Kern River Valley Fire Safe Council
Stakeholders Meeting
Attendance: Terry Bolt, Don Brady, David Brinsfield, Ken Delfino, Ruth
Ellison, Tom Gelder, Dennis Greenoe, Christine Hancock, Gordon Hancock, Mike
Lanza, Patrick Pontes, Robert Robinson, Sharon Rooney, Ed Royce, Chad Saeler,
Penelope Shibley, Lloyd Smith
President's Activities:
- President Smith attended the Exchange Club Firefighter of the Year banquet
where Derrick Davis (KCFD) was honored.
- The January 2011 Update of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)
was completed.
- President Smith discussed the RAC Demonstration Lots and Hardship Grant
and what was proposed. He remarked that he had been working on
creating a "Firewise Community" with the Kern River Valley
Revitalization group. He pointed out that a Firewise Community is a
structured educational process. He has not received a response from KRVR
yet.
- Regarding referring fuel reduction vendors to the Living Green Festival,
he reminded the Council that the Fire Safe Council's general philosophy was
not to make any endorsements.
Treasurer's Report - Sharon Rooney:
Sharon Rooney highlighted the major points of the 2010 budget year, including
that the Council had secured $218,450 in grants, that our checking account still
had a large balance ($135,540) but that was because several large expenditures
had not been paid yet, that our contributions goal was short of budget
projections and that we didn't spend all of our education allocation. (See
attached report)
Ms. Rooney said she was almost finished with the 2011 Budget and would present
it at the next meeting
Presentations:
Review and status of the California Fire Safe Council Grants for 2010 and
2011- Patrick Pontes, KRVFSC Grant Administrator - Mr. Pontes discussed the
various fuel hazard, defensible space and fuel break projects that were underway
and the progress made on each. He pointed out that these grants could be used on
private lands and for education and signage. He also mentioned that there were
over 200 fire safe councils within CA competing for grant funding.
Review and status of the USFS Alta Sierra and Wofford Heights Fuel Reduction
Project - Ken Delfino, KRVFSC Grant Administrator - The Alta Sierra and
Wooford Heights project, was started in 2010 and goes over twelve quarters. The
project is still in its first stage and has cleared about 38 acres and burned a
number of brush piles. This was funded by the USFS for $300,000. About $277,500
will be paid to Kern County Fire, $21,000 will be paid for grant administration,
and the council will retain $1,500 for operating costs. Brushing will also be
done along Route 155 and Old State Road for a project total of 200 acres.
Committee Activity Reports:
Grants - Ed Royce, Patrick Pontes and Ken Delfino:
Proposal for 2012 CFSC clearinghouse grant project - Our collaborative meeting
was held in October with the USFS, BLM, Kern County Fire, and the KRVFSC. This
meeting involved looking at the various projects and prioritizing them. The CA
Fire Safe Council receives federal monies for these projects and then serves as
a state clearinghouse. CFSC uses an on-line process and consistent criteria to
evaluate the proposals. The State selects a panel of experts that reviews the
applications and scores them. Awards are made in June, based on their merits.
The receiving organizations must meet certain requirements, including being a
not-for-profit organization, have liability insurance, etc.
- Grant writing workshop - this is still in process
- Valley View assessment visit and grant proposal initiatives - The USFS has
a project defined to do fuel reduction surrounding the community. A
presentation was done in the community by Ed Royce. More work needs to be
done on private land. It makes sense to look at this for the 2013 planning
process. It needs to be looked at by a professional. There are only a few
cabins there but the community is motivated to be involved.
- Breckenridge assessment and grant proposal initiatives - At Breckenridge,
there are isolated lots that are surrounded by USFS lands. The USFS is
planning a defensible space project on their land and when that is done the
project should be re-evaluated.
- As for ongoing grant proposal initiatives, there are four projects ongoing
- tying together the Burma Road project's different phases, the Bodfish
project is in its 3rd phase, the Lake Isabella field break project is
ongoing and the Mountain Shadows project will take place in 2011. (See
attached overview of projects)
- RAC proposal opportunities - June 1st is the end of the cycle. All these
projects are one-time efforts.
