KERN RIVER VALLEY FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
General Meeting
October 20, 2005
Those present: Marcine Hughes, Cindy Thill, Kelly Russell, Sally
Peterson, Ed Royce, Delores Walmer, Bettie Minster, Emily Diggles,
Harry Love, Sharon Rooney, Jim Bauer,
Dave Bacalis, Penny Lampkins, Ken Stevens, Matt Pontes, Debbie
Santiago, Robert Robinson, Robin Wyatt-Little.
Marcine Hughes, President convened the meeting at 8:30 AM.
Introductions were made.
Sally Peterson and Kelly Russell, both residents in the Walker
Pass/Canebrake area attended for the first time.
Minutes of the September 15, 2005 meeting were approved. Ed Royce –
1st. Sharon Rooney – 2nd. Unanimous approval.
Treasurer’s Report: Sharon Rooney reports an operating account balance
of $1,089.45.
Total grant fund balance is $24,500.00 for the Tehachapi FSC. Motion
to approve: Robin Wyatt-Little – 1st, Ed Royce – 2nd. Unanimous
approval.
Sharon agreed to continue as treasurer for 2006.
Emily Diggles shared a photo history of Kern River Valley Fires from
2002 – 2005. This historical collage was prepared by Joan Grant. It
was agreed that the FSC would display the photos in an appropriate
public setting before returning it to Joan.
Grant Report(s): Matt Pontes.
l. The award letters have been received for the Hungry Gulch Fuel
Reduction Project and the Mt. Pinos Fuels Crew Project.
2. Kennedy Meadows CWPP Grant award letter should be arriving in the
very near future.
3. Rich Olson, working with the Sequoia Crest Community
representatives, submitted a grant application to the Assistance for
Firefighters Grants Program in order to establish their Fire Safe
Council and 501c3 status. Along with this application, Rich submitted
an application for funds in order to update/amend the existing KRV FSC
CWPP.
4. Matt reports that the BLM grant applications for the Plater Road
and Rodgers Road fuels reduction projects are awaiting review through
the Clearing House.
Forest Service Report: Cindy Thill and Jim Bauer.
The collaborative meeting scheduled for October has been moved ahead
to November 17th following the FSC meeting. The conference room is
reserved from 8:00 – 2:30.
It was agreed that arson prevention should be a component of the FSC
speaker’s bureau for 2006. Cindy will follow up with Angie Yearwood
and sort out the best arson prevention education materials for
presentations.
It was also agreed that new information materials should be developed
for the speaker’s bureau. Ken Stevens said that a DVD of a Bear Valley
“before and after” parcel is being completed which illustrates
defensible space treatment. Ken feels that this will be ready by March
2006.
Cindy presented a list of questions that will be asked of the KRV FSC
during the International Study Tour with Mexico scheduled for
Wednesday, October 26, 2005. Mexican participants will be Civic
Groups; the National Natural Protected Areas Commission; the National
Forestry Commission (both government agencies); the Fire Prevention
and Restoration Program and the Fire Management Learning Community
(both, non-governmental.)
The itinerary includes a Q&A meeting followed by a tour of the Alta
Sierra fuel break project. According to Cindy there is great interest
in learning how private and governmental entities collaborate
successfully on Fire Safe Council projects. Marcine Hughes, Ken
Stevens, Debbie Santiago, Cindy, Rich Olson and Matt Pontes will
represent the FSC. Penny Lampkins, President of the Greenhorn Mountain
Property Owners Association will also attend. There will also be two
Study Tour representatives from Washington, D.C. Photos will document
the visit as well as informational material shared.
KCFD: Ken Stevens.
Ken reports that a recent fire in Bear Valley which was ignited by a
lawn mower, bypassed two parcels which had excellent defensible space
treatment.
Discussion followed regarding last month’s suggestion concerning
county regulation street signs throughout the Valley for those streets
with no identification. It was agreed that a committee should be
formed to investigate what signs are needed in each of the Valley
communities. This could be done through the KCFD. Ed Royce “took us”
through the process of such a project based on the Kennedy Meadows
street sign(s) project. To be continued.
Ken passed out copies of the newly adopted California Defensible Space
Regulations Guidelines under Public Resource Code 4291. Debbie
Santiago suggested that perhaps all regulations (County and State)
dealing with defensible space could be consolidated into a pamphlet
for distribution to the public. Matt Pontes also suggested this
information should be added to the proposed update of the KRV CWPP
along with an explanation of “areas of responsibility” i.e. Kern
County Fire Department, Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
Agreed that this information is needed.
Sally Peterson and Kelly Russell from Walker Pass/Canebrake area
inquired as to what resources the FSC might offer in terms of wildfire
mitigation efforts/projects. It was felt that a chipper day project
would be a good starting point. Ken Stevens will work with these folks
to set a date.
Other than the Walker Pass neighborhood, all Property Owners
Associations are status quo.
Meeting convened at 10:30 AM.
Respectfully submitted by: Robin Wyatt-Little, Secretary |