Minutes - Nevada TIM Coalition

Attendees: Brian Hoeft - RTC-FAST
Shital Patel – RTC-FAST
Allison Blankenship - RTC
Patrick Heyneman – H2O
Patrick Zozaya - Ewing Bros.
Lisa Schettler – NDOT
Ismael Garza – NDOT
Mario Gomez – NDOT
Kent Sears – NDOT
Mohamed Rouas – NDOT
Steve Baer – NDOT, Tonopah
Kal Boni – NDOT, Tonopah
Katie Mellon - NDOT
SOUTHERN NEVADA TIM COALITION
MEETING NOTES
March 22, 2012
Chair: Lisa Schettler
Facilitators: Atkins North America
Subject: TIM COALITION MEETING NOTES
Date:
Location:
Thursday, March 22, 2012: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
RTC/FAST Office, War Room
4615 West Sunset Road, Las Vegas, NV 89118
Coalition Meeting Notes
Lou Amell – City of Las Vegas
Patrick Foley – CCFD
William Gazza - Clark County Coroner
Richard Brenner – CCFD
Joanna Wadsworth – CCPW
Paul Ponzio Jr – FSP
Joseph Smith - DPS
Emily Kubovchik - Atkins
Ingrid Birenbaum - Atkins
Charlie Creel - Atkins
Kristine Absher – Atkins
Maria Mann - Atkins
Introductions and Opening Remarks
Everyone was welcomed and asked to please sign in and pick up the handouts. There were some first-time
attendees.
New Business & Agency Updates
Ingrid mentioned that the FHWA contacted Lisa recently about using our Nevada TIM program as an
example for best practices for an upcoming publication about TMC roles in emergency operations; this is
very good news.
Ingrid also provided information on a web-based mobile application for firefighters to get to the scene faster.
Some of the firefighters responded that they have a GPS system similar to this already being used, although
it will still be available for view on the Nevada TIM website.
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Lisa announced that the new Incident Response Vehicle (IRV) RFP discussed previously had to be readvertised.
Vendors can submit separately by location: Reno/Sparks and Las Vegas. The current FSP
contract has been extended. Lisa also introduced Katie Mellon who just started with NDOT and will be
joining the TIM Coalition.
H2O Environmental Presentation – Patrick Heyneman, President
Patrick Heyneman introduced the company and type of contract they have with NDOT for hazmat response/
clean up (over 25 gallons) on all federal and state highways within NDOT right-of-way. Their responses
require:
• 1-hour arrival for a project manager and 2-hour arrival for a crew in urban areas.
• 2-hour arrival for a project manager and 4-hour arrival for a crew in rural areas.
H2O stabilizes the area and cleans up to state (NDOT and NDEP) standards. A rule of thumb is that 1 gallon
of oil results in 1 yard of dirt to clean up. NDOT usually calls H2O, but NHP can also make the request.
There was some discussion about payment, but the responsible party (RP) is always billed first so
NDOT/NHP should not hesitate in calling H2O when they are needed; however, NDOT and NHP should be
sure to communicate with each other. Their corporate office moved to Boise, ID, but their Las Vegas office
is the biggest office they have.
Patrick discussed the possibility of NV counties, airports and cities “piggy backing” off of the current NDOT
contract so that they can also receive the same prices and service. Lisa mentioned she would check into this.
H2O services nine western states: NV, CA, AZ, UT, ID, OR, WA, WY, MT. Patrick reminded everyone to
treat any unknown substance as hazmat. No one should try to smell or touch the unknown substance. Ingrid
asked if someone locally from H2O could attend the TIM meetings regularly. Patrick said he would ask
Perry Pearson to attend here in Las Vegas.
Florida Motor-Vehicle Spill Mitigation Guidelines - Charlie Creel, Atkins
As a continuation from the January discussion, Charlie Creel discussed the non-cargo motor-vehicle spill
policy for 25 gallons or less in Florida, which can possibly be used and modified for Nevada. Non-cargo
fluids are anything that makes a vehicle run (oil, transmission fluid, etc.) that spills onto the road due to a
crash or other incident. A discussion was brought about on how hard it can be to measure how many gallons
have spilled out of a vehicle. The Fire Dept. is sometimes called to evaluate the scene; however the City
stopped using plugs on private vehicles for vehicle owner’s safety. This proposed policy was created by the
members of the Florida Traffic Incident Management team and is posted on our website
www.nevadatim.com password = secure1 for NV TIM members to review.
Heavy Wrecker Concept - Charlie Creel
As a continuation from the January discussion, Charlie discussed a Rapid Incident Scene Clearance (RISC)
heavy wrecker concept modeled on the program in use in Florida. This would include a bonus incentive for
towing companies to tow away heavy/large vehicles out of the road in less than 90 minutes. The bonus for
clearing them out in less than 90 minutes is $2,500 in Florida, an additional amount to be made of $1,000 if
towing company brings in all extra specialty equipment needed to clear them out. These amounts can be
changed to meet Nevada’s needs. The bonus money could come from NDOT billing insurance companies.
