Present were (authorized to vote *):

Complete Meeting Agenda

MAJOR MEETING TOPICS

1. 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, May 8, 2003.
   
   
2. ROLL CALL: Chairperson Jim Brown called the meeting to order at approximately 1:40 PM. No quorum was present to do business. The decision was made to wait for to address items in need of a vote until a quorum is reached.
   
   
3. APPROVAL OF 3/6/03 MINUTES: There were no additions or corrections to the minutes. Duane Stott moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Jim Merchant seconded. The motion passed. (see vote #1 on Voting Record sheet)
   
   
4. WATERSHED BOUNDARY DATABASE (WBD) WORKING GROUP UPDATE: A number of agencies met for the purpose of defining what to do with this initiative to further define watershed boundaries. The NRCS is the driving force behind the initiative and while state agencies are not feeling a great push toward developing it, they do want to be involved if it is to be developed. One of the main questions is whether funding will be made available through the NRCS. If there is none, it is highly likely that it will not move forward.
   
   
5. NEBRASKA I-TEAM MEETING: Approximately 35 people attended the morning meeting to share information about database development efforts. The FSA-USDA is proceeding with their1 meter, leaf on color imagery, statewide DOQ development effort. Fish and Wildlife Service is doing their own flying of the Platte River though there was not a clear indication of what the quality/resolution of that will be. NPPD has completed their flight over Aurora and is now asking other cities if they are interested in doing the same. The City of Omaha and several regional partners are in the process of develop a regional consortium for new and enhanced DOQs for the Douglas, Sarpy County area and final decisions have yet to be made on DEM/DOQ resolution.
   
   The afternoon session was devoted to an update on the Land Records Modernization study provided by Bill Holland.  Several local government folks were in attendance and provided some good feedback.
   
   
6. GIS AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND BIOTERRORISM UPDATE: Chad Boshart from CALMIT reported that CAL MIT has contracted with NEMA and HHSS and are are trying to put together some base layers to provide support function. If there are any base layers available that would pertain to NEMA please contact CALMIT. Chris Chalmers has been hired to work with HHS. Also, the CALMIT website mapserver is available.
   
   Steve Fredrickson indicated he was anxious to have Chris join the team on Monday. HHSS plans to synch with NEMA in areas of shared responsibility and data and hope to make good progress. Evaluation will begin on Monday and training issues will be addressed at that time. In addition, there needs to be more discussion about how to integrate non-sensitive data with the Clearinghouse.
   
   
7. UPDATE ON STATUS OF LAND RECORD MODERNIZATION STUDY: Bill Holland, GeoAnalytics principal, provided an update on the land records modernization study, linked above. Bill provide an overview of the research so far and their draft recommendations, and asked the Steering Committee members for their feedback.  Larry Zink noted that this is the most expensive and complex undertaking this committee has ever pursued and may turn out to be the most important. In order for the project to succeed, Larry will be asking for input in the coming days on the concepts and ideas included in the draft report. Anyone with questions or concerns about the direction this project is taking, please provide input to make it a project that everyone can support.
   
   
8. STREET CENTERLINE/ADDRESS DATABASE - PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

• Public Service Commission - Kara
  The Public Service Commission in conjunction with the counties has begun a long term project to update the E911 system. Counties interested in enhanced E911 services need only express that interest in order to be eligible for financial assistance from the PSC.
  
  Eight counties have requested or are in the process of going into Phase I, Phase I being to have the caller’s phone number provided to an E911 system. 30 counties have implemented Phase I and are beginning the process of moving to Phase II. Phase II will deliver the call back number and provide the location of a cell tower within a certain number of feet. In order to proceed with Phase II, the counties need the ability to display locational information on a GIS. To facilitate this process, the PSC issued an RFI to obtain information about software designed to display longitude and latitude and a separate RFI for the equipment. They are also looking into the legal issues of providing access to the geospatial data to outside entities such as the GIS Steering Committee because they will be purchasing data that will not belong to them.
  
  There are a lot of addressing issues to be addressed in terms of consistency for this project to succeed, such as counties or individuals that made up their own addresses.
  
  
• Street Centerline-Address Advisory Committee
  The issue of street centerlines was raised a year ago but at that time there was no agency designated to handle it. Roads has acquired the local street centerlines but there is a great deal left to do. Roads, NEMA, Bioterrorism, PSC, Census, NACO, and the phone companies could logically develop a partnership to leverage funds for getting this work complete. Census has expressed interest in helping to develop this database but does not have the ability to provide money. They would however be capable of providing in kind work. The USGS might also be able to participate in this project. To facilitate these efforts, Steve Schafer offered to resurrect the database advisory committee. While there is no clear lead agency there are enough separately occurring initiatives to make collaboration worthwhile.
  
  The decision was made for the committee to meet again to discuss these issues.
  
  

9. COORDINATING GEOSPATIAL DATA SHARING INITIATIVES (Nebraska Clearinghouse - NDNR; America View - CSD; National Map; USGS Mapping Projects Office; and Homeland Security Initiatives): The conclusion during the last discussion of this issue was that the players needed to get together. Due to the timing of the symposium, that has not happened yet. The Advisory Committee recommended that DNR take the lead with collaborative assistance from the University. DNR is in the process of undergoing an internal review to determine the feasibility of accepting this role.
   
