Present were (* authorized to vote):
|
* * * * * * * * * * * * |
Rod Armstrong Mahendra Bansal Randy Behounek Dennis Burling Lash Chaffin Dick Genrich Val Goodman Les Howard Erik Hubl Terry Kubicek Tom Lamberson Jim Langtry John Miyoshi Jon Ogden Boyd Ready Scott E. Richert Steve Schafer Ethel Skinner Duane Stott Stu Sutherland Perry Wigley Larry Worrell Paul Yamamoto Larry K. Zink | State Information Technology Coordinator Natural Resources Commission Sarpy County Surveyor's Office Department of Environmental Quality League of Municipalities Department of Roads Legislative Research Conservation & Survey Division Lancaster County Assessor's Office Natural Resources Commission Department of Environmental Quality Lancaster County Engineer's Office Lower Platte NRD Department of Roads Central NE Public Power Irrigation District Lancaster County Assessor's Office DAS-Intergovernmental Data Services Property Tax Division Scotts Bluff County Surveyor Professional Surveyor's Association Conservation & Survey Division Lancaster County Surveyor Department of Environmental Quality Coordinator, GIS Steering Committee |
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 2/12/98.
ROLL CALL: Vice Chairperson
Lash Chaffin called the meeting to order at approximately 1:10
p.m. and requested a call of the roll. Eight duly authorized
representatives were present at the time of the roll call. Therefore,
a quorum was present to conduct business.
MINUTES: Vice Chair Lash
Chaffin requested approval for the January minutes. Larry Worrell
moved for the minutes of the January 16, 1998 Steering Committee
meeting to be approved as distributed. Dick Genrich seconded
the motion. As no discussion was desired, Larry Zink called roll
and the motion passed. (see vote #1 on the attached Voting Record sheet).
REPORT FROM INTERIM PLANNING COMMITTEE: John Miyoshi reported that the Planning Committee, consisting of himself, Erik Hubl and Dennis Wilson, met on February 5, 1998. John reported that the Planning Committee had developed a proposed set of refined the goals and objectives, based on the rough goals identified by the GIS Steering Committee in its planning retreat in January John asked if he needed to read through the report step by step, or what action the Steering Committee wanted to take. Larry Zink suggested that if the committee was planning on adopting these goals and objectives he thought its was important to at least go through them and briefly discuss them prior to adoption. Lash requested a brief reading. John then presented the following goals and objectives, as refined by the Planning Committee, and proposed for adoption by the Steering Committee as its long-range goals and objectives.
DATABASE GOAL. Actively coordinate the development, maintenance, and distribution of priority statewide digital geospatial databases.
Objectives
LAND RECORDS GOAL. The promotion and facilitation of local government land record modernization and GIS development.
Objectives
EDUCATION GOAL. Strengthen the GIS Education Subcommittee and its overall educational program activities.
Objectives
FINANCIAL GOAL. Increase financial support for the GIS Steering Committee goals and programs.
Objectives
STRUCTURE AND PROCESS GOAL. Evaluate the GIS Steering Committee's operational process and structure.
Objectives
Following the presentation of the proposed goals
and objectives by John Miyoshi, Lash asked if there were any questions
regarding the report either for John or for Erik, who was also
present from the Planning Committee. John raised the question
of what action the Steering Committee wanted to take regarding
the goals and objectives at this time. Larry Zink suggested that
unless there were concerns about the proposed goals and objectives
that the Steering Committee should move to formally adopt them,
since up to this point the Steering Committee had not taken formal
action on the results of its planning session. Les Howard moved
to accept the goals and objectives as proposed by the Planning
Committee and Lash seconded the motion. Lash called for discussion
on the motion. Terry Kubicek wondered if action had already been
taken on the goals at the meeting following the retreat. Larry
noted that the Steering Committee had decided the goals needed
refinement in its January meeting and thus had been given to the
interim planning committee for that purpose.
Erik Hubl suggested that if people felt the need,
the motion could be tabled until a larger body of the Steering
Committee was present. John Miyoshi pointed out that copies
of the proposed goals and objectives had been sent out before
the meeting in an attempt to speed the process. Terry moved to
table the motion. Lash asked if there was a second to Terry's
motion and there being none, it died for lack of a second. Returning
to the motion to approve the proposed goals and objectives, further
discussion continued.
