Nebraska GIS Steering Committee
Meeting Minutes - November 7, 2002

Present were (authorized to vote *):

Complete Meeting Agenda

MAJOR MEETING TOPICS

NOTICE OF MEETING : A public notice of the meeting, pursuant to Section 84-1411 R.R. S. 1943, was published in the Lincoln Journal-Star on Thursday, February 28, 2002.

ROLL CALL: Acting Chairperson Duane Stott called the meeting to order at approximately 1:00 p.m. There were nine duly authorized members present therefore a quorum was present to conduct business.

MINUTES: Jim Langtry moved to approve the minutes from the August meeting. Dick Genrich seconded the motion. The motion passed. (see vote #1 on Voting Record sheet)

Geospatial Datasharing: The role of this subcommittee was expanded at the last Steering Committee meeting as a result of discussions about Homeland Security. Larry and Steve Schafer spoke with agencies about their data needs and potential contributions, looking for ways in which to move forward.  Their preliminary findings and draft recommendations have been discussed with members of the Data Sharing Advisory Committee.  A draft report of findings and recommendations was available as a link to the agenda.  Because of the short timeline available to prepare an initial report and recommendations, this initial report was of necessity preliminary in nature and includes a recognition of the need for further research and development.

The draft report noted that there is within both NEMA and HHSS a general appreciation for capabilities of and need for GIS technology to assist in homeland security.  The draft report also noted that while NEMA and HHSS are the lead agencies for most state-level Homeland Security initiatives, at this point in time, neither agency has had much experience with, nor resources available to support GIS implementation.  In the immediate post 9-11 timeframe, NEMA has worked through consultants to put in place some short-term databases needed for identifying critical infrastructure.  The report also noted that the application of GIS technology for Homeland Security applications must inherently be an interagency/intergovernmental effort, as the needed data is maintained by a multitude of agencies at the state, local and federal level.  

As a consequence, the priority recommendations in the preliminary report include the following:

• Identify and prioritize geospatial data needs;
• Additional GIS technical personnel resources available for NEMA and HHSS;
• Need for GIS data integration services and technical assistance;
• Need for Homeland Security Emergency Response Data Team;
• Collection of accurate locational coordinates on key facilities; and
• Insure ready availability of plume analysis capabilities.

Homeland Security Resolution: The Steering Committee was asked to consider endorsement of a resolution that was drafted and endorsed by the National States Geographic Information Councils to formally recognize the importance of GIS and the need for spatial data development. The recognition is particularly important if any of the funding now becoming proposed for Homeland Security is to be available for spatial data development and coordination.

Some questions were raised about some of the specific wording of the document and the question of whether the resolution could be passed with corrections.  Larry noted that the resolution being circulated nationally in its current form.  The Steering Committee could choose to make wording changes, but he didn't know what the folks would do on the national level with a bunch of resolutions which had slight variations in the wording.  From a practical point of view, it would probably be best if the Steering Committee would choose to either endorse it or not in its current form.  If it is endorsed, the Steering Committee will be added to a list of names to be sent to legislators in Washington.  There was a question raised about potential monetary consequences of not endorsing the resolution but Larry was unaware of any.  He was also unaware of any pending GIS/Homeland Security legislation in Washington at this time.  There was discussion about tabling the issue until the next meeting to determine what legislative activity might be occurring.

Cliff Welsh moved to endorse the resolution.  Alan Beierman seconded.  The motion passed.  (see vote #2 on Voting Record sheet)

LAND RECORDS MODERNIZATION:   Larry reported that this project is moving forward slowly.  They plan to initiate a mailing to cities and counties regarding current land records management on the local level.  The final draft of that survey should be complete soon.

Bill Holland will be coming to Nebraska next week to complete some follow up interviews with Steering Committee members and possibly with interested senators.

Senator Wehrbein was suggested as a potential contact as he has traditionally demonstrated a strong interest in technology.  Senator Brahm, the Chair of the Transportation and Communications committee would be another good contact.  John Erickson and Larry Worrell were also suggested as sources of information for interested senators.

WATER RESOURCES:   There was discussion about the national effort to develop watershed boundaries.  As a result, it was decided to reconvene the Water Resources Advisory Committee to explore this issue.  There appeared to be a fair amount of interest in collecting this data among both state and federal agencies.

PERSONNEL CLASSIFICATION:   Dick reported that he contacted Personnel again but they have not yet responded.

I-TEAM:   The Nebraska I-Team, the result of a federal initiative designed to coordinate GIS efforts in the community, met again the date prior to the Steering Committee meeting.  The meeting was not well-attended but there was a good mix of folks and the discussion yielded positive results and information sharing.