   The Committee presented a summary of findings to the DNR administration and a meeting was held Monday morning. There has been no direction as yet because DNR is waiting until the budget decisions have been made before making any decisions. In addition, Roger wanted to meet with the other agency directors to get their approval on the Clearinghouse. DNR is more than willing to devote the time necessary but before making that commitment, they want to ensure that the participating agency directors are behind this initiative. It may become necessary to request funding to hire a staff person to maintain the clearinghouse and backing from the agencies will provide them with a stronger case to take to the Legislature to request money. The state agency survey came back with 132 datasets mainly residing at DNR and CSD. Regular updates of existing databases would incur the greatest expense. CSD is partnering with CALMIT to do America View. The USGS is involved in creating a National Map as well as opening a USGS Mapping Office. All these initiatives have a lot in common and need to be coordinated but it will take several people to maintain this kind of effort.
   
   The suggestion was made to reevaluate the Steering Committee’s position on Clearinghouse because the concept has evolved so much.
   
   If Nebraska intends to cooperate with USGS and the National Map effort something needs to be done to move forward. The USGS does have seed money available for architecture expenses, equipment etc. to help get this program off the ground. The Advisory Committee needs to meet again to look into statute changes.
   
   Ray from the USGS said that they are filling positions in Arkansas and Kansas. Nebraska will be addressed next year. If Nebraska plans to work on the National Map then it will make sense to establish a USGS Mapping Projects Office here.
   
   It was noted that Bioterrorism and Homeland Security efforts need to be involved in these efforts to obtain access to this data.
   
   

10. ELECTION OF GIS STEERING COMMITTEE OFFICERS:
    Chair - John Miyoshi nominated Jim Brown for a second term. Paul Yamamoto seconded. Steve Frederick moved to accept Jim Brown as Chairperson by unanimous ballot. Jim Merchant seconded the motion. The motion passed. (see vote #2 on Voting Record sheet)
    Vice Chair - John Miyoshi nominated Duane Stott for a second term. Larry Worrell seconded. The motion passed. (see vote #3 on Voting Record sheet)
    
    
11. ADOPTION OF GIS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE FOR NEXT 12 MONTHS: There was a problem with the schedule at the last meeting. Those errors have been corrected. The July 9 meeting will be a Wednesday. One additional note for the future is to keep in mind when the San Diego ESRI conference is held. This year it will be July 6-12.
    
    No other issues were expressed.
    
    
12. NEBRASKA GIS/LIS ASSOCIATION: 2003 Nebraska GIS Symposium
    Attendance was down about 10% this year because of the economy and the fact that there will be another conference in the fall but overall it was a successful conference. Duane was recognized with the excellence in GIS award. Today is the last day to introduce study resolutions to the Legislature.
    
    
13. MID-WEST ARC-USER GROUP CONFERENCE, OMAHA, SEPTEMTBER 22-24, 2003 – BOOTH RENTAL?
    Booth registration for the regional ArcUser conference is $400. Money available to pay the fee from the last symposium the Steering Committee hosted. Jim Brown recommended having a booth. John Miyoshi moved to spend up to $600 for a booth at the Mid-West ArcUser Group conference, leaving the decision for the amount up to the Chair and Larry Zink. Larry Worrell seconded. The motion passed. (see vote #4 on Voting Record sheet)
    
    
14. REPORT ON GIS ACTIVITIES FROM MEMBER AGENCIES:
    Jim Merchant reported that they have hired a new employee, Chris Boshart to work with NEMA. The Director and assistant director of NEMA have given the counties lists of critical information NEMA needs and asked them to begin developing it.
    
    Kim Menke from DNR reported that they have received three blocks of aerial triangulation from the USGS. The USGS does not currently have the resources available to get the triangulation done very quickly. Soil surveys are mostly complete. Josh is now working on the Big Blue area for the National Hydrographic Database. The next basin targeted is the Republican River but the National Parks Service has expressed some interest in doing the Niobrara area. Both projects would be similar but there is the potential for funding from the NPS to do the Niobrara. Paul said he would have to check with his agency to make sure it would be okay to change the project destination
    
    Paul Yamamoto reported that they have provided quite a bit of information to NEMA and they are setting up a project to facilitate that action.
    
    Bob Martin clarified that Cathy Lang is probably not presenting anything to the Legislature at this time.
    
    John Miyoshi the NRDs have traditionally put on geo-caching demonstrations for kids, involving hiding candy bars and having the kids find them. There were more requests this year than ever before for that program.
    
    Steve Frederick is excited to have Chris Chalmers coming on board. HIPAA has gone into effect and that has been a big concern. They appreciate all the base information agencies have shared to date and welcome any additional data that may be available.
    
    Sonja Sebree reported that the USGS is beginning a new water quality assessment project in Nebraska. The NAWQA program will be a primary source for long-term, nationwide information on the quality of water across the country.
    
    Ed Kelley reported that Dick Genrich has been working on web site to put up data on construction materials and program management. He will be doing a demonstration for the agency head. So far he has received good feedback and has been encouraged to move it farther up the line. There has been some discussion about adding in other features as it goes up.
    
    Duane Stott reported that Arc IMS is working internally now in Scotts Bluff County. Erik Hubl’s suggestion to try NT rather than Unix fixed the problem.
    
    
15. OTHER BUSINESS: The next meeting will be on Wednesday, July 9. The meeting was adjourned.

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