It was suggested that acceptance of the goals and
objectives is not as critical as action. For the Steering Committee
to be effective, it needs to take action rather than remain focused
on refining goals. John Miyoshi agreed, stating that the critical
early piece is the structure and process goal. He would like
to have a committee appointed to begin immediately to work on
that goal. Larry Zink suggested that before the Steering Committee
adopted the proposed goals and objectives, it was important to
note that the Planning Committee discussed how they would require
the Steering Committee to commit to some serious committee organizational
work and following through. Lash submitted that the Steering
Committee as a whole needed to think more seriously about structure
and process goals. He suggested the executive committee in the
next two meetings work to figure out who should be in charge of
it. John reiterated that a subcommittee was called for and indicated
three people work well together as a group. Lash called for any
further discussion then asked Larry to call the role to vote on
the motion to adopt the goals and objectives as refined by the
Interim Planning Committee. The motion passed (see vote #2 on the attached Voting Record sheet).
Lash asked if there was any further discussion on
the subject. John Miyoshi proposed that a subcommittee be selected
to work on the structure and process goal, whether it was the
executive committee or a special committee. He further stated
that Erik Hubl had come up with a list of potential committees
that might be called for to realize the goals and objectives.
Lash called for any volunteers for the operational process and
structure subcommittee. No volunteers came forward, hence Lash
moved that the executive committee temporarily fill that role
until someone volunteered and that they further had the authority
to appoint a permanent subcommittee. John wanted to know who
is on the executive committee at present. Lash replied Jim Brown,
Dayle Williamson, Lash Chaffin, Dennis Burling, and Jon Ogden.
John mentioned that the executive committee might have to volunteer
someone. The motion was seconded by Rod Armstrong and Larry Zink
called the roll. The motion did not pass, receiving only seven
of required eight votes (see vote #3 on the attached Voting Record sheet). John Miyoshi observed
that the chairman then had the authority to appoint a committee.
Lash stated that he would have a committee appointed by the next
meeting.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS FOR MULTI-PURPOSE
LAND INFORMATION SYSTEMS: Erik Hubl reported
that no virtually no edits had been suggested on the first two
draft sections. He stated he would like to take this opportunity
to ask if there were any comments. He also commented that the
draft sections were now available via the Internet for anyone
who had a web browser and was also available in a word '95 format
for download. He continued by mentioning that the committee was
hard at work on the next section, base mapping. The committee
had invited Brian Dunnigan, Natural Resource Commission, to help
write the base map section, focusing on the details of scale and
accuracy. The committee also completed a draft copy of a glossary
of terms, and has started working on the next section, "Cadastral
Data". Erik then invited questions. Larry Zink mentioned
that he and Steve Schafer had been discussing ways of assisting
the advisory committee in moving ahead with their work, particularly
because of the interest of the Property Tax Division and the possibility
of having some regulations by the end of the year. The idea they
have been exploring is to have a graduate student work with them.
No job description has been written yet, but it does seem feasible
and Larry believes they have a possible avenue of funding. Larry
asked for any concerns, suggestions or leads on good graduate
students. John Miyoshi inquired whether the job would be advertised
via the Internet. Larry had not thought about doing so, planning
to utilize the University of Nebraska resources.
PLSS PILOT PROJECT UPDATE:
Larry Zink gave the report in the absence of Jim Brown. Jim
had asked Larry to follow up and contact people in his absence,
which Larry had recently completed. Adams County has input all
the original survey information. They have been using the state
surveyors' GPS equipment primarily but have also been taking advantage
of vendor demonstrations. They have collected almost all their
GPS control data, far beyond the original minimum of two corners
per township. After Adams County, the performance tapers off.
