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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO 12-05PICKERING REPORT TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Report Number: CAO 12-05 Date: October 24, 2005 From: Thomas J. Quinn Chief Administrative Officer Subject: Public Alerting - Installation of Sirens and Related Matters File: S-5600-010 Recommendations: 1. That Report CAO 12-05, concerning the installation of public alerting sirens and related matters be received. That the Commissioner of Emergency Management Ontario and the Region of Durham be advised that the City agrees with the Commissioner's proposal to have four sirens installed in the Pickering Contiguous Zone and to conduct an evaluation of their effectiveness as outlined in the Commissioner's letter to Mayor Ryan dated September 13, 2005. That the Region of Durham be requested to commence the process of installing the four siren design in the Pickering Contiguous Zone, as recommended by DPRA/Aercoustics, including detailed survey work, and that staff be authorized to grant municipal consent where required. That the Province be requested to deal with the remaining nuclear public alerting issues (i.e. indoor public alerting and alerting within the 3-10 km area) only in the context of a comprehensive, community-wide public alerting system that addresses all types of potential community emergencies, and that staff be directed to work on this basis only with the Province and the Region on these issues. That staff be authorized to request reimbursement from the Province and/or the Ontario Power Generation for the DPRA/Aercoustics re-design consulting costs that the City incurred. That a copy of this Report and Resolutions be forwarded to the Province of Ontario, Region of Durham, M.P. Dan McTeague, M.P. Mark Holland, M.P.P. Wayne Arthurs, and the Ontario Power Generation. Report CAO 12-05 Subject: Public Alerting Date: October 24, 2005 Page 2 Executive Summary: As result of a meeting with the Commissioner of Emergency Management, the Mayor has received a letter from the Commissioner asking the City to agree to the installation of four outdoor alerting sirens in accordance with the design that was developed for the City by DPRA/Aercoustics. The Commissioner also included in his letter a commitment to revisiting the issues surrounding indoor public alerting in the Contiguous Zone and the expansion of the system into the Primary Zone (3-10 km). It is recommended that Council concur with the Commissioner's proposal, and request the Region of Durham to initiate the installation process for four sirens. As well, it is recommended that the Province be requested to deal with the remaining nuclear public alerting issues (indoor public alerting and alerting within the 3-10 km area) only in the context of a community-wide public alerting system that addresses all types of potential community emergencies, and that staff be directed to work on these issues with the Province and Region only within this context. In addition, Council's direction is sought to request reimbursement from the Province and/or OPG for the consulting costs incurred by the City in using DPRA/Aercoustics siren re-design study. Financial Implications: Should Council concur, staff will seek reimbursement from the Province and/or OPG for consulting costs associated with DPRA/Aercoustics redesign study. These costs totalled $23,965.52. The City would not incur any costs, other than staff time, in relation to the installation of the four sirens. Background: On September 1, 2005 the Commissioner of Emergency Management, Julian Fantino, met with the Mayor, four councillors, the CAO, and the Community Emergency Management Coordinator primarily to discuss nuclear public alerting in the Pickering Contiguous Zone. During the meeting, the Commissioner proposed that the four sirens proposed by the Pickering DPRA/Aercoustics re-design study be installed and subsequently evaluated to determine their effectiveness in meeting the Provincial nuclear emergency public alerting requirements. In discussions on the matter, the CAO reminded the Commissioner that the Region of Durham was designated as the public alerting project manager and therefore if the four siren design were to be used, the Region would be responsible for the siren installations and evaluations. Report CAO 12-05 Date: October 24, 2005 Subject: Public Alerting Page 3 In a letter dated September 13, 2005 and addressed to Mayor Ryan, the Commissioner of Emergency Management formalized his position on public alerting and in particular the idea of proceeding with the four siren design (see Attachment 1). On October 5, 2005, Gary Cubitt, the Regional CAO wrote to the Commissioner of Emergency Management to clarify that the Region was responsible for the public alerting project and requesting clarification on