
Nisqually Tribe / Carl Rebstock /
Nooksack Tribe / Glenn Yorks /
Nooksack Tribe / Steven Jimmy /
NWTEMC / Glenn Coil /
NWTEMC / Lynda Zambrano /
NWTEMC / Rick Zambrano /
Quileute Tribe / Theresa Butler /
Sauk-Suiattle / Dennis Fenstermaker /
Sauk-Suiattle / Kevin Lenon /
Spokane Tribe / Claude Cox /
Swinomish Tribe / Jim Sande /
Washington Department of Health / Maria Gardipee /
Washington Emergency Management Division / Dave Nelson /
Washington Emergency Management Division / Jamie Mooney /

Meeting Agenda

  • Call to Order – Claude Cox
  • Opening Prayer - TBD
  • Introductions – Claude Cox
  • Review and Adoption of August 2010 Meeting Minutes – Carl Rebstock, Nisqually
  • NWTEMC Board Report
  • Chair – Claude Cox, Spokane
  • Secretary – Carl Rebstock, Nisqually
  • Treasurer – Jim Sande, Swinomish
  • Committee Reports
  • Interoperability Communications Sub-committee Report
  • New NWTEMC representative: Jim Fernando, Upper Skagit Tribe
  • New Business
  • 2010 NWTEMC Conference update – Glenn Coil, Lynda Zambrano
  • Ex-officio members
  • The Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service – NWTEMC application – Carl
  • Draft Intrastate Mutual Aid Bill – Lynda
  • WA DOH contracts – Lynda
  • Language from OFM re: DOH – Maria G.
  • CERT Update – Lynda
  • DOH Contract for upcoming classes
  • Nooksack class
  • Quileute class
  • Website Update – Glenn Coil
  • Grants Update – Lynda Zambrano
  • Unused FY09 IECGP funds
  • NWTEMC – Tribal, Local, State & Federal – Lynda
  • Alphabet Soup - Lynda
  • 2010 Meetings & Events – Glenn & Lynda
  • WA Homeland Committee on Homeland Security: Oct 6
  • OEMA Conference: Oct 14
  • Regional Advisory Council
  • Proposed NWTEMC meeting format: ½ meeting and ½ training
  • FEMA EMI training
  • NWTEMC Update Activities
  • Good of the Order
  • Announcements
  • Washington State Enhanced Mitigation Plan
  • More info for grants:
  • Grant Apps Due Dec 3, 2010
  • WA Supreme Court Ruling: Tribal Police can detain off Reservation
  • New: WA EMD Homeland Security Section Mgr, Robert Ezelle
  • New Lower Elwha Tribal Health Director/EM
  • Adjourn

Meeting Minutes

Call to Order – Claude Cox

At 10:16; quorum not met.

Opening Prayer – TBD

Offered by Del Ostenberg.

Introductions – Claude Cox

Extended thanks to Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe for hosting meeting and to Celeste Dybeck for preparing breakfast.

Review and Adoption of August 2010 Meeting Minutes – Carl Rebstock, Nisqually

Motion to approve Denny Fenstermaker; seconded by Del.

Approved as written.

NWTEMC Board Report

Chair – Claude Cox, Spokane

Anticipating resolutions from Kalispel Tribe, Nisqually Tribe, Quileute Tribe, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, and Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation.

Secretary – Carl Rebstock, Nisqually

Will discuss DRMO later in agenda.

Treasurer – Jim Sande, Swinomish

Due to the joint September conference, this report covers the months of September to October 21, 2010.

The NWTEMC cash balance on September 1 was approximately $156,000 dollars.

The NWTEMC has received approximately $600 dollars in credits during this period.

Expenses for staff salary, including 2009 staff back pay; CERT activities; conferences, trainings and travel; and the NWTEMC asset purchase of a vehicle/ bus have totaled approximately $98,500 dollars.

The current NWTEMC balance is approximately $57,500 dollars.

Committee Reports

Interoperability Communications Sub-committee Report

Lynda discussed the designation of Jim Fernando, Upper Skagit Tribe, to replace Arlen Moses as the NWTEMC delegate with Carl as the non-voting alternate. Lynda also gave a history of the organization and stated that Mr. Fernando was original NWTEMC delegate to SIEC but had to resign in 2009 due to primary job duties.

New Business

2010 NWTEMC Conference update – Glenn Coil, Lynda Zambrano

Very well received conference and theme of “Bridging the Gap.” Attendance was strong at 270 people. This was the first year that NWTEMC teamed with Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB). Issues were raised in regards to Conference costs and how to minimize for next year Next year’s location is yet to be decided.

Marie Gardipee of WA Dept of Health stated that Conference met DOH’s goals.She also discussed cross-border First Nation/Native American public health emergency preparedness developments that resulted from the conference. She also indicated that next year DOH is likely to continue to support a three-party conference.

Lynda stressed that the unfunded work of NWTEMC in forging interagency, all-hazards partnerships places a great strain on the organization. Significant strides have been made, but continuing that progress will hinge on increasing financial support. She invited all to share ideas about how best to approach the State for funding.

Claude expressed the disappointment of many that the Washington State Emergency Management Division (EMD) fails to fund NWTEMC.

Annette Nesse, Jamestown S’Klallam COO, explained that the Tribal Transportation Planning Organization (TTPO) is confronting a similar issue by approaching tribes directly for financial support through casino grants, as well as expanding corporate sponsorship. A combined effort to market NWTEMC’s services while stressing its mission could help tribes better understand the importance of supporting the organization.

Vendors- there was confusion over how vendor funds were used.

Conference fees- there will continue to be no charge for tribes to attend Conference. Due to treaty rights Tribes shouldn’t have fund public safety events

Tribal Homeland Security Grant funds as well as other FEMA/DHS funds should be used for to support conference and organization. Claude noted that FEMA funds the National Emergency management association (NEMA).