Hall County has about two thirds of their original survey data
input. Hall County already had their GPS control in place from
other projects they had done. Larry estimated Dawson County was
about halfway finished and Merrick County has barely begun. Larry
expects at least three counties to finish the project by the end
of May and have the data ready for conversion into ArcInfo, but
has doubts about Merrick County finishing. Larry Zink continued
by stating that if this project is going to spread statewide,
then the Steering Committee should be aware that someone needs
to be available to provide follow up to ensure progress. This
will be even more critical in the counties that do not have a
full time surveyor.
TECHNOLOGY COORDINATION INITIATIVE AND GIS:
Lash requested an update on this legislative initiative from Rod
Armstrong. Rod stated that initiative is proceeding on two tracks,
one is the legislation, and the other is the structures that were
put in place by executive order. The hearing for the bill was
last Wednesday and Rod felt it went very well. There were a couple
of opponents, but Rod did not feel they were particularly well
informed. By and large, support was very strong. The recommendations
adopted by the Steering Committee along with a cover letter by
Lash were presented and were included in the amendments that Sen.
Hillman proposed for the bill. The appropriations committee will
take up the issue in executive session next Monday and Senator
Hillman will advocate for adding the Steering Committee recommendations
into the proposal. Funding for the Steering Committee operations
may not be in appropriations bill which is attached to LB 924.
That may be considered as part of the larger budget bill, but
Senator Hillman does intend to proceed with it. Rod believes
that the prospects of something passing are good, but the real
question is to what extent things will be retained in the bill.
He finished by saying that everything the committee recommended
is now in front of the appropriations committee. The question
of what the overall price tag of the initiative is was raised.
Rod responded that it was just under $3 million for the first
year.
The information technology commission that was set
up by executive order has met once and will meet again on March
20. At this point they are mainly updating work that has been
previously done. One issue they are discussing is that the DAS
division communications has been working with the Department of
Roads on a proposal for a fiber trunk down the interstate right
of way.
There are three councils in the proposed legislation,
the Information Resources Cabinet which is the government council
will be meeting again a week from Monday. Their principal focus
currently is looking at state services or products for which a
transaction takes place. For example, you pay to get a birth
certificate, you cannot get it online at this point. They are
trying to select a few 'quick wins' and to work with the state
records board to get those things moving forward. Rod anticipates
that before the year is out there will be a request for a presentation
from the GIS Steering Committee as to what they have been doing
with the IRC because that is the link.
The Education Council has been formed but has not
met yet. They plan to meet in the beginning of March.
The Community Council has met once. They will be
meeting again a week from Friday.
John Miyoshi asked if there had been a lot of questions
from the appropriations committee to Senator Hillman. Rod said
there had not been a lot of questions, but he anticipated that
there would be once people delved deeper into the proposal. He
has not met anyone who has not liked the concept put forward,
but he expects that once things get going there will be more questions.
Larry Zink wondered if it would be functional for the goals and
objectives adopted by the Steering Committee to be forwarded to
the government council. Rod agreed that would be a good idea.
FRAMEWORK DATA SURVEY:
Larry Zink stated that due to the departure of the department
secretary, the survey has been not yet been sent out. He is still
hoping to mail out the surveys to the various counties and state
agencies that are doing any kind of GIS or geospatial work this
month. Also, some selected federal groups, all the NRD's, the
telephone company, gas companies, irrigation districts who seem
to be doing GIS work will receive the survey. The intent is to
find out what they are doing relative to core framework database
development. The idea ultimately is to coordinate standards
and figure out how to integrate the information.
EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS: Les Howard reported that Jim had not asked him to pass anything along regarding the GIS newsletter. Larry Zink said that Jim Merchant was in the process of putting another newsletter together. Articles received yesterday would be timely. Jon Ogden mentioned that if Jim Merchant was planning on having Roads print the newsletter then they needed to expect a week lead-time in getting the newsletter out.
Regarding the Nebraska GIS symposium for 1999, Larry
Zink reported that Jim Merchant contacted the Cornhusker Hotel.
They identified two possible dates available; April 26-28 or
May 11-13. Based on that information, Larry Zink indicated that
Jim has put together a rough symposium schedule for discussion.