the Commissioner's position (see Attachment 2). In his letter, Mr. Cubitt noted that he understood the Province intended to have a scientific review conducted of the original Regional design for twenty-nine sirens, and the City's design for four sirens. Mr. Cubitt also noted that the proposal to install four sirens at this time might pose financial and legal implications for the Region. The Commissioner's letter to the Mayor also gave a "commitment to revisiting the technology for the indoor alerting system as well as the criteria that will govern public alerting for the 3-10 kilometre area." This is welcome news, as the City had previously raised both of these issues with the Province (and Region) and had suggested that these issues be dealt with only in the context of a comprehensive, community wide alerting system. The memorandum to the CAO dated September 27, 2005 from the Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC) provides a comparative analysis of various community public alerting system options, and can be used as a basis for future discussions with the Province and Region in this regard (see Attachment 3 - previously distributed at the October 3, 2005 Management Forum Meeting). Accordingly, it is recommended that Council request that the Province deal with the indoor public alerting issue, and the issue of nuclear alerting within the 3-10 km area, only in the context of a comprehensive, community-wide public alerting system that addresses all types of potential community emergencies, and that staff be directed to work with the Province and Region on these issues only within this context. Attachment: 1. Letter from the Julian Fantino Commissioner of Emergency Management, to Mayor Ryan, dated September 13, 2005 2. Letter from the Gary Cubitt, Regional CAO, to the Commissioner of Emergency Management, date October 5, 2005 3. Memorandum from the Community Emergency Management Coordinator, to the CAO dated September 27, 2005 Report CAO 12-05 Subject: Public Alerting Date: October 24, 2005 Page 4 Prepared By: Approved / Endorsed By: A.L. (Joe) ICunwicks / Community Emergency Management Coordinator Chief Administrative Officer TJQ:alh:tem Attachment Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City.Council -Tl~m---a~ J. Qui(F~, Chiel' Administra~ffi(~e2Y Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Commissioner of Emergency Management Minist~re de la S~curit~ communautaire et des Services correctionnels : COmm~mire ~ ~a [ Gestion des situations d'urgence Ontario 25 Grosvenor Street 11"' Floor Toronto ON M7A 1Y6 Tel: 416-327-9734 Fax: 416-327-9739 September 13, 2005 His Worship David Ryan City of Pickering 1 The Esplanade Pickering ON LIV 6K7 Dear Mayor Ryan: 25, rue Grosvenor 11e ~tage Toronto ON M7A [Y6 T~I. 416-32'7-9734 T~l~c. :416-327-9739 EM05-00003 I am glad we had the opportunity to meet on September 1, 2005 to discuss and move forward the issues of public education and public alerting for your City. To reiterate our agreement on that date, you will move ahead with the installation of 4 sirens as per the Aerocoustics Engineering Ltd. and DPRA study commissioned by the City of Pickering. The installation will be followed by a period of testing and then, of mutual evaluation. The aim of the evaluation will be to determine if the system meets the (outdoor) public alerting criteria as laid out in the Province of Ontario Nuclear Emergency Plan. I envisage the evaluation team as consisting of representatives from the City of Pickering, the Region of Durham, Ontario Power Generation and Emergency Management Ontario. Further, I committed to revisiting the technology for the indoor alerting system as well as the criteria that will govern public alerting for the 3-10 kilometre area. I understand your Council will consider this agreement at their meeting on September 19, 2005. I look forward to your Council's resolution on this matter 'so that we may begin to move ahead on further enhancing the safety of the citizens of the City of Pickering. Sincer;y,~ Commissioner of Emergency Management c: Gary Cubitt, Chief Administrative Officer, The Regional Municipality of Durham Allan Lew, Ontario Power Generation The Regional Municipality of Durham Office of the C.A.O. PO BOX 623 605 ROSSLAND ROAD E. WHITBY ON L1N 6A3 CANADA (905) 668-7711 1-800-372-1102 Fax: /905) 668-1567 E-maih garry, cubitt@region.durhamon.ca www. region.durham.on .ca Garry H, Cubitt,'M.S.W., C.S.W. Chief Administrative Officer OCtober 5, 2005 Mr: Julian Fantino Commissioner of Emergency Management Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, 25 Grosvenor St., 11th Floor Toronto ON MTA 1Y6 Dear Mr. Fantino: Durham Region Nuclear Emerqency Public Alerting Project Thank you for a copy of your letter to the Mayor of the City of Pickering dated September 13, 2005 As you are aware, Durham Region is, a !'deSignated municipality" under the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Plan (PNEP)(March 1999), a Provincial plan that is legislated under the Emergency Management Act. The PNEP directs Durham Region to establish and maintain a pUblic alerting system in the Contiguous (3 km) Zones that meets the Provincial standard; The public alerting project in. Durham Region is directed by a Steering Committee consisting of the Chief Administrative Officers of the Region and affected lakeshore communities (Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, OshaWa, Clarington), as well as the Chief, Emergency Management Ontario and a senior executive of Ontario Power Generation. A qualified design consultant was selected and the subsequent alerting design was endorsed by Regional Council and the Councils of the lakeshore municipalities. An RFP process was initiated for the equipment and installation. A contract was signed in October 2003 and equipment was purchased. In July 2004, the City of Pickering'sCouncil passed a resolution requesting that the original design consultant undertake a review of the alerting system in Pickering. This review was not completed as a peer review consultant retained by the City produced an alternate design with substantially fewer sirens. ........ SERVICE EXCELLENCE foi' our~ COMMUNITY 100% Post Consumes -2- The original design included 29 outdoor sirens for the Pickering 3 km zone while the May 2005 design by the consultant retained by the City indicates that only 4 of the same sirens are required. Due to this disparity, I wrote to Neil McKerrell on'June 10th asking that the Province review the two designs to determine which, meets the requirements of the Provincial standard. On June 15th, Mr. McKerrell confirmed by letter (attached)the intention of Emergency Management Ontario to initiate a Scientific review of the two reports and, subsequently, provide advice as to an acceptable model. ' Although it is acknowledged your letter addresses an agreement with the City of .Pickering, and makes no commitment for the Region of'Durham, we remain nonetheless, concerned that action takenby the Province and the City of:Pickering may have significant financial and legal implications for the Region. 'Given the above, and your-letter to the Mayor of Pickerin'g, I wanted to confirm our unde.rstandin~ regarding the commitment of the Province to initiate a scientific review of the two outdoor siren designs for compliance with the Provincial standard. We remain committed to action upon receipt of your advice as to what model meets'the requirements.of your legislation. Yours truly, iGarry H. Cubitt, M.S.W. Chief Administrative 'Officer Attachment: 1 COpy: Thomas Quinn, C.A.O. City of Pickering Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Emergency Management Ontario 77 WeLlesley Street West Box 222 Toronto ON M7A lN3 Office of the Chief Telephone/Tal~phone Facsimile/T~l&opieur E-mail File Re ference/R~f~rence June 15, 2005 Minlst~re de la Sdcurit~ communautaire et des Services correctionnels Gestion des situations d'urgence Ontario 77, rue Wellesley Ouest C.P. 222 Toronto ON MTA Bureau du chef (416) 212-3526 (416) 212-3498 Information. EMO~Jus.gov.on.ca OFf4CE OF ,Mr. Garry H. Cubitt Chief Administrative Officer The Regional Municipality of Durham PO BOX 623 605 Rossland Road E. Whitby ON L1N 6A3 ' Jl/tt ? 1 2t705 Dear Mr. Cubitt, Yesterday, I received your letter of June 10, 2005 containing the most recent report concerning the Durham Region Public Alerting Project. Further to discussions that we have had, I would like to confirm that it is the intention Of Emergency Management Ontario to initiate a scientific peer review of both the Framatome ANP and DPRA repons to ensure that they meet the provincial standard for public alerting. It is our objective that this work Mil be completed by the end of the Summer of 2005, and that I will be in a position to advise you of the results of the review shortly thereafter. For your information, I appeared before the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission recently and advised them of the course of action that we intended to follow. Not unlike Durham Region and EMO, they are most anxious to see a resolution of this matter as soon as possible. Sincerely, Nell T. McKerreI1 Chief c.c. Maureen Griffiths OPERATIONS & EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM September 27, 2005 To: From: Thomas J. Quinn Chief Administrative Officer A. L. (Joe) Hunwicks Community Emergency Management Coordinator Subject: Public Alerting Options File: S-5600-010 During the summer I conducted a review of public alerting systems to examine the various options that are currently available. Attached is a table that summarizes the options and evaluates some aspects of each system. In summary, it appears that to meet the outdoor