Kern River Valley Fire Safe Council
On-Line Board Meeting
Attendance: Terry Bolt, Don Davis, Tom Gelder, Christine Hancock, Gordon
Hancock, Sharon Rooney, Ed Royce, Lloyd Smith with reports by Patrick Pontes
The meeting was held via e-mail reports submitted by Board members and
necessary votes were taken by polling Board members for their opinions.
President's Report - Lloyd Smith " Conducted Board of Directors strategy
meeting on March 2 in USFS conference room in Kernville. (75 miles match) "
Provided inputs to Sharon Rooney to update the 2011 budget. " Other
activities under other Committee reports
Treasurer's Report - Sharon Rooney
See attached financial reports for March
Grants - Ed Royce, Chair
Ongoing 2010 Projects:
- The 2010 Burma Interagency Extension Project has completed 35 acres. Work
is ongoing on the six acre Rogers Road maintenance. The 2010 Bodfish III
project is nearly completed, except for a small amount of brush clearing and
burning slash piles. Patrick Pontes' report is attached. " No update on
the USFS three-year Alta Sierra-Wofford Heights Project. 2011 Projects:
- Awaiting the environmental and archaeological clearance from the BLM for
Lake Isabella and Mountain Shadows. (These arrived dated 3/30/2011.)
2012 Proposals:
In view of the federal budget uncertainties, the deadline for proposal
submission has been extended to 1 June 2011. Workshops are to be scheduled. The
handbook that is normally the subject of the workshops has been posted online
for downloading. Anyone interested in the process is encouraged to do so and
take a look at what is involved. Meanwhile, Ken Delfino is working on our
maintenance proposal.
Chipper Days - Don Davis, Chair
Three chipper days have been scheduled as follows:
Walker Pass - coordinated by Lloyd Smith with Dave Brinsfield of the BLM and
completed 3/18/11 Squirrel Valley (5/22) Alta Sierra (6/4)
Two "Chipper Days" articles were submitted to the Valley newspapers
3/21. (30 mile match)
KV Sun will run one in 3/23 edition along with Lloyd Smith's Walker Pass
article. The chipper day article mentions the full, regular chipper days and
also explains the "roving" ones. Kern Valley Courier - No run date set
yet. The article focuses on the full, regular chipper days.
The KCFD has (2) 5-person crews on currently. They are available for the
chipper days that come up. The Rio Bravo Hot Shots won't be at full strength
until mid May.
Fundraising - Tom Gelder
" Work is proceeding on fundraising letters for the local community.
Gelder will attend a workshop sponsored by the Kern County Foundation to help
grant seekers do a better job of presenting their proposals to the Foundation.
" Gelder attended the monthly meeting of the Kern County Fire Department in
Bakersfield on behalf of Council President Lloyd Smith. (120 mile match)
Website - Ed Royce, Chair
No action this month
Education/ Speaker's Bureau - Terry Bolt, Chair
- With the help of Nancy Puckett a table will be set up 3/27 from 12-4 p.m.
for the Living Green Festival. Fliers and other Council materials will be
distributed. The cost to the Council will be $25.
- Bolt talked to Nancy Puckett about the Collaborative meeting, 3/24, and
her ideas about having community service projects around the valley
(cleaning up around houses for defensible space). Nancy Puckett will find
out from the Senior representative who might need those services.
- Bolt has recruited the 7th grade basketball team from the Wallace Middle
School to do one house but needs to talk to others involved.
- Bolt will be talking to churches that might want to do something along
those lines. " Bolt is working with Sammie in the Print Shop regarding
pages for the Living with Fire brochure.
- Bolt is exploring promotional prizes in conjunction with getting students
to participate in defensible space activities around their homes, part of
the Living with Fire brochure. She is still exploring the various options
since there will be some expense involved. She will report to the Board
about her findings.
- Lloyd Smith reviewed alternatives for Living with Fire production and
distribution with Marsha Smith, publisher of Kern Valley Sun. There will
be a 16-20 page version, 8 1/2" x 11" similar to the Kern Valley
Visitors Guide. 20,000 will be produced for distribution during the first
week of May, Wildfire Awareness Week. Marsha Smith believes that all costs
of production can be offset with advertising. $3,000 will be held in
reserve. The "original" Living with Fire file was secured from the
University of Nevada and was customized for the Kern River Valley with local
pictures and modified text. Lloyd Smith delivered the draft copy to the Kern
Valley Sun since it was too large a file to e-mail. (75 miles match)
- Smith sent a reminder to the Forest Service about rotating the roadside
signs.
- Smith produced 150 stickers to correct information on "A Homeowner's
Guide to Firewise Landscaping in Kern County" requested by KCFD Station
#72 to be handed out at their upcoming fuel reduction training, and
delivered the pamphlets to Lake Isabella. (75 miles match)
- Christine Hancock reserved space for the Spring Health Faire on 4/12/11
from 9a.m. to 11:30a.m. at the Kern Valley Hospital Cafeteria. She is
seeking sponsors for the $35 fee.
- Gordon and Christine Hancock explored a possible RAC hardship grant site
in Lake Isabella. The potential recipient has a number of medical issues. He
might be willing to put up a sign in his yard. (8 miles matched).
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