Heavy wrecker concept would have to work with the Instant Tow program. More discussion is needed on
the concept in relation to the current NDOT Rapid Incident Scene Clearance Program (30, 60, and 90) and
data is needed to confirm how many accidents are already cleared in 90 minutes or less. Patrick mentioned
California’s regulation mandating all towers be certified and trained accordingly. In Nevada, no training is
required; no certification is required for towing companies. Ingrid asked if FAST/NDOT/NHP can provide
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help in obtaining data to compare current average clearing times in Southern Nevada. Shital Patel said
FAST has some data, but a lot more work is needed.
On another note, Patrick mentioned Ewing Bros. will be involved in a new reality show about the towing
industry premiering in the fall of this year. The show will portray a positive side of the industry and he
would like to focus awareness on the Move It /Move Over law here in Nevada.
NDOT Construction Updates - Mario Gomez, NDOT
Mario Gomez went over important NDOT construction and project updates. F Street will be a major project
that will impact traffic for a long period of time. The Coalition requested further updates when construction
is getting close. Mario said a copy of the Traffic Management Plan will be available on the Nevada TIM
website. Another presentation to the group later this year would be helpful as construction may not begin
until next year. Atkins can also follow up by creating a section called “Construction Updates” to the TIM
website.
Post Incident Discussion on NASCAR – Lieutenant Joseph Smith, DPS
NASCAR at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been one of the largest events in Las Vegas for the past 15
years. This year it was March 9-11 and multiple agencies were involved in the planning and logistics. This
year the Motor Speedway exit off the I-15 was backed-up all the way to US 95. Every year, public
information is available which provides “best routes” announced on the radio and they are also posted on
websites, but people generally do what they want. Towards the end of the race, the exits were routed 4
different ways. An accident with injuries occurred towards the end of the event and portions of I-15 were
shut down for some time. The parking issue needs to be resolved somehow in the future. Overall, it was a
good event and lessons learned are discussed afterwards to better prepare for the following year.
Goals Activity Facilitated by Atkins
The Coalition attendees broke into three groups to refine the TIM Handbook goals and objectives and to
brainstorm performance measures. The purpose of the exercise was to help come up with actions moving
forward. These results will be shared with the rest of the Coalition and new actions will be reported.
Safety and Awareness were the topics of discussion, although time did not permit much conversation on
Awareness. There are three other goals to discuss in May, and more time will be allotted for this activity.
As the group discussed the issues, some additional actions items came about. See action items.
Future Business
Other debriefs/presentations for a future date include a communications presentation by Lou Amell and
Richard Brenner (July) and potentially an update on what UNLV is working on for NDOT and FAST. In the
past, UNLV has provided data regarding secondary crashes and similar information. Brian said FAST can
also provide information on their data gathering abilities. There was also a mention of a tour bus incident on
Hoover Dam that may be interesting to discuss. Atkins reach out to the Boulder City PD, or Dam Police and
invite them to participate in to the TIM Coalition. Lou mentioned he has a contact name he can give to
Charlie.
Locations for future meeting were discussed. Possible locations include Clark County Government Center,
Ewing Bros. Towing and FAST.
The next Southern Nevada TIM Coalition Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. at a
location to be determined.
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All documents and debriefs will be posted on the TIM website www.nevadatim.com (password = secure1).
The meeting was adjourned.
Action Items
Date Item Responsible Status
July 21, 2011 Committee meetings – need
to resume Recovery and start
Atkins – Charlie Creel, Ingrid
Birenbaum, Emily Kubovchik
On-going
July 21, 2011
Arterials and Construction.
Procedure between NDOT
and NHP for marking
damaged property
Atkins – Charlie Creel On-going
Sept. 22, 2011 FHWA TIM Self Assessment
results
NDOT – Lisa Schettler On-going
Nov. 17, 2011 Involvement with Mt. Mary Martini, NDOT, Atkins & On-going
Charleston area
Coalition
Nov. 17, 2011 Send out survey regarding
mile marker changes
Atkins – Sue Christiansen Pending
Nov. 17, 2011 Discuss NIMS with Coalition Craig Cooper Future meeting
Nov. 17, 2011 Future debriefs: AMTRACK
crash (NHP)
Desert Express DB (NDOT)
Atkins to follow up Future Meeting
Jan. 19, 2012 Continue Topics /Ideas for Communications/Outreach On-going
TIM Brochure
Committee w/Coalition
Jan. 19, 2012 Investigate Spill Mitigation
policy
NDOT, Coalition On-going
March 22, 2012 Finalize location of next
meeting, agenda, debrief and
group activity
Atkins Pending
March 22, 2012 Piggy back H2O contract for
county/city roads
NDOT – Lisa Schettler Pending
March 22, 2012 Invite Perry Pearson of H2O Atkins included him in Pending
to TIM
distribution list
March 22, 2012 Research clearance times for
30, 60, 90 & explore heavy
wrecker incentive
Coalition to explore Pending
March 22, 2012 Future presentation on F
Street updates
Atkins/NDOT On-going
March 22, 2012 “Construction” section on
website, providing proposed
traffic control plan for F
Street
Atkins/NDOT Pending
March 22, 2012 Lou & Richard presentation
Lou Amell/
July meeting
Re: Communications
Richard Brenner
March 22, 2012 FAST data capabilities and
FAST - Brian Hoeft
Pending
UNLV research
NDOT - UNLV
March 22, 2012 Invite Hoover Dam
Atkins to follow up
Pending
police/Boulder City PD, Nat’l
Parks Dispatch
(Lou has Dispatch contact)
/mm
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