CITY OF SUNNYVALE
City Council Study Session Summary
Update of the Emergency Management Organization (EMO) Activities and Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) Training; and Personal Safety Assessment and Training
March 28, 2006 5:00 p.m.
The City Council met in a study session at City Hall in the West Conference Room, 456 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, California on March 28, 2006 at 5:00 p.m., with Mayor Ron Swegles presiding.
Councilmembers Present:
Mayor Ron Swegles
Vice-Mayor Otto O. Lee
Councilmember Dean Chu
Councilmember Melinda Hamilton
Councilmember Anthony (Tony) Spitaleri
Councilmember Christopher R. Moylan
Councilmembers Absent:
Councilmember John Howe
City Staff Present:
Amy Chan, City Manager
Robert Walker, Assistant City Manager
David Kahn, City Attorney
Don Johnson, Director of Public Safety
Tim Johnson, Deputy Chief
Dayton Pang, Captain
Craig Farley, Lieutenant, OES
Douglas Moretto, Lt., Fire Training Coordinator
Cherel Sampson, Emergency Planner, OES
Arley Marley III, SNAP Committee
Trudy Cole, SNAP Committee
Robert Gundrum, SARES Coordinator
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ron Swegles at 5:02 p.m.
Study Session Summary
I. Introductory Remarks
Deputy Chief Tim Johnson opened the meeting with a brief overview of the study session and review of the agenda.
City Manager Amy Chan added that staff would address the Standardized Emergency Management System, which is required training for council. She also said that the second part of the study session would deal with security concerns of the Council Chambers.
Lieutenant Craig Farley, Department of Public Safety, Office of Emergency Services, provided a brief overview of the roles and responsibilities of the Office of Emergency Services and council’s responsibilities following a declared local emergency.
Cherel Sampson, Emergency Planner, Department of Public Safety, Office of Emergency provided a general overview of the Standardized Emergency Management System and the National Incident Management System.
Trudy Cole and Arley Marley III, Department of Public Safety, SNAP Committee talked about the Sunnyvale Neighborhood Actively Prepared (SNAP) Program, its goals, capabilities and the value of this program to the City. They encouraged council’s participation in future SNAP related events.
Robert Gundrum, Department of Public Safety, Sunnyvale Amateur Radio Emergency Services (SARES) Coordinator gave a brief overview of the SARES training, equipment and emergency back-up communications capabilities. He also invited the council to attend the Field Day Activities on June 24 or June 25.
Amy Chan recognized and thanked all Department of Public Safety volunteers present for their time and contribution to the City.
Lieutenant Farley concluded the Office of Emergency Services portion of the study session by talking about the City being named as one of the thirty-one cities in California under the new Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) guidelines. He also addressed the changes in the UASI grant process and its new governance.
Lieutenant Douglas Moretto, Department of Public Safety, Fire Training, reviewed with council the personal and site safety awareness, public safety linkages and outlined recommendations to improve the security of the Council Chambers.
II. Question and Answer
Mayor Swegles asked if staff had an awareness of Meals of Wheels and the emergency boxes they provided to their clients?
Office of Emergency Services is familiar with Meals on Wheels, but not with familiar the emergency supply boxes that they provide to their clients and will investigate this issue.
Mayor Swegles asked if it is difficult to get an amateur radio license?
No. The requirements for obtaining a license has changed, Morse Code is no longer required. With some ease, an individual can study and take the amateur radio license test and pass it in one day.
Councilmember Spitaleri asked if the Public Safety Dispatch Center has the ability to monitor the Council Chambers?
No.
Councilmember Moylan asked if a public safety officer could be present at future council meetings?
Chief Johnson, Director of Public Safety said that the risk does not indicate a need to have a public safety officer present at council meetings.
Vice-Mayor Otto Lee suggested that staff consider placing panic buttons in other areas in City Hall, i.e., The One Stop Center and the City Manager’s Office.
Amy Chan advised staff is researching two of the security recommendations for the Council Chambers.
Adjournment
The Study Session was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Cherel Sampson, Emergency Planner