Fundraising - Lloyd Smith:
- Total contributions raised in 2010 - $3235
- 2010 Honor Role provided for website update (which was completed in
January, 2011)
- Kern Community Foundation workshops
Chipper Days - Lloyd Smith (for Don Davis):
- Don Davis will be Chipper Day Committee Chair
- KCFD would like to get started immediately (Crew 7)
- Possibility of roaming chipper days - to be advertised
- Requests from Alta Sierra (June 4th), Walker Pass (March), and Squirrel
Valley (May 22nd)
- These should be coordinated with Crew 7's Jimmy Rocca. The USFS and BLM
may be able to help
Website - Ed Royce:
A massive update was just completed in January so it is all current except the
newly elected board of directors and officers.
Education/Speakers Bureau- Lloyd Smith:
- Valley View Property Owner's presentation - December 11, 2010 - Royce and
Washington
- Exchange Club presentation - "Wildfire Fire Protection", January
13, 2011 - Smith and Scott Williams (USFS)
- Roadside sign rotation in March (USFS Whiskey Flat Fire Module (Crew 40
led by Chris Scott)
- Discussion was had involving the local schools - to be delayed until the
Board has a chance to discuss strategies
Agency Reports:
Kern County Fire Department - Don Brady and Chad Saeler
- Chipper Days constraints - may be difficult to schedule considering their
workload
- Living with Fire brochure - KCFD will not be providing financial support.
Last year with KCFD and State Farm, support 19,000 were distributed in May,
2010. Other fire councils are using ads. Possibility of using our unspent
educational funds to create a package of materials. Discussion was had as to
most effective way to distribute. Kern Valley Sun offered to get involved in
a way that would make it self-sustaining. Lloyd Smith has action.
- Hazard Reduction Service Providers (Station 71) - this crew does the
training typically but it didn't happen in 2010. A different process is
being initiated by KCFFD. KRVFSC is willing to place a Providers list on
their website
USFS - Penelope Shibley
- Personnel Changes at USFS - Nickie Washington now with BLM, Ernie Villa
will replace her, Bart Kicklighter is the new person on Fuels, Scott
Williams is still consulting
- The Forest Service didn't get funded for a $6 million grant which they
expected
- The Old Sawmill Project will be renamed the Oakridge Project. This was
started in 2005 but stalled.
- There was a public outreach meeting held in Alta Sierra regarding 4000
acres there
- The Ice project is stalled in court
BLM - David Brinsfield
- Most of BLM's efforts currently have been on fixing roads with heavy
equipment, including working on Old State Road
- They have been spending much of their efforts in the Three Rivers area but
plan to come back to Lake Isabella in 2012
- There is a Chipper Day scheduled with Kennedy Meadows
- There will be an education project started in the Kern Valley in mid-March
- There are some minor personnel changes contemplated, including moving Ruth
Ellison into more of a coordinating role with the captains doing more of the
work themselves
Election of 2011 Board of Directors - Terry Bolt, Don Davis, Tom Gelder,
Christine Hancock, Gordon Hancock, Sharon Rooney, Ed Royce and Lloyd Smith were
nominated. Ed Royce moved that the nominees be elected, Tom Gelder seconded the
motion. The vote was unanimous in favor of their election to the board.
Next KRVFSC Meeting: Thursday, May 19, 2011, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in
Supervisor McQuiston's conference room, 7050 Lake Isabella Blvd, Lake Isabella,
CA 93240
Kern River Valley Fire Safe Council, Board Meeting
Attendance: Terry Bolt, Tom Gelder, Christine Hancock, Gordon Hancock, Ed
Royce, and Lloyd Smith
The meeting was called to order by President Lloyd Smith at the conclusion of
the KRVFSC's Stakeholders Meeting for the purpose of electing officers for the
board for 2011 and to discuss areas of focus for the upcoming year.
