5th Annual Virginia Interoperable Communications Conference

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5th Annual Virginia Interoperable Communications
Conference
September 30-October 1, 2008 Norfolk, VA
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• Creating Effective Governance Structures
• An overview of challenges faced when creating
  governance and how to overcome those challenges
• October 1, 2008
• 1115am
• Moderator Constance McGeorge, Commonwealth
  Interoperability Coordinator
• Panelists Tony Macri, Department of Homeland
  Security
• Pokey Harris, Virginia Information Technologies
  Agency
• Susan Adams, Charlotte County
• Harry Yeomans, City of Norfolk

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Who Are The Potential PARTNERS?
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RIST (Regional Interoperability Solutions Team)

• Diverse representation from County Government,
  Towns, Board of Supervisors, Law Enforcement,
  E-911 Coordinator, Emergency Services, and VITA.

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Desire to Proceed vs. Obstacles

• Notified Planning District Commission for
  assistance in the Grant writing. (Not enough
  lead time given).
• Money (Continued discussions with all counties
  and commitment was restricted to a week. Support
  from local government and willingness to commit
  to 20 In-Kind match during a time of budget
  cuts).
• Time - Board Resolutions of Support to be
  submitted with grant application.
• Rural project vs Urban project
• Team discussions identified that all localities
  had their personal interests of equipment needs
  and own solutions as to how to create a regional
  Interoperable environment. Initially, each
  locality brought their vendor on board so we
  could identify the equipment inventory of each
  locality. Each one of them offered their opinion
  as to how we could reach our ultimate goal in the
  cheapest way for the localities that they served.
  (Three different vendors with three different
  opinions. NIGHTMARE)

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Local Participation

• VITA conducted a free Radio System Analysis
  upon request from Counties. (2 areas identified
  Interoperability vs. 2013 Narrow banding
  Compliance).
• Local Subcommittees (Equipment Needs)
• Determine Procurement Practices
• Media Exposure
• Establish method to Report In-Kind
• Keep lines of communication OPEN with the
• defined PARTNERS
• Keep in mind the purpose of the Grant
• And its ultimate goal
• To meet critical and regional communication
  challenges facing its emergency responders during
  times of a catastrophic event .

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Organization of Structure

• Regional Visionary Outlook
• Local and Regional Support
• Agency or Department Commitment
• Foresight to include the key Players
• Patience and Willingness to Work
• Set a goal and achieve it!
• Dont stop...keep working toward future
  projectsstay married!

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Lets Say YesNo is Not an Option

• Yes, each state is unique.
• But Virginia has become leader.
• SIEC/CICO
• WSB/9-1-1
• Yes Virginia, there is still part of the state
  south of Roanoke...and on the Southside, and in
  Central Virginia, and
• Rural Areas Need to Collaborate
• Use Urban Areas as Examples
• And yes, each region is unique.
• Yes, the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
• Make Voice Heard
• Projects and Programs are Practitioner and
  Locally Driven
• Keep Pushing for a Place at the Table
• Yes, no is an opportunity to do it again.
• Dont Disband When First Objective is Not
  Fruitful
• - Apply, Re-Apply, Re-Re-Apply

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How Do We Start

• There is no best practice structure due to
  individuality.
• Examples and Models
• Dont Reinvent the Wheel
• Build Upon Established Structures
• What Successful/Proven Groups Exist
• Focus Groups A Great Starting Point

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How Do We Start

• Strategic Planning for Statewide Interoperability
  April 2004

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How Do We Start

• 6 Focus Group Sessions
• Capture Perspective on State of Interoperability
  in Virginia
• Formal and Informal Leaders
• Police, Fire, Rescue, Public Health, Local and
  State Agencies

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How Do We Start

• Established Regions/Groups
• DHS, RPAC-I, VSP, VITA-911, and Others

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Next Steps and Results

• Strategic Planning
• Needs vs. Wants
• Realistic Expectations
• Vision
• Locality
• Region
• Multi Region
• State
• Neighboring States
• Some Old Rules of Thumb
• Not What You Know, But Who You Know
• Movers and Shakers
• No Stupid Questions
• Hard Work Pays Off
• R4WG PSIC Grant
• 3.7M

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Hampton Roads Regional Cooperation

• Regional Governance/Decision Making
• Forum for communication and interoperability
  planning
• Forum to leverage limited resources
• Forum to reach regional consensus regarding
  communications priorities
• Forum to present regional consensus to state and
  federal agencies
• Several groups developed to address these issues
  over the years. Groups includeHampton Roads
  Trunked Users Group, ORION Steering Committee
• Port Security Grant awarded the Hampton Roads
  Planning District affected all 16 jurisdictions
  in Hampton Roads Region.
• New Governance Model requiredresulted in
  creation and adoption by the CAOs fo the Hampton
  Roads Interoperable Communications Advisory
  Committee (HRICAC).

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HRICAC Governance Chart

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Successes of Regional Cooperation

• Awarded 6M Port Security Grant in 2004
• Awarded 2 6M COPS Technology Grants
• Allocated 3.6M of FY-2007 UASI Grant Award to
  support interoperable communications
• Awarded grant funding to establish Strategic
  Radio Cache
• Awarded PSIC grant funding to support purchase of
  interoperability switches for every jurisdiction
• FY-2008 UASI award not yet determined, but
  funding is coming

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Challenges

• Time to attend meetings and work on initiatives
• Think regionally and for the good of all
• Short time frame between issuance of grant
  guidelines and date Investment Justifications are
  due. Requires regional discussion and support
• Administrative support
• Greater involvement of user groups
• Understanding and communicating role and linkages
  in State initiatives

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Next Steps

• Review and refine Governance Structure
• Defining HRICACs role in the newly formed RPAC-I
• Improve participation of user groups
• Gap Analysis and Strategic Planning
• Have Fun!!!!!

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Final Thoughts

• We all have to play in the same sandbox.

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and

• THINK PURPLE!!!

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Questions?
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5th Annual Virginia Interoperable Communications
Conference
September 30-October 1, 2008 Norfolk, VA