Ex-officio members

American Red Cross (ARC), Washington State Patrol (WSP), WA Department of Health (DOH), WA Emergency Management Division (EMD), United States Coast Guard (USCG), and Washington National Guard (WANG) have been invited to establish ex-officio members. This invitation may also be extended to the Tribal Transportation Planning Organization (TTPO) and other Tribal consortiums. NWTEMC’s Charter allows for ex-officio members and outreach to include them will continue.

DLA Disposition Services – NWTEMC application – Carl

At this point, the federal General Services Administration (GSA) has explained that NWTEMC would not qualify for direct DRMO transfers; tribes do, however. NWTEMC does qualify for transfer of state merchandize through the General Administration (GA). Lynda will contact Gerry Giauque, the federal GSA representative, to press the case that NWTEMC merits unique consideration as a nonprofit comprised of sovereign nations. See attached for additional detail.

Please note DLA Disposition Services is the current name for the service also knownasDefense Reutilization and Marketing Serviceor also known as “DRMO” (office instead of service)

Draft Intrastate Mutual Aid Bill – Lynda

Under review.

WA DOH contracts – Lynda

The “Rights to Data” contract section is under question. It could be interpreted to grant full copyright authority to State of Washington for all Tribal Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans (CEMPs) drafted or updated using funds provided by DOH. CEMPs are a deliverable specified under the Scope of Work of the contract.

Tribes are advised not to sign the current contracts. For those that have already done so, NWTEMC has petitioned the DOH to provide the option of signing a “unilateral amendment” that resolves this grievance. This boilerplate is not new to the “Rights to Data” section but has been overlooked by the 27 of 29 tribes have traditionally signed these contracts. The State stresses it never intended to retain copyrights but instead sought to prevent CEMPs drafted using taxpayer dollars from becoming the proprietary property of contract writers. DOH anticipates the amendment will be available by late November.

Language from OFM re: DOH – Maria G.

Office of Financial Management (OFM) is considering waiving some of its contracting requirements which have limited participation by NWTEMC. This will not result ina quasi-gov’t status for the NWTEMC or similar organizations. NWTEMC and AIHC (American Indian Health Commission for WA State) will be notified of the outcome.

CERT Update – Lynda

DOH Contract for upcoming classes

Two WA Dept of Health contracts in place for new round of classes:

  • First for CERT bags and CERT manuals
  • $23k for trainers and to conduct classes

Next scheduled CERT class will be 3-5 December at Lower Elwha Health Clinic. Train-the-Trainer class may be held in February 2011. Rickand Glenn shared that the tribal emphasis of this class is unique and valuable. March of next year new begins scheduling of new classes.

Nooksack class

A resounding success! Ages of participants ranged from 16-60 years of age.

Quileute class

Exceptionally well received and invited to return early next year.

Website Update – Glenn Coil

Working to restructure page to make links and resources more prominent and accessible.

Grants Update – Lynda Zambrano

Unused FY09 IECGP funds

NWTEMC is working on a proposal for unused funds

NWTEMC – Tribal, Local, State & Federal – Lynda

NWTEMC remains active at all levels on behalf of all Native American tribes.

Alphabet Soup – Lynda

Not addressed, will be part of proposed training to be included in monthly meetings

2010 Meetings & Events – Glenn & Lynda

Below are listed meetings that NWTEMC has recently attended:

WA Homeland Committee on Homeland Security: Oct 6

  • Staffing limitations of coroners was identified as a significant obstacle.

Oregon Emergency Mgmt. Association (OEMA) Conference: Oct 14

  • Glenn presented on behalf NWTEMC and gave overview of Council as well as discussed and compared/contasted issues facing Tribes in Oregon and Washington. This was the first time NWTEMC has been invited.

Regional Advisory Council

Unable to attend this session due to NWTEMC conference

Proposed NWTEMC meeting format: ½ meeting and ½ training

Group discussed whether monthly NWTEMC meetings might be extended to four hours to include trainings and invited speakers. Incident Command System, hazard mitigation, and grants submission process were of special interest.

FEMA EMI training

Through the efforts of Andy Hendrickson, FEMA Reg. X, a greater number of these courses have been offered locally.

Good of the Order

Next meeting will be 18 November. Del motioned and Celeste seconded that Lynda approach Northern Quest Casino (Kalispel Tribe) as meeting location in eastern Washington.

ARC has received grant funding for outfitting additional response trailers that accommodate 25 people.

Announcements

Washington State Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan

WA State was approved by FEMA as having an enhanced HMP will allow for increased post-disaster funding.

More:

More info for grants:

Tribes are encouraged to apply to FEMA to develop a hazard mitigation plan. Current applications are due Dec 3, 2010.

WA Supreme Court Ruling: Tribal Police can detain off Reservation

In a 6-3 decision, the Washington Supreme Court decreed earlier this month that tribal police can pursue non-Indian drivers suspected of traffic infractions beyond a reservation’s boundaries and detain them until other authorities arrive. Earlier this year the State legislature passed a law permitting tribal police to be designated general authority peace officers, granting them the authority to enforce state laws (presuming their officers had attended the State Patrol academy, provided the state with proof of public liability insurance, and agreed to waive sovereign immunity if officers were sued in state or federal court).

New: WA EMD Homeland Security Section Mgr, Robert Ezelle

NWTEMC will extend an invitation to Mr. Ezelle to attend its next meeting.

New Lower Elwha Tribal Health Director/EM

Lynda has accepted this position. Lynda will continue as NWTEMC Director as she had while EM Director for Tulalip and as Health Administrator for Snoqualmie Tribe.

Adjourn

12:49 Jim motioned to adjourn.

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