Council directs outreach and mockups for new siren sites, approves limited 'safe' unit soft launch

Rolling Hills Estates — The City Council on June 22 accepted a staff update on the outdoor warning siren program and directed staff to proceed with community outreach, temporary mockups and a brief soft launch of indoor "safe" units.

Samantha Crew, the management analyst and emergency preparedness coordinator, told the council HQE's analysis recommends two additional 50‑foot sirens — one at Saddleback Road near the Davidson Trail Head (near addresses 86, 88 and 77 Saddleback) and one at Portuguese Bend near the Ranchero turnaround (near lot 54 Portuguese Bend Road) — to fill coverage gaps identified in acoustical testing. Crew said the recently completed fourth siren (Upper Blackwater) cannot be fully advanced until the original permit closeout with county building and safety is complete.

"Staff is simply seeking guidance on whether to proceed with community outreach and mockup demonstrations for two potential future siren locations," Crew said.

Why it matters: Staff said lowering pole height from 50 to 30 feet would materially reduce coverage and increase sound levels for nearby homes; HQE therefore recommends 50‑foot poles to maximize balanced citywide coverage. Staff proposed temporary "story pole" mockups at the two sites to let residents and council members judge visual and acoustic impacts before any permanent installation.

Safe units and mesh network: Staff reported that indoor "safe" units communicate via a mesh network and with city gateways at siren poles. Staff recommended a limited soft launch to test ordering, fulfillment, activation, and user experience before opening the program to all residents; several council members urged a short, concentrated pilot so enough units will be in a small area to validate mesh behavior.

Public input: Residents from Chesterfield area and other neighborhoods voiced concerns about visual impacts and noise (especially at the Chesterfield location) and asked for clear dates and more outreach. Dina Swanson Zeleki, a Chesterfield resident, said a siren pole on her corner would be “an atrocious imposition” and asked the city to demonstrate mockups before making a permanent decision. Other residents supported better coverage for areas with poor cell service and encouraged careful outreach and brief pilot testing.

Council action: The council moved to receive and file the update, directed staff to conduct mockups and outreach at Saddleback and Portuguese Bend, asked staff to include tentative dates on future notices and to keep the soft launch short, and asked staff to provide property‑ownership/address details for the proposed pole locations. The motion passed.

Next step: Staff will coordinate temporary pole mockups and field visits, perform outreach to nearby residents and associations, and return with a summary of community feedback, utility viability results and recommended next steps.