KERN RIVER VALLEY FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
Board of Directors and
Stakeholders Meeting
Thursday,
March 20, 2008
Minutes
Those present for the Board Meeting: Lloyd Smith, Ed Royce,
Christine Hancock, Gordon Hancock, Tom Parkin, Patrick Pontes, Rey
Ramirez, Cindy Thill, Margaret Belz and Robin Wyatt-Little.
Lloyd Smith, President, convened meeting at 8:30 AM
Minutes: Ed Royce asked that there be a clear モbreakヤ
in the minutes between the Board meeting and the Stakeholders meeting,
noting times and showing additional persons attending the stakeholders
meeting. Motion to approve by Ed Royce, 2nd ヨ Christine
Hancock. Unanimous approval.
Treasurerメs Report: Christine reports an operating
balance of $2897.07. Grant balances are:
Bodfish
Canyon
,
$5000.00; Kennedy Meadows, $5000.00; Sequoia Crest, $900.00; State
Farm, $203.79 and West & Arkelian Foundation, $395.00.
Donations Received: Kennedy Meadows, $250.00 and an anonymous
donor, $600 specifically designated for another road sign.
Appropriate thank youメs will be sent.
Lloyd presented receipt for the newest road sign. Motion to
approve by Ed Royce, 2nd ヨ
Tom Parkin. Unanimous approval.
Proposed
Mission
and Vision Statements:
The Vision Statement: モTo create a wildland fire safe
community in Kern River Valley.ヤ
Following discussion the approved mission statement is:
モTo provide awareness through education and information
exchange, and to facilitate interagency coordination, fire protection
and fire safety projects within Kern River Valley.ヤ
Committee descriptions were distributed by Lloyd to members via email.
Calendar updates were discussed. Calendar will be distributed
via email following minutes distribution.
BOARD ACTIONS:
Request approval of three invoices submitted by Patrick Pontes, one
each for his work on the Kennedy Meadow, Bodfish and Sequoia Crest
projects. Motion to approve by Ed, 2nd by Robin.
Unanimous approval.
Lloyd Smith suggested that in the future the Board approve automatic
payment of Patrickメs invoices once received and approved by Ed
Royce. Patrick will email invoices to Christine and Ed and snail
mail an official copy to the FSC Kernville P.O. Box. Ed will
email his approval for payment to Christine. So moved by Ed
Royce, 2nd- Robin Wyatt-Little. Unanimous
approval.
Fundraising: Lloyd has submitted a $1300.00 grant request
to Kern Community Foundation for education and road sign project.
He also submitted a proposal to Alta One Credit Union to sponsor a
road sign.
Speakers Bureau: Robin has asked the Board to consider a
tri-fold display board for FSC programs. She will research cost
and availability for next monthメs meeting. Lloyd said he
has ordered one recently and the cost was $318.00. No action
taken.
By Laws: Ed requests suggestions from Board for changes.
Publicity: Robin cited the
Isabella
Highlands
article written by Jim Davis regarding defensible space clearing.
Robin will work on an article regarding all the road signs now in
place. Photos of the sites will be sent to Lloyd to be put on a
disc and sent to Cathy Perfect at the KC Sun. Robin will call
Cathy regarding article format. Cindy suggests this article also
go to
Bakersfield
and
Ridgecrest
.
Robin will also work on モWeekly Fire Safe Tipsヤ for the
paper. Emily will work on the Bodfish Canyon Project article.
Website: Ed reports progress on registering the new URL for our
website. Tom Simon has agreed to be the webmaster for an hourly
rate. Ed estimates that once the site is up and running, the
monthly labor involved would be approximately 1 hour for updates.
Annual registration charge for the URL is $10.00. The new URL
will be krvfiresafecouncil.org. versus the old .com URL. Both
the new and old URLメs can be accessed shortly. Lloyd
suggested the old URL be retained until January 2009 at which time it
will be discontinued. Lloyd explained that .org is the norm for
charitable organizations such as ours.
Ed tells us that there will be automatic pointers to click on that
will take the user to necessary links. Motion by Ed Royce to
approve a re-hosting website cost of $600.00 maximum, 2nd- Tom Parkin. Unanimous
approval.
Education: Lloyd picked up one new sign and took the vandalized
sign in for repair. The repair cost was $400.00 which
BLM
will take care of.
Lloyd ordered another sign which will be paid for by the FSC.
Lloyd suggested we should order another new sign which will number
seven signs total. Ed Royce made the motion that another new
sign be ordered, 2nd ヨ
Robin Wyatt-Little. Unanimous approval.