REVIEW OF ANNUAL REPORT:   In reviewing the highlights of the draft Annual Report and Nebraska I-Team Strategic Plan, Larry noted that the Steering Committee had directed him at the last meeting to combine the Annual Report and the I-Team Plan into one document.  Larry noted that early in the Annual Report, the I-Team concept, structure and processes was discussed.  As part of outlining the I-Team process, it was noted that coordination would continue through the GIS Steering Committee, with the advisory database committees providing more in depth research as necessary.  It was also noted that there will be semi-annual Nebraska users meetings to provide a forum for the broader user community to be involved in the coordination and priority setting process. 

Larry noted that the Annual Report and I-Team Strategic Plan roughly followed the outline of the 2001 Annual Report and Strategic Plan, addressing each of the seven long-range goals and/or initiatives that the Steering Committee reaffirmed at its last meeting.  Those goals are roughly as follows:

• Priority database development and maintenance;
• GIS and Homeland Security;
• Land record modernization;
• Data sharing and distribution;
• Technical assistance;
• Education/outreach; and
• Strengthen coordination capacity.

Under the priority database development and maintenance goal ten priority database themes were identified and current status and future plans for each were outlined.  These priority databases were: Hydrography, DOQs, Elevation, Cadastral, Ground Transportation, Administrative Boundaries, Geodetic Control, Groundwater, SSURGO soils, and Street Addresses.  Larry called to the Steering Committee's particular attention the fact that consistent with the I-Team Plan concept, efforts were made to assign a primary data steward to each priority database.  In most cases this was fairly obvious, but in some cases (i.e. street addresses) this was not clear.  

Larry reviewed the highlights of the draft Annual Report and I-Team Strategic Plan for each priority database and long-term goal.  Larry also noted that included in the appendix of the report was the recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Facilitating Data Sharing and the recommendations on GIS and Homeland Security.

Steve Schafer moved to approve the draft Annual Report and Nebraska I-Team Strategic Plan.  Scott McIntyre seconded.  The motion passed. (see vote #3 on Voting Record sheet)

FSA REQUEST FOR DOQ/IMAGERY:   Curt Sorenson from the Farm Service Agency said that the FSA flew the southeast corner of the state at 2 meter resolution, geo-referenced, true color, leaf-on for the last couple years.  Next year, FSA is considering flying the entire state.  They would like a better product and feel if they can obtain partners to share in the cost of acquiring the data, that might be possible.  They are willing to negotiate about the parameters of the imagery to fit with other agency needs if necessary.

Larry recommended reconvening the DOQ/DEM Database Advisory Committee to serve as a point of contact to explore other agency's needs and the possibility of partnerships.  The Steering Committee supported an effort to reconvene the DOQ/DEM Database Advisory Committee for this purpose.

GIS/IT COORDINATION :  This was an issue John Erickson requested to have on the agenda, but as he is not able to available, the issue will be tabled until the next meeting.

NACO ANNUAL CONFERENCE :  In the past, the Steering Committee has asked for volunteers to man a booth at the NACO Annual Conference.  Larry asked if the Steering Committee wanted a booth and if any agency would be interested in volunteering.  NDOR offered to help staff the booth.  Larry said he would also be there.

COSPONSORING 2003 GIS/LIS SYMPOSIUM:   The GIS/LIS Association is looking for co-sponsors for the 2003 symposium.  The Steering Committee has traditionally been a co-sponsor and staffed a booth.  Jim Brown said that the Steering Committee should do the same this year.  The cost to do both a cosponsorship and a booth would be $450.  Jim Brown moved for the Steering Committee to support the symposium as a benefactor and to have a booth.  Mark Kuzila seconded.  The motion passed. (see vote #4 on Voting Record sheet)

GIS/LIS ASSOCIATION: .  Gail Knapp, Association President reported that Symposium planning is underway.  Information about the symposium is available at www.gislis.org, with more available as generated.

They are trying to generate more interest in GIS outside the Lincoln/Omaha area by doing workshops in other areas of Nebraska such as Norfolk and Grand Island.

AGENCY REPORTS:   Mike Thompson reported compressed versions of the '99 DOQQs are available via NDNR's website.  The SSURGO project is continuing and nearly complete.  Revised DEMs are nearly complete.  GIS personnel loss is beginning to cause problems with respect to project completion.

Karisa Vlasek introduced herself as the new Geospatial Extension Specialist for Nebraska.  Initially, her primary responsibility will be to work with Native American tribes to map their lands and demonstrate how GIS can benefit land management.  Her second task will be to work with the counties and finally to reach out across the state.

Scott McIntyre said his agency is looking forward to the 2004 mapping effort.  They are interested in acquiring partners for that effort.

The dates and location of the ESRI regional conference in Omaha have been set.  It will be held at the Doubletree.  They are currently working on getting the speakers lined up.

Duane Stott reported that the Panhandle Area Development Association has contacted the counties about doing some cadastral work.

Curt Sorenson said that they are working on finishing digitizing the field boundaries in Nebraska and converting those to GIS confirmed acres.

Larry Zink announced that he will be going to Branson, Missouri for the MAGIC conference.

The meeting was adjourned.

"P"=present, "A"=absent, "+"=voting for, "-"=voting against, "NV"=not voting