Lloyd Smith agreed to serve as president for another year, Sharon Rooney told
Lloyd Smith that she would agree to serve as Treasurer for another year, Tom
Gelder volunteered to serve as Secretary, Terry Bolt volunteered to serve as the
Education Committee chair, Ed Royce agreed to serve as Grants Committee chair,
Lloyd Smith said that Don Davis had agreed to serve as the Chipper Days
Committee chair, Ed Royce volunteered to oversee the Website with the help of a
consultant we have used from Kennedy Meadows. With no further candidates to
consider, Lloyd Smith moved that nominations be closed and that the
aforementioned people be elected as officers. Ed Royce seconded the motion and
the vote in favor was unanimous.
President Smith then outlined his vision for the coming year:
- More emphasis on education
- Because of so many ongoing projects, it might make sense as a strategy for
2012 to go back and do maintenance on our previous projects
- There is a desperate need to recruit more volunteers to help with the
Council
- The focus for 2011 was to secure grants and that strategy worked well
President Smith then suggested that the Board meet in the near future to
discuss our strategy for the coming year. He said he would find a location and
date and notify the board. The meeting was adjourned.
The next board meeting has subsequently been set for Wednesday, March 2, 2011
at 8:30 a.m. in the conference room of the USFS in Kernville.
Committee Reports (Electronic Meeting)
President's Activities-Lloyd Smith
+ Signed and returned the Domestic Grant 11-DG-11051352-042 with the USFS for
Defensible Space Demonstrations and Hardship Cases on 2/10/2011. We have
requested a onetime payment of $6,000.
+ Received request for hardship assistance from representative on In Home
Support Services. Initiated review of request, personally looked at the property
and request Don Davis (or a KCFD representative from Lake Isabella) to look at
the property to determine if there is a real fire threat. No determination has
been made yet. (75 miles match)
+ Completed developing updates (January 2011) for the KRVFSC CWPP and Fuels
Projects Plan. Produced CDROM and distributed via email to those that could
receive. Produced two hard copies (thanks to USFS in Kernville). Provided the
update to CFSC and the California Fire Alliance. (75 miles match)
+ Attended the Kern Valley Chamber of Commerce Man and Woman of the Year
banquet visiting with Ben McFarland (Congressman McCarthy’s
representative), Supervisor McQuiston and his new representative Lori Acton, and
Javier Reyes representative for State Assemblywoman Shannon Groves. (75 miles
match)
+ Assembled and sent pictures/logo to CFSC for Bruce Turbeville’s (CEO
of CFSC) retirement.
+ Referred several vendors to the Living Green festival sponsored by the Kern
River Valley Revitalization (KRVR) as a place to showcase their products.
+ Developed rational and benefits statement for KRVR BoD to evaluate
collaborating with the KRVFSC on a Firewise Community.
+ Received notification of public workshop on the Kern River Valley Specific
Plan on Wednesday, 23 February, at the Kern Valley Veteran’s Building at
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
+ Developed and distributed agenda for 17 February Stakeholder’s
meeting.
+ Updated KRVFSC contact list and email addresses.
Fund Raising Committee
+ Received workshop schedule from Kern Community Foundation. We need to try
an attend one of these workshops in March.
Education Committee/Speaker's Bureau
+ Discussed alternatives for Living With Fire production and distribution
with Marsha Smith, publisher of Kern Valley Sun. Marsha will research
alternative and provide estimated costs.
Chipper Days
+ Received email from Derrick Davis requesting that we attempt to start
chipper days in February since KCFD will probably only have Crew 7 in the Kern
River Valley this season. I share this request with Don Davis and we developed a
strategy that should work under these circumstances. Walker Pass has requested a
March date. Don will develop articles for the newspaper to encourage this early
start.
+ Received chipper day request from Greenhorn Mountain POA for 4 June.
+ Reviewed previous (2009) Hazard Reduction Service Providers list. This was
produced by Station 71 (Lake Isabella) following a mandatory training. Don Davis
will determine if there will be training this year and an update of the list.
Board of Directors Nominees
+ We will elect new board of directors at 17 February Stakeholder's meeting.