Robin suggested injecting humor into the Wildfire Awareness message.
She suggested life sized photographed cutouts of local
residents, dressed to simulate the famous painting モAmerican
Gothicヤ with the message モGot Defensible Space?ヤ
She will research cost, feasibility etc.
Robin also suggested the FSC contact ACE and True Value Hardware
regarding their newspaper inserts to see if they would be amenable to
customizing their insert message for the Sierra Nevada communities to
highlight Wildfire Protection techniques. Tools, hoses etc.
might be featured.
Cindy Thill suggested the FSC might look into reviving the モWildfire
Strikes Homeヤ program. To be researched further.
Old Business:
Rey Ramirez has gathered all necessary signatures for the signature
page of the KRV FSC CWPP Binder. Lloyd will combine the
signature page and change pages into the original file. Then we
can print and forward on to State Fire and California FSC.
Lloyd will work on the digital formatting for inclusion on our
website.
Lloyd will not be attending the California FSC Workshop due to distant
locations and weekday scheduling. He has asked however, for
workshop materials.
Lloyd sent a letter to Congressman Kevin McCarthy regarding
restoration of D-M RC&D funding.
ACTION ITEMS FOR BOARD MEMBERS:
Robin: Correct minute(s) format to show attendance for each
meeting.
Robin: Develop publicity articles for local newspapers.
Robin: Research tri-fold display board.
Robin: Research Wildfire Awareness publicity ideas.
Robin: Contact Dan Anglin regarding URL information.
Lloyd: Order new sign.
Lloyd: Gather digital photos of road signs and submit to
KV Sun.
Lloyd: Format digital copy of KRV FSC Binder for website.
Meeting adjourned
9:30
AM
Kern
River
Valley
Fire Safe Council
Stakeholders Meeting
March
20, 2008
Additional attendees:
Nicki Washington, Richard Grove and John Hughes.
Meeting convened:
9:35 AM
by President Lloyd Smith
Introductions were made.
Calendar updates were reviewed. To be emailed following
completed minutes distribution.
Attendance list reviewed for changes. This too will be emailed
following distribution of minutes.
Vision and Mission Statements reviewed. Suggested they might be
utilized on letterhead and posted on the website. Agreed.
Committee Activity Reports:
Grants: Patrick reports there were 229 grant proposals submitted
to the Clearinghouse for funding. We should hear if our projects
were approved by March 26th.
Patrick gave updates on current grant projects and an overview of the
2009 Grant Proposals. Report is on file.
Fundraising: Lloyd reports fundraising efforts for 2008 has
resulted in $1373.00 thus far. The 2007 Honor Roll for
Sustaining Members is now on the website. Letters to Property
Owners Associations regarding sustaining membership renewals were sent
February 16, 2008
.
Lloyd has submitted a $1300.00 grant request to Kern Community
Foundation for education and road signs. He anticipates an
answer sometime in late May. He also submitted a proposal to
Alta One to sponsor a road sign.
Chipper Days: Tom Parkin distributed a sample of the six Chipper
Day Information Packets he developed. These will be given to
those parties who are having a chipper day event for the first
time. Tom has corrected the RSVP website link so that
information is directed to him and/or Margaret. Tom explained
that he visits a chipper day site the day prior to determine where the
brush piles are located and to facilitate any last minute details.
Publicity: Tom Parkin suggested contacting the モDirty
Jobsヤ TV Show to see if theyメd like to film one of our
chipper day events. He will pursue this.
Robin will check with the local radio station about a Wildfire
Awareness Week broadcast, perhaps talking about the upcoming Bodfish
Canyon Project.
Robin will also develop an article on Chipper Days.
Cindy suggests that the FSC might think about incorporating the health
concern of smoke from burning their brush piles as opposed to
scheduling a chipper day. It was suggested that perhaps it would
be a good idea to have an information sheet at all the KC Fire
Stations about Chipper Days for people who are requesting a burn
permit. Unanimous agreement.
Website: Ed explained website re-hosting progress.
Education: Lloyd reports that we now have six available road
signs with the 7th being
made. A thank you to
BLM
for taking care of the $400.00 repair cost for the vandalized sign.
Lloyd announced that an eighth sign would be purchased using the
recent anonymous donation designated for that purpose.
Cindy Thill is developing the rotation calendar for the road signs.
Scott, Cindy and the crew put up the last sign near Borel.
Photos will be taken. It was agreed that an article should be
developed, with photos, showcasing this FSC project. Robin will
coordinate with Cindy on this. Photos will be sent to Lloyd so a
disc can be sent to the newspaper and included on the website.
