City Council

The City of Columbia City In Columbia County on the Columbia River Hazard Mitigation Planning Group Meeting Minutes – January 27, 2014 - 6:00 p.m. City Hall, 1840 Second Street Columbia City, Oregon 97018 Members Present: Leahnette Rivers, City Administrator/Recorder Casey Wheeler, City Council Member Michael McGlothlin, Chief of Police Lorne Clark, Plant Manager, Dyno Nobel Ron Youngberg, CRF&R Gary Hudson, Citizen Member Frank Hupp, Citizen Member Kellie Niles, Group Leader Vincent Aarts, Columbia County Emergency Management Director Steve Watson, Columbia 911 Communication Center Ray Murphy, HAM Radio, ARES/RACES Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm Topics: Review of CAN System test call conducted on Thursday January 16, 2014. Steve Watson held discussion regarding results of test call as well as overall system limitations and possible points to improve timely flow of information; pre-planned mapping as well as pre-prompted messaging functions. Planning group discussed and agreed to separate communications systems by two critical factors, an emergency notification system or function (warning sirens, PA System announcements, prompted social media, etc.) and emergency information systems or functions (CAN System, Newsletter, etc.). The feasibility for further development of these efforts is to be conducted by City Staff and the Planning Group. 1 CAN registration efforts to continue by City Staff and social media process/programs to be further explored as to policy and practice. Columbia 911 Newsletter and civic group communication forums also mentioned as possible means to further educate citizen base. Specific discussion took place regarding siren systems as warning devices. Number of units, and their placement, also took place and will be further researched by City Staff and reporting results back to the Planning Group. Discussion also took place regarding the railroad use of DOT Car 111, and the high flammability of the rail shipped oil, along the Columbia County rail corridor. Ron Youngberg briefed that 70% of rail card usage is the sub-standard type 111, versus the 112 or 114 which are much safer, along the rail system. As well, there exist classification issues regarding this product as it relates to the appropriate type of placarding. There exists a high probability for a significant event to occur due to this railcar usage, as well as the inherent problems with the classification and placarding system. Ron Youngberg also advised that this danger has come to the attention of federal government elected officials, and that fire authorities have also been having discussions regarding response. As well, it was discussed that there is limited response capability for this type of event by local fire service personnel. In response to this information the Planning Group recommended that this body forward written communication to elected officials addressing these concerns. It was recommended that this communication start at the City Council level for further communication to State Senator Betsy Johnson, State Representative Brad Witt, Governor John Kitzhaber, US Senator Ron Wyden, and US Representative Greg Walden. Other business: Ray Murphy briefed the Planning Group on recent training attended in order to secure emergency message communication in the event of a major disaster. He also extended an offer to the City to act in this capacity in the event of such occurrence and further said that this asset could be fielded for an approximate two week time frame. Vincent Aarts briefed on efforts to review and update the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. He proposed that he would be ready to present his findings at the next meeting of the Planning Group. (This item has been added to the Planning Group agenda.) Kellie Niles provided copies of the December 2, 2013 Planning Group minutes to all Planning Group members who were present. The planning group scheduled the next group meeting for Monday February 24, 2 2014. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm. 3