HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12201994 - 2.4 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS .e..�
f �- Contra
FROM: Barton J. Gilbert
j Costa
Director of General Services � 4
County
DATE: November 29, 1994
SUBJECT: Community Warning System Project
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
I . RECOMMENDATIONS
ENDORSE the implementation of the Contra Costa County Community Warning
System project; ACCEPT ownership of the System upon completion of its
installation and testing; and ACCEPT responsibility for the operation of
the System, including all on-going operating and maintenance costs .
II . BACKGROUND/REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
On July 27, 1993, the Board of Supervisors heard a status report from
the Director of the Office of Emergency Services and the County Medical
Director regarding the hazardous materials release at the General
Chemical plant on April 27, 1993 . The Board ordered them to review the
implementation of a travelers ' notification system and siren alarm
system for the industrial areas of the County.
In August, 1993, the Contra Costa County Community Awareness Emergency
Response group (CAER) , in conjunction with the Health Services
Department, formed a Community Notification Committee comprised of
representatives from local communities, and government agencies .
Subsequently, the County Hazardous Materials Commission found
that the current emergency alert and notification system was not
adequate to quickly inform the public of an incident. The Commission
requested that the Community Notification Committee prepare a report
regarding the implementation of an enhanced notification system that
included sirens .
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATUREM:
:
ACTION OF BOARD ON O APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
cc Contact: B. J. Gilbert (313-7100) ATTESTED �v moo,
General Services Administration PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
William Walker, M.D. , Health Services SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Gary Brown, Office/Emergency Services
K. Imhoff, Community Warning System
M382 (10/88) BY / ,DEPUTY
On December 8, 1993, the Community Notification Committee issued its
report which recommended ( 1) installing sirens in the industrial areas
and implementing a system with the ability to activate pagers, tone
alerts, and car radios; (2) conducting an engineering study to develop
final design criteria for the system; (3) requesting industry to fund
the system in industrial zones where the highest risk of hazardous
materials accidents exists; and (4) developing a comprehensive and on-
going public information program. These recommendations were approved
by the Board of Supervisors .
By July 26, 1994, the following milestones in the development of the
project had been reached.
The engineering and design review had been completed.
The industrial funding formula had been developed.
- The community education master plan had been completed.
On October 26, 1994, CAER signed a contract with Sage Alerting Systems
Incorporated to construct and implement industry-funded Phase I of the
community warning system. Phase I includes site-specific alerting
equipment and notification infrastructure needed to inform the community
of industrial accidents and the initial public education program.
III . FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated average annual operating and maintenance costs to the
County are $85,000 (estimated by Sage Alerting Systems Incorporated) ,
plus County site installation costs.