+ New officers will be elected by the new BoD immediately after the
Stakeholder's meeting.
+ I have attached the conflict of interest form that you must sign each year
as a director.
Website Committee Report: Web site has been updated as follows:
Items updated or replaced:
-- 2011 Calendar -- replacement
-- Council History -- replacement/update -- Link at the bottom of the
"About Us" page
-- 2010 Honor roll -- to replace the 2009 Honor Roll -- Link on the "About
Us" page
-- 2010 Minutes formatted in the format we have used in the past on the web site
(Link on the "About Us" page) -- August (complete, replacement for the
partial previously posted), September, October, November (partial), December.
-- Projects update -- Replacement material for the "Projects" page
-- 2011 CWPP -- Links on the "Home" page and elsewhere. (Will be
posted in a day or two.)
-- Projects listing from the 2011 CWPP -- Links on the "Home" page and
elsewhere.
Outdated materials in the news section were cleaned out. The Bull Fire
Follow-Up report (Success Story) was posted.
The name, phone number, and e-mail for Don Davis, our new Chipper Dude, was
added to the "Chipper Day" page and the "About Us" page.
Grants Committee Report
Ongoing 2010 Projects: The 2010 Burma Interagency Extension Project is
completed except for ongoing restoration work on Rogers Road. The 2010 Bodfish
III project is nearly completed, except for burning slash piles. Patrick Pontes'
report is attached. Acrages completed will be available at the stakeholder's
meeting.
Crews have completed about 32 acres on the USFS three-year Alta Sierra-Wofford
Heights Project, all cleanup in the timber sale area. Pile burning is nearly
complete.
2011 Projects: We are awaiting environmental clearance from the BLM
for Lake Isabella and Mountain Shadows. A mixup on the subaward letters with the
state FSC on these projects has been cleared up. Lloyd has resent the signed
Lake Isabella letter, and we will receive a new copy of the Mountain Shadows
letter for signature. There appears to have been a hiccup in the mail system
somewhere.
2012 Proposals: The deadline for proposal submission has been extended
to 1 June 2011. Workshops will be held before then -- schedule not yet
available.
KERN RIVER VALLEY FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
GRANT STATUS UPDATE
March 10, 2011
2010 Bodfish III Fuel Reduction Project-
The project is almost complete with one narrow strip of brush left to be cut
near the toe of the slope. Chad reports there are between 75 and 100 piles
remaining to be burned. Again, if you get a chance to visit the project it is
visible from the road and looks great.
The final Quarter Accomplishment Report ends March 31st and is due April
30th. Please continue to keep track of your "Match" hours and mileage
for the March Quarterly Accomplishment Report.
2010 Burma Interagency Extension Project-
The crew has completed the 35 acre Burma portion of the project and is
working on the 6 acre Rogers Road maintenance section.
The final Quarter Accomplishment Report ends March 31st and is due April
30th. Again, continue to keep track of your "Match" meeting hours and
mileages as they will be applied toward the 2011 projects.
2011 Lake Isabella Project- We are waiting for the Arch Report review to be
completed by BLM. We should receive our initial payment ($5,000) soon. The 1st
Quarter Accomplishment Rpt for the project ended January 31st and was submitted
on February 28th. KCFD's worksheets were not available and will be included in
next quarter's report.
2011 Mountain Shadows Project- The project is in the same status as Lake
Isabella's; we are waiting for the final Archaeology Report approval and
biological requirements from BLM. The Quarterly Accomplishment Report is the
same as Lake Isabella above.
CFSC News/Update- The most recent information (2/28/11) regarding 2012 Grants
is that the Application deadline will be June 1st. The new date provides more
time for CFSC and applicants to learn of the details of match requirements and
program priorities. CFSC is proposing 6 Workshops in California, but they
haven't decided on the format. They are considering several options, including
live/interactive teleconference, workbooks on CD, downloadable PDF and printed
materials
Patrick G. Pontes
Kern River Valley FSC, Grant Administrator
