KERN RIVER VALLEY FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
Board of Directors and General Meeting
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Minutes
Those present: Ed Royce, Gordon and Christine Hancock, Patrick Pontes,
Ken Stevens, Sue Rocha, Cindy Thill, Emily Diggles, Margaret Belz, Art
Allington, Doug Johnston and Robin Wyatt-Little.
President Ed Royce convened the meeting at 8:30 AM. Introductions were
made.
Minutes: A correction was made to the May 17, 2007 minutes: $50.00 was
paid to the California Attorney General for renewal of our charitable
organization status. Motion to approve: Christine Hancock. 2nd: Gordon
Hancock. Unanimous approval.
Treasurer’s Report: Christine reports a FSC operating account balance
of $4773.24. Grant balances are: Sequoia Crest - $5000.00 and State
Farm - $5000.00. Kennedy Meadows, Frazier Park and Mt. Pinos grants
are closed out. Income received: $13.00 for the FSC Donation Can from
Squirrel Valley and $250.00 from Thomas Refuse. Christine just
received an invoice from Castle Printing for the newspaper inserts
which will be paid ($3351.22.) Motion to approve: Robin Wyatt-Little.
2nd – Emily Diggles.
Grant Reports: Patrick Pontes
Patrick reports that the California FSC is correcting glitches in
their 2008 Concept Paper reporting forms. Environmental Compliance
Clearance Letters from BLM for Kennedy Meadows and Bodfish projects
should be arriving soon.
The State is trying to get the 2008 dollars flowing sooner than having
to wait for the beginning of fiscal year. BLM grants are funded out of
next year’s dollars which means they can commit the funds sooner.
Patrick mentioned the required Migratory Bird Act Treaty compliance
process affecting our grants as well as Tehachapi FSC grant(s). Gordon
and Christine Hancock suggested that perhaps Bob Barnes of the Audubon
Association might be of assistance in this area.
Fundraising: Ed Royce per written report from Lloyd Smith
Our Kern Community Foundation grant request for $1500 for production
of educational material was denied. No new information regarding the
SCE grant application for the road sign project. Lloyd will be
developing some new grant applications this summer and is optimistic.
In the meantime, the FSC is depending on Sustaining Memberships.
It was agreed to send a thank you letter to State Farm Insurance for
their funding of the Wildfire Awareness Newspaper Inserts. Robin will
do this.
The KRV FSC received an email from Paramount Farming Company regarding
our Federal ID number in reference for a donation from an employee. Ed
provided the number.
The Kern Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Kernville Chamber of
Commerce have responded favorably to our request for membership lists.
The Kern Valley CC charges $25.00 for the list. Motion to pay this
fee: Robin Wyatt-Little. 2nd – Gordon Hancock. Unanimous approval. The
lists will be turned over to Lloyd Smith.
Road Sign Project: Lloyd Smith and Cindy Thill
Four road signs are being prepared (BBQ Coals, Ashtray, Wildfire
Strikes and Summer Campfires.) All signs will be done with a white
background. Colors of red, yellow and orange have been minimized. The
KRVFSC Logo has been prepared as a vector graphic for use on the signs
and for a Sustaining Member window display. The targeted completion
date is now June 30th. We will reconcile payment when we receive the
billing. If KCFD cannot provide funding we will take it out of the
operating budget and concentrate on fund-raising activities. Lloyd is
optimistic.
Cindy reports some glitches from the State regarding the signs and
their placement. Cindy will continue communications both by letter and
telephone with appropriate people to iron out the wrinkles. A round of
applause for Cindy’s time and efforts on this worthwhile project.
Speaker’s Bureau: Robin Wyatt-Little
Ken Stevens and Robin presented a FSC program to the Lake
Isabella-Bodfish Property Owners Assn. on June 12th. There were 27 in
attendance. Ken brought maps of the recent Bodfish Canyon fire and of
the proposed Bodfish Canyon Fuels Reduction Grant Project. Two more
programs are scheduled for the Frontier Trail POA on June 23rd in
Kernville and the Century 21 Realtors on June 25th. Captain Dennis
Monahan of the KCFD and Robin will present the programs.
Publicity: Ed Royce et al
The Kern Valley Sun published a photo of Sharon Rooney receiving our
FSC Appreciation Plaque from Lloyd Smith, with Christine Hancock, Bob
Robinson and Robin Wyatt-Little in attendance.