Also, Larry Worrell and Jim Brown have had preliminary discussions
with the Professional Surveyors Association (PSAN) regarding their
interests. Larry Worrell said that PSAN would co-sponsor the
symposium and financially underwrite it. Any of the dates would
be all right with them, but Larry Worrell recommended the May
date. Larry Zink concluded that the most critical action to be
taken now was to get back to the Cornhusker to reserve a date.
Larry Zink noted that previously, an ad hoc committee was formed
to take charge of the symposium and it was never considered an
actual subcommittee of the Steering Committee Larry Zink indicated
that this structure allowed it to move faster than a formal subcommittee
of the Steering Committee. Larry Zink wanted to know if the Steering
Committee was interested in staying with that format and if there
was a preference on the date. He also welcomed any comments or
discussion regarding Jim's proposal. Lash suggested that unless
there was a strong feeling regarding the dates, Jim Merchant and
Larry Worrell decide on the dates as they did last time. Larry
Zink asked if the Steering Committee was comfortable with the
loose structure suggested by Lash. He further requested a commitment
of energy and interest into making the symposium happen. Lash
concluded that due to a lack of objections, Larry Worrell and
Jim Merchant would be in charge of contacting the Cornhusker again.
Larry Zink asked if the lack of objections also indicated a willingness
to cosponsor the event, as it would likely take a fair amount
of his time. John Miyoshi stated his belief that was understood.
INTERNET PRESENCE: Larry
Zink explained that there has been a fair amount of urging from
certain areas to make the minutes, agendas, reports, etc. available
through the internet. He has put some time the past month into
doing that as a part of the developing an Intergovernmental Data
Service Division's web presence. It is not fully integrated into
the official GIS Steering Committee's web page hosted by CSD,
but that is planned. Larry Zink has created a coordinators page
which will provide a means for ongoing links to minutes, agendas,
reports etc. from the GIS Steering Committee Home Page. He asked
if there were any concerns about placing information up on the
Internet and if there was a felt need to have draft documents
cleared through the GIS Steering Committee prior to putting them
up on the Internet.
Larry also requested feedback regarding the idea
reducing paper mailings of minutes and agendas by doing only one
mailing per meeting. Someone else suggested the possibility of
totally eliminating the paper mailings. Rod Armstrong said that
they had virtually eliminated mailings in the IRC. The only paper
mailed was to people without Internet access. He brings a few
extra copies of the minutes and agenda to the meetings. John
Miyoshi suggested that perhaps anyone who wanted to continue to
receive documents in a hard copy format should contact Larry Zink.
There was positive feedback regarding that idea. John Miyoshi
added that an attachment to the email notification containing
the minutes or agenda might be a good idea. Another suggestion
was to email the link. Larry Zink said that there were currently
over one hundred people who were on the GIS minutes mailing list.
He hoped that this might be a way to pare down the list by making
it available online. Lash asked if there was a legal problem with
there being no paper copies. Duane said it was just different.
John Miyoshi pointed out that there was a hard copy available.
Lash recalled that there was an executive order to reduce mailings.
John Miyoshi suggested that Larry Zink send out a questionnaire
with the next mailing of the minutes to get email addresses for
those who do not wish to receive further paper copies. Larry
welcomed any suggestions regarding additions to the report page.
Lash requested that future meeting dates be listed on the web
page.
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS UPDATES AND AGENCY GIS ACTIVITIES:
Digital Raster Graphics. Perry Wigley, CSD, began
by explaining that the Conservation and Survey Division has been
the state designated ESIC (Earth Science Information Center) for
many years. As such, they do things like sell topographical
maps, many of the U.S. geological survey map products, historical
maps, etc. In the October newsletter, it was noted that the Digital
Raster Graphics (DRGs) were completed for Nebraska. These are
basically scans of the USGS topographic maps and you can buy them
from the USGS. The Conservation and Survey Division has an agreement
with the USGS to make the DRGs available for little or no fee.
They will ultimately be available on their web site or on disk
and can be acquired for the cost of materials. Les Howard stated
that they hope to have all the DRG's up within the next two or
three weeks. The Conservation and Survey Division will be adding
other products in the coming months. The USGS wants these products
to get out and was eager to participate with the CSD in providing
the maps free.
