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DEC. 14, 2012
RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
Grant allows department to upgrade radios By Tony Cagala
For many emergency crews around the country, replacing or upgrading radios has been a slow process due to high costs of the equipment and departments’ budgetary constraints. Some of that was able to change when FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) began to offer grants that helped pay for much needed equipment for the departments. Through FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters
We’ve been pretty successful with this particular grant program.” Tom Gallup Senior management analyst
Grant, the Encinitas Fire Department will be able to upgrade all of their radios, ensuring that all will meet Project 25 requirements. Since 2001 the Encinitas Fire Department has received of total of $983,396 from FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant including the awarding of $126,709 this year, which will go towards the purchasing of the new radios. Previous grant awards to the department have gone towards the purchasing of a
fire safety education trailer, compressed air foam units, a washer/extractor and drying cabinet and a regional videoconferencing system. “We’ve been pretty successful with this particular grant program,” said Tom Gallup, senior management analyst with the city of Encinitas. “Typically, they (FEMA) fund one out of five applications. But the intent of the program through FEMA was to help fire departments across the country meet equipment needs, understanding how finances are.” The total operating budget for the department, which also includes lifeguards, is $11 million, Gallup said. “Most of that is personnel costs,” he said. “It seems like because the personnel costs have grown, too, over the years, we have to adjust on the other side of it. So it limits what you can spend on equipment and supplies…it’s always a challenge.” The Encinitas Fire Department employs approximately 63 people, which includes the firefighters, chief officers, fire prevention and administrative staff. It became necessary to have radios that were interoperable, where all of the agencies could talk to each other, explained Capt. Mike Daigle of the Encinitas Fire Department. Starting in the fall of 1989, APCO (Association of P u b l i c - S a f e t y Communications Officials) established Project 25 (P25) to help create a nationwide standard for digital communications and interoperability between public safety departments. The Department, Daigle said, had a little more than 20 percent of its radios compliant prior to receiving the grant. By the end of this year
Who’s NEWS? Business news and special achievements for North San Diego County. Send information via email to community@ coastnewsgroup.com. Band champs Congratulations to the La Costa Canyon High School Maverick Brigade, on its firstplace win at the Mira Mesa Field Tournament and bringing home the coveted Sweepstakes award at the Vista Invitational Field Tournament, during this fall’s marching band tournament season.
Math star Shalomi Philip, a freshman at Santa Fe Christian Schools, was selected by the national math committee to participate in both the team and individual events for the World Math Team Championship to be held in Beijing, China in late November. A Filipino sixthgrader won the Beijing event, a three-day event. The U.S. sent three teams, each with
GPU slated for this week By Jared Whitlock
A fire official uses one of the radios that will be replaced in order to comply with Project 25, that allows public safety crews better communications with other emergency responders during a disaster. The Encinitas Fire Department will have all of their emergency response radios P25 compliant thanks to a grant from FEMA. Photo courtesy of the Encinitas Fire Department
the department will have 100 percent of their radios, which are used for 9-1-1 response calls P25 compliant. “The newer equipment will have a greater range and greater capabilities and it’s going to be more reliable,” Daigle said. The P25 compliant radios will operate on an 800 megahertz frequency that is shared by the other emergency crews around North County. With a percentage of the department’s radios already upgraded, once the old radios are replaced firefighters won’t need any extra training on the operation of new radios. All of the agencies in San Diego and Imperial counties are working to replace their radios, making them compliant with the new P25 networks by 2013.
