KERN RIVER VALLEY FIRE SAFE COUNCIL

Board of Directors and General Meeting
Thursday, April 19, 2007
 
Those present: Ed Royce, Lloyd Smith, Christine Hancock, Patrick Pontes, Margaret Belz, Robert Robinson, Tom Parkin, Scott Williams, Blaine Manson, Jack Tomlinson, Chris Ryan, Debbie Santiago, Emily Diggles, Ken Stevens, Robin Wyatt-Little.
 
President Ed Royce convened the meeting at 8:30 AM. Introductions were made.
 
Minutes were approved: Christine Hancock – lst. Tom Parkin - 2nd. Unanimous approval.
 
Christine reports an operating account balance of $4845.26. Grant account balances are: Frazier Park - $250.00; Hungry Gulch - $14952,59;Kennedy Meadows - $550.00; Mount Pinos - $503.00; Sequoia Crest - $5000.00 and State Farm - $5000.00 (newspaper inserts.) Robin Wyatt-Little – 1st. Margaret Belz – 2nd. Unanimous approval.
 
Grants: Patrick Pontes
 
Pat reports that two of the three grant applications we submitted were approved: Kennedy Meadows - $75,900 and Bodfish Canyon Project - $99,400.00. These two grants are for FY 2008 and are 18 month grants.
 
Fundraising: Lloyd Smith
 
Lloyd reports that $14.98 donations were received via the FSC Coffee Can via Tom Parkin and Squirrel Valley neighbors. Currently we have a balance of $3,114.98 raised thus far for our operating account which means we are current with our obligations i.e. insurance, tax preparation etc.
 
Lloyd has prepared a brief power point program for the upcoming Chamber of Commerce presentations, illustrating the FSC from a business perspective. Lloyd states that through Grant projects, the FSC has generated one million dollars income for the KRV.
 
Progress for road signs is slow at this point. Debbie Hess of SCE is wending her way through the process to obtain SCE funding for the project.
 
The March 1, 2007 funding request to the Kern Community Foundation for FSC educational materials is moving through the process also.
 
Lloyd asked Debbie to provide HDFPA information i.e. current Board Members and general costs for poster contest. Lloyd would like to get the poster “ducks in a row” in preparation for possible FSC funding of the contest in 2008.
 
Lloyd suggests the FSC should recognize sustaining members of the FSC via a public format. Lloyd will research ideas and costs. FSC Honor Roll Donors i.e. any one who has donated funds for the FSC will have their name(s) displayed on the FSC website.
 
Road Signs: Lloyd Smith
 
Cindy Thill has all necessary permits in place for the signs. Because funding has not materialized thus far from SCE, KCFD (per Ken Stevens) will fund the cost of the signs in the amount of $2,500.00. Signs will be treated with a weather resistant coating. Lloyd will proceed with the signs being painted. It was agreed that newspapers will be contacted for the installation of the sign(s). The FSC logo will appear on each sign for each season. Ken Stevens will contact Fred Zullo of Walker Basin, confirming his storage and maintenance of the Walker Basin sign.
 
Speaker’s Bureau: Robin reports that there will be FSC presentations to the Kernville Chamber of Commerce on 4/23; Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce on May 2nd; Myers Canyon residents on April 21st; Bioregions Festival Booth on April 27 & 28th and Century 21 on June 25th.
 
Chipper Days: Margaret Belz and Ed Royce et al
 
Following much discussion it was decided that Ken Stevens will rework the chipper day(s) guidelines. The goal is to make the guidelines more flexible to accommodate applications on a case-by-case basis so as to emphasize a “community event” but to also assist defensible space projects. Tom Parkin volunteered to visit potential chipper day areas and help first-timers through the process i.e. location of cut brush etc.
 
Kern County Fire Safe Council: Ken Stevens
 
Ken said that the next meeting will be June 27, 2007. Ken reports that approximately 32K Wildfire Awareness Newspaper Inserts are being printed.
 
May 8, 2007, 9AM will be the Wildfire Awareness Week presentation to the Board of Supervisors. Ken requests that FSC members try to attend.
 
Ken brought new educational handouts to be used in FSC presentations.
 
Forest Service: Scott Williams
 
Scott reports that Margie Clack is still Acting Ranger until a permanent Ranger is selected. Scott will ask Cindy Thill to take over the publicity responsibilities for the FSC until such time Margie is available.
 
BLM: Deborah Santiago and Chris Ryan
 
Debbie reports that BLM fire management teams recently met in Reno for refreshing of wildfire response policies/practices during this dry weather. Kevin Chambers has been appointed as the new BLM Central California Regional Fire Management Officer. Debbie estimates that the Hot Shot Fuels Crew will be active effective May 7th. Chris Ryan reports Tim Smith has been appointed as the new Field Office Manager.
 
Chris shared photos of the recent mechanical clearing along Highway 155. She also said that BLM will begin road brushing along BLM roadsides in the Kennedy meadows area.
 
Kern County Fire Department: Ken Stevens
 
Ken tells us that Crew 87 is working in Tehachapi and here in Myers Canyon, refreshing the fuels reduction grants project area. The Rio Bravo Crew will begin work on May 1, 2007.
 
Property Owners Associations:
 
Squirrel Valley: Tom Parkin is busy coordinating the Squirrel Valley Chipper Day with residents in Mtn. Mesa. Tom has distributed instruction flyers to the Mtn. Mesa participants.
 
Lake Isabella/Bodfish POA: Christine Hancock reports that she and Gordon “peopled” a FSC booth at the recent Health Faire with approximately 50 visitors to the booth.
 
Bob Robinson reports that the Nunni Cunni Center will host a native plant sale on Saturday, April 21st, 10AM.
 
Lake Isabella Highlands: Jack Tomlinson reports that folks are clearing their property.
 
Frontier Trail POA: All quiet.
 
Myers Canyon: Emily is coordinating the FSC program for April 21st, 3:30 PM. Emily needs wood chips for dust control. Myers Canyon has obtained another road paving grant.
 
Walker Pass: Lloyd Smith reports that Sally Peterson is coordinating the scheduled chipper day event for May 12, 2007.Lloyd will attend to the publicity aspect, contacting the local newspapers.
 
Kennedy Meadows: Ed Royce reports that Kennedy Meadows had a lightning strike on Good Friday, resulting in a fire. Thirty residents managed to quell the fire with the help of two residents and their heavy
 
 
 
equipment. Ed will work with Debbie regarding more efficient agency assistance when reporting a fire.
 
Alder Creek/Sequoia Crest: Harry Love is working with Tulare County to emphasize Wildfire Awareness Week and has scheduled a presentation to their Board of Supervisors on May 8, 2007.
 
Meeting adjourned at 11:45 AM.
 
REMINDER! Next meeting is May 17th – 8:00AM