DOQ Status Report Terry
Kubicek handed out copies of the status of DOQ's. He stated that
they continued on schedule and underbudget, pushing into the second
phase. The status is available on the NRC homepage. The NRC
is engaged in a co-venture with the CSD and NRCS to compile/recompile
soils of the state, and Terry passed around a map detailing the
current soil survey digitizing status. During the first year,
there were approximately 11 counties completed. By the end of
the second year, there should be an additional 14 counties. Erik
Hubl raised a question as to the status of the Lancaster County
soils data. Terry was unsure. He stated there were too many
variables to tell. He was hoping to have it within the next 30-45
days. Terry mentioned that they are starting to get requests from
farmers and ranchers for DOQ maps. Also, requests from Coop's
are coming in. The Coop's are calling for information to pass
to their crop consultants to track spraying, irrigation, crop
yields. Independent crop consulting companies are asking for data
relevant to multi-county areas mostly in Central Nebraska, a heavily
irrigated area. John Miyoshi asked if the NRC was charging anything
for their data. Terry said they charge only for the CD Roms if
they have to buy them.
OTHER BUSINESS: Larry
Zink reported that he had conveyed to Darrell the lack of interest
here in funding the NAPP flights. Darrell mentioned that the
people he had corresponded with regarding the flights wanted to
know if there was any interest in the time that these flights
were done. The traditional time that these flights are flown
is mid February through April. There is a feeling that in Nebraska,
particularly in the West, it is possible to do the flights in
late summer, due to a lack of leaf cover. No interest was expressed
in having the flights done in late summer.
Larry Zink reported that at the previous meeting,
he had handed out an outline of the National Association of Public
Administration report on Federal Geographic Information Coordination
and their recommendations for revisions. Larry noted that the
FGDC has expressed its interest in feedback from the states.
Larry Zink raised the question of whether the Steering Committee
was interested and/or was willing to take the time to respond.
Larry Zink clarified that they were looking at various federal
agencies that have roles in geographic information, some possible
consolidation, whether the FGDC, a federal body, should be expanded
into a national coordinating body in order to involve the states,
local governments and private industry. The study was funded
by four federal agencies and given to the National Association
of Public Administration to conduct. Larry suggested that some
of the proposed organizational restructuring would be more inclusive
of the states, local and private sectors. Larry concluded from
the discussion that there was little or no interest in the Steering
Committee taking the time to review the recommends and giving
any feedback, and that therefore it should not be placed on the
March agenda.
NEXT MEETING:The next meeting is March 12, 1998, there will be a GIS Forum that day, featuring Lincoln/Lancaster County GIS prior to the Steering Committee meeting.
Vote Tallies for 2/19/98 GIS Str. Cmte. Meeting |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| . | call |
#1 |
& Obj. #2 |
Struct/Proc #3 |
#4 |
#6 |
#7 |
#8 |
| DAS - Rod Armstrong . | A/P | . | + | + | . | . | . | . |
| DEQ - Tom Lamberson Dennis Burling |
P | + | + | + | . | . | . | . |
| CSD - Perry Wigley Les Howard |
P | + | + | NV | . | . | . | . |
| NRC - Dayle Williamson Terry Kubicek | P | + | NV | NV | . | . | . | . |
| PRO - Yvonne Norton- . |
A | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| DOR - Dick Genrich Jon Ogden |
P | + | + | + | . | . | . | . |
| St.Surv - Jim Brown . |
A | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| LRD - Val Goodman . |
A/P | . | + | NV | . | . | . | . |
| John Miyoshi . |
P | + | + | + | . | . | . | . |
| Blaine Dinwiddie . |
A | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| Cliff Welsh . |
A | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| Larry Worrell Jim Langtry |
P | + | + | + | . | . | . | . |
| Lash Chaffin . |
P | + | + | + | . | . | . | . |
| Duane Stott . |
P | + | + | + | . | . | . | . |
| Dennis Wilson . |
A | . | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| TOTALS |
8-P / 10-P | 8 + | 9 + 1 NV |
7 + 3 NV |
. | . | . | . |
The next meeting will be Thursday, March 12, 1998 at 1:00 pm