“Basically we’ll be able to talk to every agency that will be involved in a disaster,” Daigle said. “By initiating that program, you needed radios that were able to do that. So that was an upgrade on the radios that we had at that time. Over…probably the last 10 to 12 years, we’ve been starting to buy radios that are compliant with that program. But they’re expensive.” Also, with the boundary drops, which have been in place for years, Encinitas fire crews are constantly talking with surrounding fire agencies and are able to talk with law enforcement through some dedicated channels, Daigle explained. “Which helps us out quite a bit,” he said. “Because it used to be one of those processes that you had to go through your dispatch
six students to compete The flight will be the first among students representing commercial vehicle to dock with the station. The girls 10 nations. worked since September to New director conceive, design, engineer The San Diego County and program a micro-experiMedical Society Foundation ment to compare how crystals has chosen Encinitas resident grow in microgravity environNicole Hmielewski as the ment. foundation’s new Resource Development Director. Trees for troops Hmielewski joins the associaA free Christmas tree tion with 10 years of experi- giveaway was held on base at ence in non-profit fundraising the Rattlesnake Canyon Road and development, most parking lot as part of the specifically in the areas of Trees for Troops program, corporate relations, grants sponsored by the Christmas and workplace giving. In her Spirit Foundation. The group new role, she will focus on delivered approximately 900 physician volunteer recruit- trees to troops and military ment, corporate relations, families. individual donor relations Realtor hits 100 and grant writing. Together with his team, Space-age women Dan Conway of The Young women members Guiltinan Group’s Carmel of the Better Education for Valley office, assisted clients Women in Science and with 100 transactions this Engineering program of the year. The team consists of San Diego Science Alliance, Dan’s wife Pattie Conway, from 15 San Diego high Jason Fogelman, Bill Jones, schools including Canyon Elaine Walker, Jyotsna Crest Academy; Carlsbad Sharma, Melina Camey, Anne High School; Cathedral Jones, Jo Nestor, Chris Plato, Catholic High School; Santa and Taylor Tolpingrud. Visit Fe Christian Schools and DanConwaySOLD.com. Torrey Pines High School, completed an experiment set Tri-City to sponsor to spend month aboard The Downtown Encinitas International Space Station MainStreet Association after March liftoff on SpaceX. announced that Tri-City
to talk to their dispatch to relay a message to them. And now you can open that channel of communications…we can actually hail…the Sheriff’s dispatch and let them know that we’re on a certain channel and have…direct contact with them.” That makes it a lot less complicated, Daigle added. “It’s more seamless that we’re actually able to talk to somebody in real time on scene instead of going through a couple of different dispatches.” Daigle said they’re pretty successful with the grants for different equipment. “And nowadays you have to be to just keep your equipment…the cost of everything is going up and it’s tough to stay relevant if you’re not getting a little help from these grants.”
Four reports will be given to City Council during the next few months by various groups that are reviewing the General Plan Update, a blueprint that will guide development and land use over the next several decades. The first report, tentatively scheduled for Dec. 19, is a refresher on the history and status of the General Plan Update for the public and newly sworn-in Council members, according to Diane Langager, principal planner with the city. In February, three groups will present their findings and recommendations regarding the General Plan Update to Council at different meetings. First up, the planning commission Feb. 13, then the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) Feb. 20, followed by the Elemental Review Advisory Committee (ERAC) Feb. 27. Council will not be voting on the reports or aspects found within them at those meetings; however, Council members could potentially place key points of the reports on future agendas or request staff direction, Langager said. With representatives from across the city, GPAC has been meeting for more than two years. The group provides input and assistance to city staff on the General Plan Update. Another citizen group,ERAC has been tasked with analyzing the housing and land use portions as well as other portions of the General Plan Update. The planning commission is a five-member board that makes recommendations to Council on a variety of issues.
Winston students past and present, their families, teachers past and present, friends and supporters, are invited. Since 1988, the school has educated students with mild to moderate learning challenges including autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADD, ADHD, specific learning disabilities or learning disorders, nonverbal learning Telescope unveiled disorders and slow maturaHilton Carlsbad tion. Oceanfront Resort, 1 Ponto Rd., Carlsbad, unveiled its Softball stars new guest-friendly ocean-gazThe first adult men’s and ing telescope Dec.6. Funds coed softball tournament generated by the coin-operat- concluded Nov. 17, at ed telescope will be collected Poinsettia Park. Out of 12 and used by Boys & Girls teams participating, the Clubs of Carlsbad. champions were Señor Grubby’s in the men’s diviSand for summer sion and Kamikaze Tequila As a final part of San Worms in the coed division. Diego Association of Government regional beach Volunteers needed sand project, approximately The Flower Fields in 200,000 cubic yards of sand is Carlsbad is again asking volbeing deposited on the unteers to conduct its walkbeaches in north Carlsbad. A ing children’s tours and/or large offshore pipe will adult tours. The guided tours remain in place for the dura- cost the public $15. No expetion of the project. rience is required. Training will be in January. For more 25 years of teaching information, contact Joni Group Tickets are available now Miringoff, Events for The Winston School’s 25th Sales/Special anniversary dinner at the Del Director, at (760) 930-9123 Mar Fairgrounds April 20. All ext. 118. Medical Center will be the exclusive Gold Sponsor of its third annual Wellness Week, Jan. 19 at the Encinitas Branch of the San Diego County Library. Wellness Week is a week-long program of events and special offers that allows people to learn about and experience ways to improve their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.