Kern River Valley Fire Safe Council

Board of Directors and General Meeting
Thursday, November 15, 2007
 
MINUTES
 
NO MEETING IN DECEMBER. NEXT MEETING 1/17/08
 
Those present: Ed Royce, Lloyd Smith, Christine and Gordon Hancock, Emily Diggles, Bob and Linda Kubisiak, Mark Kingsbury, Rey Ramirez and Robin Wyatt-Little.
 
President Ed Royce convened the meeting at 8:49 AM. Introductions were made.
 
Corrections to minutes were made. Motion to approve: Gordon Hancock. 2nd: Linda Kubisiak. Unanimous approval.
 
Christine Hancock, Treasurer reports that we have an operating budget of $2,190.37. Grant(s) balances are: Sequoia Crest - $9,900.00; State Farm - $203.79. The West and Arkelian Foundations Educational grants have a balance of $1000.00. The Lake Isabella-Bodfish POA sent a membership check for $100.00. Motion to approve: Robin Wyatt-Little. 2nd: Emily Diggles. Unanimous approval.
 
Ed Royce reports for Patrick Pontes, Grant Administrator, that we are still waiting for the contract agreement letters from the State FSC and BLM’s Environmental Compliance Section. Once the State FSC sends the contract agreement letter the funding should follow soon. The anticipated BLM letter will apprise us of what level of environmental compliance will be required on our two projects.
 
Patrick has completed the required Sierra Nevada Conservancy draft Summary Statements; one for the ASV Mulcher purchase and the other for the Environmental Compliance and License-To-Enter Agreement grants. We are required to contact the SNC to discuss our proposed projects before we complete the application and submit. Discussion followed regarding these draft and comments will be made to Patrick prior to contacting the SNC and submission of the draft summaries.
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For the 2009 Grant Period we will be applying to the State for 3 Grants: Pala Ranches Community Shaded fuel break, (our unfunded 2008 Tillie Creek fuel break submittal); Bodfish Canyon Fuel Reduction Phase II and the Piute Meadows Community Roadside Brushing and Chipping Project.
 
The State FSC quarterly grant(s) accomplishment reports are due at the end of November.
 
Patrick reminds us that the State FSC (Cathy Brooke) will be hosting a Grant Writing Workshop for the 2009 Grant Period. The workshop for our area will be held December 11th, 9AM to 1PM at the Kern County Fire Department Training Facility on Victor Drive.
 
Scott Williams sent copies of the Collaboration Committee’s future grant projects priority list. Following discussion Lloyd Smith moved to accept the Committee’s recommendations. 2nd – Emily Diggles. Unanimous approval.
 
Christine Hancock asked for clarification as to who originates the W9 income reporting forms for those receiving grant funds i.e. Patrick Pontes, Ken Delfino and Rich Olson. She will contact Albert Beutick for this information.
 
 Lloyd Smith reports that the projected fundraising goal for October 2006 through October 2007 has been met with a total of $4,252.98 raised for the operating budget. Lloyd and Ed participated in the photo op with Tom Parkin, sustaining member and Mike Thomas of Thomas Refuse, business sustaining member.
 
Ed and Lloyd discussed remarks from the community regarding public perceptions about the Fire Safe Council i.e. that perhaps positions on the FSC Board might be paid positions. Discussion followed regarding better communication to the public about the all volunteer make-up of this Fire Safe Council. To be continued.
 
KCFD Crew 87 installed another of our Road Signs one mile west of Caliente Creek and Bodfish Roads. Three up, one more to go!
 
Speaker’s Bureau quiet for the time being. Robin will contact Captain Grove for Caliente/Walker Basin POA contacts for the Speaker’s Bureau.
 
Publicity Chair position is open for volunteers. Margie Clack is stepping down as the immediate past chairperson.
 
Chipper days: All quiet for now.
 
Rey Ramirez reminds us that the KCFSC meeting will be held January 16th. More information later.
 
Website: Ed Royce tells us that Dick Sampson will continue as Webmaster until January 2008 at which time Allison Sheehey will assume the position. Thank you Allie and Dick.
 
Lloyd Smith sent requests out to his projects committee for future project ideas. Lloyd would like to see changes in communicating the FSC presence in the Valley and new educational goals for the community at large. To be continued.
 
Lloyd attended a State FSC Workshop which Allstate Insurance sponsored. The event was poorly attended but Lloyd and others who did attend gleaned ideas about involving their respective communities in FSC activities/goals.
 
Ed reminded those attending that nominations need to be made for the upcoming January elections. Lloyd Smith volunteered to be President, Ed Royce volunteered to serve as Vice President and Christine Hancock and Robin Wyatt-Little volunteered to serve another year as treasurer and secretary, respectively. There were no other volunteers at this time. Nominations can be made from the floor at the January meeting.
Ed feels that a two year term is needed giving an officer time to learn the in’s and out’s of Fire Safe Council business.
 
Kennedy Meadows has scheduled their 4th chipper day, November 17th, utilizing the BLM chipper this time. Lloyd Smith reports that Sally Peterson negotiated with Cal Trans to groom a wider swath on the road shoulders in the Walker Basin/Jacks Creek area. Cal Trans complied and Lloyd will organize a neighborhood cleanup of the brush that Cal Trans removed but is lying at the edge of the shoulder work area.
Frontier Trail POA is in the process of replacing all hydrant covers with newly constructed ones and retrofitting all hose hook-ups to conform to KCFD specifications. Plans are moving along for an additional Frontier Trail water tank to service their water system. Emily reports that they still struggle with vacant lot cleanup and those who impede fire safety progress in their neighborhood.
 
Meeting adjourned at 11:30 AM by President Ed Royce.
 
Reminder: NO DECEMBER MEETING!!!!!!!!!!! The January meeting will be Thursday, January 17th, 8AM in the Supervisor’s Conference Room.
CURRENT MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO BRING A FRIEND/NEIGHBOR TO THE JANUARY 2008 MEETING.
 
THIS FIRE SAFE COUNCIL NEEDS CONTINUED PARTICIPATION FROM PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROPERTY OWNER ASSOCIATIONS. THIS IS AN ALL- VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EDUCATION AND PREVENTION OF CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE IN THE KERN RIVER VALLEY AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES. PLEASE JOIN US IN THIS EFFORT.