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Saturday, March 23, 2002
Oceanside catches OSHA static about perils of old radio system [Source: San Diego Union-Tribune] By Brian Hazle OCEANSIDE – A state regulatory agency says the city's antiquated radio system may endanger police officers and firefighters. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health warned the city this week that if the radio system, which does not work in some parts of town, leads to an injury, the city could be cited and face civil penalties. "It's basically (Cal-OSHA) saying, 'Hey look, there are some problems here, and we've told you about them,' " Cal-OSHA spokesman Dean Fryer said. The agency did not elaborate on the type of penalties the city could see. The Oceanside Police Officers' Association filed a complaint with Cal-OSHA nearly five months ago about the radio system. In January, the union filed a lawsuit in Superior Court asking a judge to order the city to buy adequate radio equipment. "(The warning) puts the city on notice that any injury and any hazard which is obviously due to the communication system, is a willful violation," said Greg Emerson, an attorney for the union. Police and firefighters have said the radio system, which is more than 25 years old, provides spotty coverage of the city. Buildings and hills block signals to some areas, and interference from Mexico can disrupt transmissions. City Manager Steve Jepsen said yesterday that he is aware of the problem and that the City Council is expected to discuss next month how it can afford a new system. He said he has not spoken to Cal-OSHA about the warning. The city has several choices on how to fix the system, including one that would eliminate the dead spots for about $100,000, Jepsen said. However, the City Council has said it wants to upgrade the radios and join the county's regional communications network, which links public safety agencies. Oceanside is the only city in the county not using the network. A new, 800-megahertz system – considered the industry standard – would cost $4.7 million. To join the county network, an additional $3.3 million would be needed. Jepsen said the city will explore at least two financing paths for the new system. "We don't have the ability to come up with $8 million in funds without there being some impact on existing programs," Jepsen said. "Someplace it's going to affect our ability to do other things in the city. It comes down to a matter of priorities for the council." © Copyright 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Monitoring OSCAR [Source: SoCalScan] New trunked system for Hollywood & Highland, this complex houses the Kodak Theater where the Oscars are this Sunday (24 March) evening: 463.3375 463.3125 463.4625 463.9625 461.4625 464.6625 Kodak Theater info: http://www.oscar.com/oscarnight/kodak01.html Wednesday, March 20, 2002
Community Emergency Response Team  The spring C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team) class is underway in Simi Valley but since this class is so small they are still accepting applications. The class is six consecutive Wednesdays and culmunates with a training excercise at the Fire Department's training center in Camarillo. CERT was first developed by the City of Los Angeles and adpoted by FEMA, in fact the training manual is a FEMA manual. Training is done by local fire fighters headed up by a Captain out of Station 41. If you live or work in Simi Valley and you would like to be an assist to the community during a disaster then get involved and call the Simi Valley Office of Emergency Services at (805) 583-6238 to sign up for the class. After next Wednesday they won't be taking any more applications. For more information you can visit the web site at http://www.ci.simi-valley.ca.us/html/c.e.r.t..htm. |