KERN RIVER VALLEY FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
Board of Directors and General Membership Meeting
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Those present: Ed Royce, Lloyd Smith, Cindy Thill, Tom Parkin, Dick
Sampson, Patrick Pontes, Ken Delfino, Robert Robinson, Sue Rocha,
Scott Williams, Christine Hancock, Gordon Hancock, Emily Diggles, Rich
Olson, Ken Stevens, Rosemary Delfino, Robin Wyatt-Little.
President Ed Royce convened the meting at 8:30 A.M. Introductions were
made.
Corrections to the January 18, 2007 minutes were made to include Lloyd
Smith and his neighbor as being present at that meeting. Motion to
approve: Lloyd Smith. Second: Tom Parkin. Unanimous approval.
Treasurer’s Report: Christine Hancock reports an operating account
balance of $$3905.26. Recent donations have been received from Kennedy
Meadows POA, Frontier Trail Homeowners POA, and Sharon Rooney. Grant
balances are: Frazier Park-$43,476.77; Hungry Gulch-$15,452.59;
Kennedy Meadows-$16,829.78 and Mt. Pinos-$2,500.00.
Chris reminded the Board that there will be an insurance premium due
in April 2007. President Royce approved payment. Motion to approve:
Robin Wyatt-Little. Second: Rich Olson. Unanimous approval.
Current Grants: Rich Olson
Rich reports that Frazier Park, Kennedy Meadows, Hungry Gulch and Mt.
Pinos grants are soon to be completed and closed out by the end of
April 2007.
Future Grants: Patrick Pontes
Patrick reported that in conjunction with the Collaborative
recommendation (BLM, USFS, KCFD and KRV FSC) concept papers for the
2008 grant period will be submitted in the following prioritized order
for: 1. Kennedy Meadows fuels project; 2. Bodfish Canyon fuels project
and 3. Tillie Creek fuels project. These concept papers will be mailed
today.
Patrick further explained that the Walker Pass CWPP proposal has been
modified and will not be submitted as a grant proposal. Rather, the
Collaborative agreed that uniformed agency personnel i.e. BLM, USFS
and KCFD will conduct individual property wildfire safety evaluations.
They will distribute printed educational materials regarding
defensible space treatment and safety measures for burning downed
brush. BLM has also committed to do roadside brush clearing on those
areas that fall within their jurisdiction. During this process, needed
fuels projects in the Walker Pass area will be noted and included in
the KRV FSC CWPP as a specific amendment. The KRV FSC CWPP will also
be amended to reflect the newly extend boundaries of the KRV FSC area
of influence.
It was agreed that Wildfire Awareness Week (5/6/07) would be an
excellent period in which to conduct these individual property
evaluations. Lloyd Smith will coordinate with USFS, BLM and KCFD and
will notify Margie Clack regarding newspaper coverage.
Ken Delfino gave an excellent power point presentation of the final
Kennedy Meadows Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Included in the
CWPP are 21 specific recommendations to reduce future wildfire events.
Ken presented the KRV FSC with ten hardcopies of the CWPP and ten
CD’s. The CWPP will be included on the KRV FSC website.
Fundraising: Lloyd Smith
Lloyd gave an overview of current fundraising efforts which included
two FSC presentations, one to the Mojave Desert-Mountain Resource
Conservation and Development Council and Kern River Valley
Revitalization. Both programs were received well. To date funds
received are on target for the annual budget. Tom Parkin inquired as
to data requirements for tracking FSC donors. Lloyd is doing this and
has asked Christine Hancock (and Sharon Rooney) to recapture previous
donors prior to the formation of the fundraising committee. Tom Parkin
presented yet another generous donation to the FSC. THANK YOU TOM!
Lloyd thanked Scott Williams and Ken Stevens for their work on the new
brochures. Ken has facilitated the printing of 1000 brochures. GREAT
APPRECIATION GOES TO KEN AND SCOTT! Appreciation was also expressed to
Lloyd for his unwavering efforts in establishing the fundraising
program. It was agreed to send Supervisor McQuiston a letter of
appreciation for the Kern County Fire Department’s role in supporting
the FSC, getting the initial brochure printing done.
Fire Safe Garden: Ed Royce
Marcine Hughes has notified the FSC of her regrets that she is not
able to continue with the Fire Safe Demonstration Garden Project. Ed
has asked for someone else to chair this project. It was suggested
that people think about this commitment and be prepared to formalize a
plan by next month’s meeting.
