From:
To: City Council
Cc:
Subject: Continuing Support for the MYN/SNCU program an agenda item 11/19/24 Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024 11:32:20 AM
Honorable members of the City Council and Chief Hickey
This letter is in regard to the funding for the "Emergency Operations Manager" position. I am a years long member of firstly the old CERT program once sponsored by the city and the fire department and currently for 4 or more years with the "Sebastopol Neighborhood Communications Unit".
The Emergency Operations Manager continues to be the glue that holds both SNCU and the "Meet Your Neighbor" efforts together. We have joined to form a cohesive whole that is working diligently to help Sebastopol neighbors help themselves during emergencies.
As is known to the council, our primary goal is to reduce the burden on the emergency response teams of Police and Fire services.
Our key tools are, the organization of small neighborhoods and distribution of and encouragement to use hand held FCC approved radios. Radios are used by neighborhood "cells" and volunteers staffing "base" units to help coordinate connection between separated cells.
We are currently working with 300 plus Sebastopol citizens and gathering more weekly.
Your continued support will benefit the entire community when, not if a local disaster occurs.
Respectfully submitted
Rod Helvey