KERN RIVER VALLEY FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
Board of Directors and General Meeting
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Those present: Ed Royce, Lloyd Smith, Christine and Gordon Hancock,
Cindy Thill, J. Skip Reymann, Tom Parkin, Gabriele Kidwell, Devin
Travis, Emily Diggles, Robert Robinson, Ken Stevens and Robin
Wyatt-Little.
President Ed Royce convened the meeting at 8:30 A.M. Introductions
were made.
Minutes: Gordon Hancock moved to accept. Tom Parkin – 2nd. Unanimous
approval.
Treasurer’s Report: Christine Hancock reports our operating budget
balance to be $4,845.26. The FSC liability insurance premium has been
paid ($310.00.) Grant balances are: Frazier Park-$250.00; Hungry
Gulch-$14,952.59; Kennedy Meadows-$2,979.78 and Mt. Pinos-$2,400.00.
Robin moved to accept. Gaby-2nd. Unanimous approval.
Grants: Ed Royce and Lloyd Smith report that the Grant Clearinghouse
received 213 grant proposals for 2008 totaling $19 million.
Ken Delfino responded to the Sequoia Crest RFP. Copies were given to
Gaby Kidwell and Harry Love. Rich Olson will oversee this grant and
will receive an electronic copy of Ken’s proposal.
Ken Stevens reports that Hungry Gulch fuels reduction project is
completed. Remaining piles will be burned weather permitting.
Fundraising: Lloyd Smith reports that he has submitted a grant request
proposal for $1500.00 to the Kern Community Foundation to assist with
production and printing of FSC brochures. He will submit a new KRV FSC
“Ad” in the Foundation’s Community Connections newsletter.
Lloyd requested and received from Sharon and Christine, a list of
previous FSC contributors.
Lloyd initiated a discussion of the history of HDFPA (High Desert Fire
Prevention Association) in preparation for possible future poster
contest funding. Robin will research current officers of HDFPA and
relay this information to Lloyd.
Garden Project: To date, Ed has not been able to secure a chairperson
for this project. Unanimous agreement the project has good merit. Ed
outlined the process needed. Discussion followed regarding the who,
what, when and how. To be continued.
Road Sign(s) Project: Lloyd submitted the formal proposal to SCE. To
date no word on SCE funding. Lloyd will follow up with Debbie Hess.
Cindy Thill has received approval back on all four permits (three from
the State and one from Kern County.) Lloyd Smith signed the permit
applications. There are minor stipulations such as no work to be done
on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays for the County sign. The State
requires annual renewal of their permits. Cindy has the contact people
for both agencies and reminded the FSC that the Cal Trans contact must
be notified two days in advance of any work to be done on the signs.
The County has stipulated that their sign must be installed by August
2007. It was agreed that this can be accomplished. BLM will assist
with the Walker Pass and Paul’s Place sign(s) installations. Robin
will confirm the FSC volunteers who will maintain each sign and relay
this information to Cindy.
Speakers Bureau: Robin reports that the FSC presentation for the North
Kern Property Owners went very well with 19 attending. Ken Stevens (KCFD),
Cindy Thill (USFS) and Debbie Santiago (BLM) participated in the Q&A
period. Ed Royce introduced the program. Ken showed an excellent DVD
with graphic visuals of fire behavior and the speed at which a
wildfire spreads.
The FSC will give an introductory program to the Kern Valley Chamber
of Commerce Board of Directors on March 28th. Ed, Lloyd and Ken will
be the presenters.
Robin and Margaret Belz are working to arrange a FSC program for KRV
Century 21 Realtors. Also, Robin will join the USFS in a booth at this
year’s Bio Regions Festival, April 28th and 29th. Robin will contact
Wendy Rannals for details. Gordon and Christine Hancock will research
the possibility of a FSC booth at the upcoming Health Faire and
determine if this is feasible. Emily Diggles will arrange with Robin
for a FSC program in April for the Myers Canyon neighborhood.
Chipper Days: Gaby Kidwell asked if specific data could be made
available following a chipper day event i.e. tonnage of chipped
material and number of persons involved in the event. While there are
forms for the property owners to fill out with this type of
information, it is unclear if they do this. Robin will contact
Margaret to arrange a follow-up protocol for chipper days.
Website: Lloyd would like to see a page dedicated to recruiting
volunteers for the FSC, outlining what the needs are and how a
volunteer can join us.
Lloyd would also like to create a page dedicated to FSC contributors.
It was agreed both ideas would be acceptable. To be continued.
Kern County FSC: Ken Stevens reports that the Sierra Nevada
Conservancy (SNC) has requested information from Kern County as they
develop their guidelines and policies. Ken will be involved in
responding to specific SNC questions.
The fuel crews will begin March 19, working on various projects in the
KRV.
John Smith is preparing a fire history map for Kern River
Revitalization website.
Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC): Ed and Lloyd attended the 3/l3
meeting. They had studied the proposed SNC guidelines and made several
suggestions for a more comprehensive approach dealing with fuel
reduction projects for Fire Safe Councils through their grant
programs.
Both Ed and Lloyd feel the SNC will be a valuable FSC partner.
Lloyd will work with Pat Pontes regarding the Fall 07 deadline for SNC
grant proposal applications.
Forest Service: Cindy reiterated the information about the Bio Regions
booth.
BLM: Devin Travis outlined current and proposed BLM fuels projects for
the KRV: Kennedy Meadows road brushing and chipping in April which
will be coordinated with Ed Royce; Piute Mountain Road, Shirley Creek
and Pala Ranches fuel reduction projects will be ongoing. Devin said
the BLM is planning to purchase a larger, longer armed Brush Grinder
which will be based in Bakersfield. Devin said that the BLM will be in
a position to interface with Sierra Nevada Conservancy projects as BLM
has environmental assessments completed for BLM land.
Property Owners Associations:
Alta Sierra: All quiet.
Alder Creek/Sequoia Crest: Gaby reports they have just received their
501c3 status; received a response to their RFP and Harry Love is
researching Prop 40 funding for future fire safe projects.
Squirrel Valley: Tom Parkin reports that John Hughes is once again
President of their POA. Go John! Their chipper day is scheduled for
May 5th.
Myers Canyon: Emily reports that four 2.5 acre parcels have been
cleared by the owners. Another resident (not Emily this time) has
taken on the grant funding process for more road paving. Emily is
working on an update of the Myers Canyon resident(s) list. An April
FSC program will be scheduled.
Isabella Highlands: Skip Reymann is receiving the torch from Jim
Davis
and has committed to maintaining the Hwy 178 road sign once it is
installed.
Frontier Trails: Robin will arrange a FSC presentation for the June
meeting.
Walker Pass: Lloyd has suggested moving the agencies evaluation of the
Walker Pass/Jacks Creek area from April 28th to a May date. It seems
the area residents are busy clearing and Lloyd feels the evaluation
would be more on target once the clearing is completed. The chipper
has been scheduled for April.
Kennedy Meadows: Ed reports the Memorial Day roadside trash pick up/
BBQ/Meeting is scheduled. Y’all come!
Bodfish/Lake Isabella: All quiet.
Meeting adjourned at 11:30 A.M.
Respectfully submitted: Robin Wyatt-Little, Secretary
REMINDER!
Next FSC Meeting – 4/19/07 8:30 A.M |