Tri-County UAWG Subcommittee Chair Meeting Minutes

November 20, 2008

UAWG Attendees: Carol Allensworth, Gail Braun, Tim Carmody, Paul Johnson, Don Thorson, Mark Desler, Bill Holaday

GP Attendees: Dave Ziegler

Recorded By: Andrea Fox

Topic / Discussion / Action
Approve Minutes / October UAWG Large Group meeting minutes approved. / Andrea Fox: Email meeting minutes
Follow-Up / Attendees were reminded that the deadline for FY06 UASI is 6/30/09.
Discussion Points / There was a coordinated effort between Mayor Fahey’s office and Senator Nelson’s office to get the Tri-County region back on the FY09 UASI list. Despite this effort, we were not deemed eligible to apply for FY09 UASI funds.
There is a NEMA Planning Academy December 15-17 in Grand Island. Our region is allowed to send eight attendees. There is also a national DHS/FEMA Grants Programs Directorate conference being held at the same time.
Through General Physics, Project Management training was held November 17 and 18. The class was so useful that it will be offered again, in January or February.
Andrea Fox is currently working with General Physics to extend the current contract, and also to execute a new contract for assistance with Planning-Exercise-Training.
Training and Exercise Update / Three ICS 300 Classes were conducted in Council Bluffs to Law Enforcement, Fire, and Public Works. An ICS 400 Class was taught to the Nebraska Civil Air Patrol at Camp Ashland. An ICS 400 class was taught to 20 people from La Vista Police, Douglas County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, Bellevue Police, Ralston Public Works, OSHA, Methodist Hospital, Douglas County Emergency Management, Douglas County 911, Washington County 911, 72nd CST, and Omaha Fire. The current OPD Recruit Class attended ICS 100 & 700.
Committee Reports / Law Enforcement continues to spend out FY06 UASI. Law Enforcement will reallocate their remaining FY05 UASI equipment funds to purchase a FLIR camera component that overlays a map and “locks-on” to a target. There is currently $20,000 to reallocate. The helicopters are used in the tri-county region and Council Bluffs.
Paul Johnson asked if it is possible to feed the FLIR camera image to the EOC or cruisers. Don Thorson asked if we have the infrastructure to support this, and what is the cost?
Lt. Carmody informed the group that there will be an exercise in early December bringing different disciplines together, including the 72 CST, Fire, and Douglas County Emergency Management.
Emergency Management would like to purchase Planning software that allows a plan to be written and then modified. The software cost is $11,000.
Lt Carmody stated he was planning to utilize BZPP funds to purchase the software e-sponder express. E-sponder basic costs $65,000, and the expanded version costs $120,000-140,000, including delivery and training. Maintenance will be $13,000 annually.
Lt Carmody and Paul Johnson will discuss the software packages to avoid redundancy.
Public Health will do a Training-Planning-Exercise-Workshop with our contractor General Physics. Carol Allensworth will make a request in the future to use non-obligated UASI funds to assist Public Health with a full-scale or functional exercise. Carol Allensworth will participate in the Cities Readiness Initiative assessment December 16, 2008. This is the plan to ensure delivery of medications within 48 hours. Funding is contingent on the assessments.
TEW reported their website to report suspicious activity is live, www.otewg.org. TEW also received the tri-county’s Threat and Risk Assessment from General Physics and will review.
General Physics reported that they continue to work with Fire and will hold a tabletop exercise in early December. Dave Ziegler discussed the benefits of a comprehensive Planning-Exercise-Training plan, and the importance of After-Action Reports being incorporated into exercises.
General Physics is waiting to complete the strategy and matrix until the Threat and Risk Assessment is in its final version.
For the 9-1-1 Communications WAN network, the proposals have been evaluated. In mid-November vendors are brought in for verbal proposals.
The group discussed a tri-county website with content management would be useful for posting relevant materials and documents. / Andrea Fox: Follow-up on tri-county website.
Next Meeting / Subcommittee Chairs
January 15, 2009 9-11 a.m.
1819 Farnam Street, 3rd Floor, Jesse Lowe Conference Room

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