aspect of the Ontario public alerting requirements, which is contained in the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Plan, there is no alternative to the use of sirens. However, there exist a variety of options for indoor alerting as an alternative to the Region's proposed indoor tone alert devices. Those options could complement the use of sirens so as to establish a system that provides community-wide public alerting for all types of emergencies instead of just nuclear events. The Ontario nuclear public alerting requirements are very specific in terms of the percentage of the population that must be alerted, the time of alerting, and the location of the people that must be notified. The requirements are consistent with the standards for public alerting in the United States and other nuclear host countries. I also have learned that only sirens have been used to meet the outdoor alerting requirements in those other jurisdictions. The following is the current public alerting wording that has appeared in the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Plan since 1997; note that the requirements are only provincial policy and not law: The nuclear installations at Pickering / Darlington shall provide the resources and assistance to their designated municipafities to enable them to establish a public alerting system in their Primary Zones. Public Alerting Options September 27, 2005 Page 2 The public alerting system in the Contiguous Zone (0-3 km) must provide, within 15 minutes of initiation, waming to practically 100% of the people in the Contiguous Zone at that time, whether they are indoors or outdoors, and irrespective of the time of day or year. As part of my recent review, I was asked to investigate a system known as Wireless Audio Visual Emergency System (WAVES), which was promoted by its supplier as an alternative to the Region's proposed siren system. My research has revealed that WAVES includes the use of large sirens like the ones that the Region currently owns - in fact WAVES has been installed in several locations in the USA using the same model of ATI sirens that the Region of Durham purchased. WAVES also operates using additional smaller sirens, strobe lights, and other devices that compliment the large sirens. The president of the company that sell WAVES informed me that an area the size of the Pickering Contiguous Zone would require at least the number of sirens that were originally planned for Pickering, plus in his opinion, smaller sirens that could number in the dozens, as well as strategically placed strobe lights throughout the community. WAVES has one notable advantage over the Region's proposed system in that it uses a more sophisticated two-way radio system for activating the sirens. WAVES' high frequency scrambled radio signals are used to prevent false sounding of the sirens by would-be hackers. I did not receive a cost estimate for WAVES, but the person that I spoke to indicated that the Region's existing sirens could be used to augment the required additional equipment. I also learned that WAVES has never been installed for use in community public alerting. The systems were designed and installed at institutional settings such a military bases and industrial complexes like oil refineries. During the past four months I have also been working as a member of a national committee that is developing guidelines for public alerting systems in Canada. These activities have enhanced the work that I have been conducting for Pickering and have confirmed to me that a combination of systems, including the four siren arrangements that our consultants have designed, would not only meet the Ontario nuclear public alerting requirements, but would establish a comprehensive community-wide system for all types of emergencies. In addition, such a system would meet the future national standard for public alerting. Based on what I have learned from my review and participation in developing a set of national public alerting guidelines, I am now convinced that a combination of technologies are needed to effectively alert citizens of a community emergency, including nuclear events. Even though the use of sirens for outdoor alerting is a standard practise throughout the world for nuclear emergency alerting, I am not convinced that such a single method is the best option of choice. Public Alerting Options September 27, 2005 Page 3 However, as long as the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Plan stipulates that outdoor alerting is required, it seems that there is no choice but to accept that sirens will be the primary component of a public alerting system for the Pickering Nuclear Contiguous Zone. ALH:Ir Attachment Copy: Director, Operations & Emergency Services Division Head, Corporate Projects & Policy A. 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