Chipper Days: Margaret Belz
Chipper Day Events took place at Alta Sierra on June 2nd; Myers
Canyon on June 9th and Pala Ranches on May 19th. A thank you email was
received from Pala Ranches expressing appreciation to the FSC and to
Randy Griffin and the crew for their hard work and professionalism.
They have asked to be put on the May 2008 calendar for another chipper
day.
Kern County FSC: Ken Stevens
The next meeting will be Wednesday, June 27th at 1:30 PM, 5642 Victor
Street, Bakersfield. Everyone is encouraged to attend.
New Business:
Art Allington, retired fireman, expressed his concerns with current
building codes not keeping pace with the increased risk of wildfire
potential in Kern County and elsewhere. Art is currently trying to
reconcile past hazard severity zone(s) maps to a more precise
depiction and to raise building code standards reflecting these maps.
Ken Stevens and Assistant Fire Marshal/Captain Doug Johnston of the
Kern County Fire Department have been involved in a Statewide effort
to review and upgrade all California Fire Hazard Severity Zones. All
56 California County Fire Agencies are involved. The State has
prepared new draft maps and Kern County personnel have identified 3000
additional needed changes to these maps. All of these changes will
affect building codes effective January 2008. California Department of
Forestry (CDF) Director is coordinating this effort. Severity
classifications are based on many factors but fuel, slope and weather
history plus fire brands classification play a key role in the
severity ratings. More information can be seen on the CDF website
www.fire.ca.gov. There will be a public meeting July 18th, 1-4 in the
Supervisor’s Chambers, Bakersfield.
Ed Royce suggests a letter to the local newspapers regarding this
information and encouraging attendance at this meeting. Ed will write
this letter.
Agency and Property Owners Associations:
Kern County Fire Department:
Ken Stevens reports that their fuels crew cleaned a one mile drainage
ditch behind houses and mobile homes in Mt. Mesa. The arrangement was
that this project was done at no cost to the property owners this year
but they must maintain this cleared area or the county will charge
them for future fuels removal. Fuels Crew 87 completed this project
with the help of the chipper.
Ken Stevens received a letter of commendation for the Kern River
Valley Fire Safe Council from the California Department of Forestry
Fire Chief Dennis Thompson and CDF Director Ruben Grijalva. The
“Certificate of Appreciate” states: “ For your dedication to the
citizens of your community and to the State of California through your
fire prevention efforts making your neighborhoods a safer environment
for the people who live there and for firefighters who may have to
defend your homes during a wildfire.” It was agreed this certificate
will be framed and displayed publicly. Location to be determined.
BLM: Sue Rocha
Sue reports BLM is experiencing numerous personnel changes which
affects local efforts i.e. stations, engines and personnel.
Sue gave the speaker’s bureau several 100’ defensible space measuring
tapes for the upcoming programs.
Forest Service: Cindy Thill
Cindy tells us that Rick Larsen, newly appointed District Ranger, will
be “on board” in two weeks.Cindy also tells us there are currently 9
crews involved in the Goldlege Fire which is now 70% contained.
Myers Canyon: Emily Diggles
Emily reports that the chipper day event went well. Emily submitted
her data records which were beautifully detailed along with photos.
Ken Stevens will be the safe keeper of these records.
Lake Isabella-Bodfish: Christine and Gordon Hancock have once again
volunteered to maintain a FSC booth at the September 17th Health Faire
from 9 – 11 AM. Educational information will be provided to them.
Kennedy Meadows: Ed Royce tells us that their annual Membership
Meeting on Memorial Day weekend was a great success with about 90
people attending. Several “dignitaries” attended: Tina Terrell,
Sequoia Forest Supervisor as well as the Tulare County Supervisor,
Mike Innes and the Tulare County Deputy Sheriff. Patrick Pontes and
Ken Delfino attended along with BLM and Forest Service personnel.
The BLM provided a chipper and crew to assist Kennedy Meadow property
owners with reducing their hazardous fuel load(s). A thank you was
received from Max and Eleanor Hovaten, praising the BLM crew and Ed
Royce for organizing this effort.
Frontier Trails POA:
Robin reports that clearing efforts can be seen throughout this area.
The FSC will present a program this coming Saturday. Frontier Trail
POA is a sustaining supporter of the KRV FSC.
Respectfully submitted by Robin Wyatt Little, Secretary
6/25/07 |