Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA)

A partnership of Marin’s Cities, Towns, County, Water and Fire Protection Districts established in 1998 to build a replacement for the obsolete emergency radio systems.

www.meraonline.org

Agenda6:45pm Pre-meeting conversation.7:00 Welcome – Don Hunter, Chair of the Southern Marin Site

Committee and Mill Valley City Manager.7:05 Project background.7:20 Ground rules.7:25 Agenda review.7:30 Concerns and feedback from participants – organized into

categories.8:15 Provide answers and clarification to as many issues as

possible.8:45 Review timeline and process.8:55 Meeting evaluation.9:00 Adjourn.

MERA

1. Southern Marin Fire Prot. Dist. 14. City of Belvedere 2. Bolinas Fire Protection District 15. Town of Corte Madera 3. Town of Fairfax 16. Inverness Public Utility Dist. 4. Kentfield Fire Protection District 17. City of Larkspur 5. County of Marin 18. Marin County Transit District 6. Marin Community College District 19. Marin Municipal Water District 7. Marin Community Services District 20. Twin Cities Police Department 8. City of Mill Valley 21. City of Novato 9. Novato Fire Protection District 22. Town of Ross10. Ross Valley Fire Service 23. Town of Tiburon11. Town of San Anselmo 24. City of San Rafael12. City of Sausalito 25. Stinson Beach Fire Prot. Dist.13. Tiburon Fire Protection Dist.

MERA Network

Pt. Reyes Hill

Mt. Barnabe

Big Rock Ridge

Mt. Burdell

Sonoma Mountain

Bay Hill Road

Bolinas Fire Station

Mt. TamalpaisMt. Tiburon Tank

Dollar Hill San Pedro

Ridge

Civic Center

Novato P.D.

Forbes Hill

San Rafael P.D.

Prime Site

Mill Valley City Hall

Mill Valley PSB

Sonoma County

Marin County

Pacific Ocean

San Francisco Bay

Site Status• San Pedro – San Rafael Area Complete• Big Rock – Novato Area Complete• Forbes Hill – San Rafael Area Complete• Pt. Reyes – Inverness/West Marin Area Complete• Mt. Burdell – San Geronimo Valley Area Complete• Mt. Barnabe – Novato Area Complete• Dollar Hill – San Rafael Area Complete• Mill Valley City Hall - Mill Valley Area Complete• Mill Valley PSB – Mill Valley Area Complete• Civic Center Prime Site – San Rafael Area Complete• Mt. Tam – South Central Marin Complete• Sonoma Mt. – Petaluma, Sonoma County 12/01/2003• Bay Hill Road – Western Sonoma County 02/01/2004• Bolinas – Bolinas Area 05/15/2004• Mt. Tiburon Tank – Tiburon Area Unknown- In litigation

Mt. Tiburon MERA Site

• Mt. Tiburon site selected in final MERA EIR – December 1999

• Tiburon denies permit for Mt. Tiburon site – July 2001

• MERA denied site on Angel Island – January 2002

• Tiburon approves site at Sugarloaf – July 2002

• Court sets aside Tiburon’s approval of Sugarloaf – September 2002

• MERA sued by neighbors over Mt. Tiburon – October 2002

• Court decides against MERA on use of Mt. Tiburon – January 2003

• Superior Court decision is appealed by MERA – April 2003

• Appeals Court decision - Spring 2004

MERA Board Policy

• MERA Board policy is to construct the Mt. Tiburon site if authorized to do so by the Court of Appeals.

• As a back-up plan, MERA Board of Directors is considering alternative sites.

Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA)

A partnership of Marin’s Cities, Towns, County, Water and Fire Protection Districts established in 1998 to build a replacement for the obsolete emergency radio systems.

www.meraonline.org

MERA

• Some of the difficulties with our current system include:

– Emergency radio coverage is spotty at best.

– Current systems are quickly overwhelmed in an emergency.

MERA

• Repairs are becoming more difficult.

• Daily coverage issues.

MERA

• Because of these problems we need a new system for medical, police and fire personnel.

• The one factor that has remained unchanged over the years is our obsolete radio system.

Southern Marin Coverage Area

MERA

Communication problems during emergencies:– Sausalito Police Officer shot.– Southern Marin House Collapse.– Sausalito Fire- Sausalito Blvd.– Tiburon Fire- Leeward Rd.

“Polly Klaas’ Legacy Looms LargeHer Kidnapping Led to New Laws, Changed Lives”

“Hours after the family alerted Petaluma police at 11:03 p.m. Oct. 1, Davis's white Ford Pinto became stuck in a ditch on rural Pythian Road. He was spotted by a homeowner, who called the sheriff's office. But Sonoma County deputies who arrived at the scene simply helped Davis dislodge his car and pushed him on his way. Their antiquated communications technology did not alert them to his parole violation.”

September 28, 2003 - San Francisco Chronicle

Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA)

A partnership of Marin’s Cities, Towns, County, Water and Fire Protection Districts established in 1998 to build a replacement for the obsolete emergency radio systems.

www.meraonline.org

Alternate to Mt. TiburonSite Selection Process

• 36 sites considered as alternates to Mt. Tiburon• Criteria for review:

– Coverage feasibility – Environmental impacts and land use issues– Leasing and improvement costs– Owner interest in leasing the site

• Three feasible remaining sites (2 of 3 needed)• Public information meetings• Site committee recommendation to MERA Board of Directors• Supplemental EIR prepared (6 months)• MERA Board of Directors decision• Town of Tiburon and/or County of Marin authorization

Typical Radio Site

• 1 - Receive Antenna– No Transmit

• 2 - Transmit Antennas– approximately 1/2 of the

system on each antenna

• Microwave Dishes– Highly Directional

– Narrow Beam

• Generator and Propane Tank

• Equipment Shelter

Richardson Bay Sewerage Agency

Richardson Bay Sewerage Agency

Richardson Bay Photo Simulation

MMWD Tank Site

MMWD Tank Photo Simulation

Wolfback Ridge Site

Agenda6:45pm Pre-meeting conversation.7:00 Welcome – Don Hunter, “Chair of the Southern Marin Site

Committee."7:05 Project background.

7:20 Ground rules.7:25 Agenda review.7:30 Concerns and feedback from participants – organized into

categories.8:15 Provide answers and clarification to as many issues as

possible.8:45 Review timeline and process.8:55 Meeting evaluation.9:00 Adjourn.

Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA)

A partnership of Marin’s Cities, Towns, County, Water and Fire Protection Districts established in 1998 to build a replacement for the obsolete emergency radio systems.

www.meraonline.org