Road Sign(s) Project: Lloyd Smith
Lloyd has submitted a formal financial support proposal to Debbie Hess
of SCE for this project. Cindy Thill has submitted the necessary Kern
County and California State right-of-way permits. Cindy gave an
overview of what will be allowed versus what won’t i.e. a roof over
the sign; not setting the support posts in concrete and no anchoring.
These stipulations are related to safety issues. Lloyd has received
two bids from local sign painters and feels they are both within our
initial estimates. Thank you to Cindy for her continued efforts.
Speakers Bureau: Robin Wyatt-Little
Robin has scheduled two presentations: North Kern Property Owners
Association – Tuesday, March 13th, 6PM at the Oddfellows Hall,
Kernville. Also, the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce –
Wednesday, March 28th, 12 Noon at Paradise Cove Restaurant. Robin and
Margaret Belz are working to finalize a FSC presentation to the
Century 21 Realtors of the KRV. Date to be announced. Cindy Thill
suggested the FSC have a presence at this year’s Bioregions Festival
event, April 28-29. It was agreed this was a worthy effort. Robin will
coordinate display items and handouts.
Ed explained the two separate functions of the Speakers Bureau, that
of the fundraising presentations and the other for wildfire safety
education. Robin will continue to coordinate both programs, however Ed
and Lloyd and Ken will be the presenters. Volunteers requested for the
educational programs.
Chipper Days: Margaret Belz
Margaret has provided chipper day(S) guideline forms to Tom Parkin in
preparation for the Squirrel Valley chipper day event in May. Tom is
attempting to coordinate additional participation with Mt. Mesa for
the same day. Margaret is scheduling upcoming chipper days with Loren
Lange (KCFD). The FSC chipper now has a magnetic sign on it featuring
the KRV FSC logo. It was suggested that perhaps when property
inspection letters are sent to property owners by KCFD, some sort of
Chipper Day information might be included in the envelope along with a
hazard reduction provider list for the current season. Justin Wilkins
(KCFD) is responsible for the current list.
Website: Ed Royce
Ed, along with Tom Parkin and webmaster Dick Sampson, has updated
various aspects of the website. Additional local contact telephone
numbers will be added. Scott Williams suggested that the resource list
might be shortened/edited. Dick, Ed and Tom will look into this.
NEW BUSINESS:
Ed Royce presented a timeline for necessary budget items for the next
year. Given current fundraising for the operating budget, prospects
are optimistic. Ed asked for ideas regarding cost cutting measures to
insure financial health for the KRV FSC. One suggestion was to donate
the chipper to KCFD. This is an involved process requiring permission
from BLM, the agency from which the Chipper Grant was obtained. Lloyd
Smith felt that the FSC’s identity is strongly reinforced by the
chipper and perhaps it should remain with the FSC. No action taken.
By Laws Policy Proposal: Ed Royce
Ed Royce suggested the following by-laws policy regarding the FSC
Board of Directors. “It is the standing policy of the Kern River
Valley Fire Safe Council that the President, Vice President, Secretary
and Treasurer shall be ex officio voting members of the Board of
Directors, that the President serve as Chairperson of the Board of
Directors and the regular representatives of federal, state or local
agencies be ex officio non-voting members of the Board of Directors.”
Motion to approve: Robin Wyatt-Little. Second: Emily Diggles.
Unanimous approval.
Reports:
Forest Service – Scott Williams distributed copies of the McNally Fire
Auto Tour pamphlets.
BLM – Sue Rocha reported that while High Desert Fire Prevention
Association will not be doing the poster contest this year, they will
collaborate with KCFD, utilizing the Smoke Trailer for their
educational programs for elementary school children. Sue also reports
that the Inyo County CWPP is near completion. This CWPP boundary is
adjacent the KRV FSC CWPP boundary. Lloyd Smith has requested
information regarding the HDFPA and attending costs for the poster
contest. He will build this cost into possible local grant requests.
Property Owners Associations:
Myers Canyon: Emily Diggles is planning to take photos of absentee
property owner’s parcels which she will send along with a letter
regarding the necessity of clearing hazardous fuels from these
properties.
Frontier Trail POA: Robin reports she is seeing good signs of brush
clearing on Frontier Trail. She will be scheduling a FSC presentation
for the next POA meeting in June.
Squirrel Valley POA: Tom Parkin reiterated the scheduled May 5th
chipper day event and will contact the local newspapers beforehand.
President Ed Royce adjourned the meeting at 11:45 A.M.
Respectfully submitted by: Robin Wyatt-Little, Secretary |