KCFD: Rey Ramirez reports the crews are training. He also
reports that the environmental compliance work for the Bodfish project
is in progress.
ASV
bids are coming in and there is hope that KCFD will have their
ASV
soon which will be immensely helpful with fuel projects.
Rey reports that the Supervisorメs meeting will be May 6th, 9:00 AM for Wildfire
Awareness Week. This year the presentation will have a
theme: Fire Safe - Your Home, Your Property and Your Valuables.
Rey reports that KCFD is discussing the possibility of hiring a Hazard
Reduction/Fire Prevention Officer. There is also the possibility
that another position should be a Registered Professional Forester who
then can assist with the environmental compliance components for grant
projects.
Rey is researching the possibility of a モflame lengthヤ
demonstration lot for wildfire awareness week. If he finds
a suitable location he will notify Robin for publicity purpose and
radio announcement as to time and location.
Forest
Service: Cindy Thill, reporting for Scott Williams tells the FSC
that the Forest Service priorities for grant funding are the same as
the FSC for this district. Cindy reports there will be a local
controlled burn on
Burma Road
for a 400メ buffer project. There will be mostly
mechanical cutting and some burning. There will also be burning
near Riverkern wildland urban interface as well as some maintenance
burning within the dispersed camping areas. Lloyd mentioned that
KCFD was re-mapping the
Walker
Pass
area and will be installing a Fire Plan in a モlock box.ヤ
RC&D: Bob Robinson said that Prop 50 Coordinator Grant
monies are in progress. RC&D is planning on a Spring Native
Plant Sale. Date TBA.
Bob will revisit the native, fire resistant plant list with Ali
Sheehey.
Property Owners Associations:
Piute Meadows: Richard Grove is developing a Pre Fire Plan for
his area. He will coordinate with Paul Young, President of Piute
Meadows POA regarding a FSC program. No date yet for Havilah
Days.
Squirrel
Valley
:
John Hughes, representing
Squirrel
Valley
,
confirmed their upcoming chipper date of May 3rd. John extended an invitation to
all those interested.
Walker
Pass
:
Lloyd Smith reports they have cleared private property along Hwy 178
in preparation for their March 29th chipper
day.
Kennedy Meadows: Ed Royce reports that
Tulare
County
is now responsible for KM fire protection and the response has been
very positive. Their Volunteer Fire Department now has 12
volunteers. Ed reports that KMPOA mailed out 138 モlicense
to enterヤ letters for their roadside brushing project. Patrick
is preparing the モRequest for Proposalヤ and contract
documents for the project. He will work with Ed on the details.
A June 1st date
is planned to begin the project.
Frontier Trail: Robin reports that response for the Chipper Day
is not very enthusiastic. While there has been a lot of
clearing, most have burned their brush by now. Robin has set a
March 26th deadline
at which point she will determine if the event will be cancelled.
New topics:
Lloyd raised the possibility of getting KC Parks involved again with
our FSC. Agreed that this is a good relationship to rekindle.
Bob LaRue is the current director of KC Parks and Recreation.
Lloyd will establish contact.
Lloyd also wondered if California Fish and Game should be invited to
again participate in the FSC. Greg Kollenborn would be the
contact person. Lloyd will establish contact.
Lloyd is compiling a KRV FSC Chipper Day projects data report that was
stimulated by a request from the San Joaquin Unified Air Pollution
Control District (Peter Biscay.)
Speakerメs Bureau: Cindy Thill suggested that at all FSC
events we should have a sign-in sheet that asks モWhy Are You
Here Tonight?ヤ
We could learn of issues that concern residents and provide some
feedback or resolution for folks. Cindy also suggests that to
refresh our programs we might begin to talk about fire safe
landscaping and the need for regulation address numbers and street
signs.
Tom Parkin inquired if KCFD had a tub grinder for use on chipper
projects? Rey said yes.
ACTION ITEMS:
Lloyd: Chipper Day data report and send
Lloyd: Order new road sign
Robin: Develop articles for newspaper(s) (Chipper, Road Signs)
Robin: Research date for FSC program on local radio
Robin: Update calendar and attendance list
Cindy: Develop road sign rotation calendar
Cindy: Provide Lloyd with next road sign message
Tom: Contact モDirty Jobsヤ TV Show
Bob: Select date for Spring Native Plant Sale
Bob: Work with Ali on native, fire resistant plants list
Meeting adjourned by President Lloyd Smith at 11:30 AM
Next FSC Meeting will be Thursday, April 17th
Board will meet at
8:30
, Stakeholders at
9:30
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