GRIZZLY FLATS FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
FEBRUARY 3, 2007

 
  1. CALL TO ORDER
    The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Marylou Brown at 10:04 a.m. in the Lodge of the Grizzly Flats Community Church.
  2. FLAG SALUTE
    Chairperson Brown led the flag salute.
  3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
    Chairperson Brown asked for any amendments to the agenda. There being none, Walt Tyler moved the Agenda be approved as presented, and Lee Loney seconded the motion.
  4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
    Chairperson Brown acknowledged guests in attendance, Katrina Rasbold and Tom Criel. Katrina spoke on behalf of GFORCE and advised that the Bingo night was a success and fun for everyone. This month's Bingo is scheduled for February 23 and she encouraged all to attend. Plans are already in the works for this year's Founders' Day celebration in September. Mark Almer congratulated Katrina for the excellent website she is hosting for our community and the Fire Safe Council. Chief Bob Signor also took the opportunity to express his thanks to the Council and the community for their Letter of Support recently presented to the Pioneer Fire Association Board.
  5. MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 6, 2007 MEETING
    Moved by Walt Tyler and seconded by Liz Lawless to approve as presented.
  6. FINANCE
    Terry Henderson reported that funds on deposit total $4,589.87 as of February 3, 2007. Vicki Yorty also reported that the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council's audit was completed and that they had passed. She did indicate, however, that as we operate under their umbrella, that our funds on deposit would need to be reported as income by them.
  7. OLD BUSINESS
    Demonstration Lots - Walt Tyler showed a photo of the Krieg property before work commenced. He advised that Barry Callenberger would be getting with Vicki Yorty for the format and content of the letters to be sent/delivered to property owners along the evacuation routes.
  8. NEW BUSINESS:
    1. Evacuation Committee Report - Rich Englefield brought maps showing names, addresses, and parcel numbers within the six areas affected by the Plan. He also prepared three sets of labels for each parcel to be utilized in the notification process. As indicated under Old Business, Barry Callengerger is creating the notification and permission letters to be sent to property owners. Discussion ensued concerning absent owners and their willingness to participate in this project. Rich advised he would contact the Porters concerning this issue.
    2. Demonstration Lots Signage Language/Approval of Funds - Norma Dawdy handed out a sheet which had two different proposals for the language to be utilized on the signs to be posted on the two demonstration lots. After discussion by the Council, it was agreed that the language should be as brief as possible with the website carrying more detailed information (or a box along side the sign with more detailed information). The new language approved by the Council is as follows: Evacuation Route Demonstration Area. For your fire safe protection, your property's frontage should look like this. For more information, go to www.grizzlyflatsca.com. Mark Almer moved that the Board be authorized to order four signs with this language and Judie Irwin seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Mark Almer will visit several sign shops to negotiate the best deal and advise the Board.
    3. Board Elections - Marylou Brown reminded the Council of the upcoming change in officers and requested those interested in serving to contact the present Board
    4. BBQ Fundraiser - Norma Dawdy advised that Terry and Sandi Bush had again offered their property for this event, if the Council wanted to undertake this fundraiser. The Council agreed to do the event again and it was agreed that the date would be August 11, 2007. Terry and Dennis Henderson Judie Irwin, Kathie Hawkins, Liz Lawless, Rich Englefield, Tom Scepura, Jim King, Walt Tyler, Jack Fourie, Tom and Kathy Criel initially volunteered for duty.
  9. COMMITTEE REPORTS
    1. NEWSLETTER
      Terry Henderson advised she had not received any articles yet for the February 15th deadline on the next newsletter. Lynn Shetley and Vicki Yorty both responded with.
    2. MONTHLY EDCFSC REPORT
      Walt Tyler advised of the Annual Gathering of the Councils to be held in Diamond Springs on January 24, 2007. A $25,000 grant was submitted for green waste dumpsters. Vicki Yorty advised she will try for a $35,000 grant for a county-wide biomass program.
    3. EDCFSC LIAISON
      Rich Englefield had no new information to report.
    4. UNIT VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
      Mark Almer advised of new name cards from Terry Henderson for the unit leaders to include in evacuation packets.
    5. COMMUNITY INFORMATION
      Eric Rasbold reported that the Founder's Day event at the Grizzly Pines school made $1,500 to be utilized for a Sutter Fort field trip this year. Plans are underway for the next Founder's Day to be around September 1st. The Christmas Parade was a big success and GFORCE is looking at a possible Easter Parade or Fourth of July Parade. He further reported that there is an intense commitment to have Bingo in Grizzly, but with no cash prizes.
    6. DEFENSIBLE SPACE
      Lynn Shetley advised 178 developed parcels have been visited thus far. This represents one-third of parcels which need to be visited. She expressed concern that even with the strong support of Pioneer firefighters (2-4 firefighters each day), it would be a full year from now before all parcels are visited once. Vicki Yorty stated that funding is available from the El Dorado County Council to hire help with these visits. A map of Grizzly Flats showing all of the parcels within each unit was passed around. Lynn will write a progress report on defensible space to be included in the next newsletter.
    7. CERT
      Liz Lawless was not present. Lynn Shetley spoke to the Fire Safety/Fire Prevention programs (designed and implemented by Chief Bob Signor) in the district's elementary schools which are presented three times a year. Two CERT members, A. J. Janzen and Judie Irwin, have completed Medical First Responder training, and Judie Irwin has also passed EMT training. All CERT members will be attending NIMS (organization of emergency services during a disaster) training. CERT supported the Christmas Parade at Grizzly Pines School by providing traffic control, first aid and communications.
  10. BOARD COMMENTS/ COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
    Walt Tyler expressed his thanks to those within the community who attended his retirement party from the Pioneer Fire Board and for the new belt buckle he received. Mark Almer advised of a new sign identifying the Trestle Trail.
  11. AGENCY REPRESENTATION
    1. USFS - Don Jensen advised this is the slow time of the year. He spoke to staff changes: the retirement of the Amador District Ranger, the reassignment of Kathy Hardy to Stanislaus and Teresa Riesenhuber is now with the Pacific District. Ed Chico is still in Grizzly.
    2. CDF - No representation
    3. SHERIFF -No representation.
    4. 2nd DISTRICT SUPERVISOR -No representation.
    5. DOT -Don Spear was absent.
    6. PFPD -Chief Signor is in Brazil.
    7. GFCSD - Rich Englefield advised that there was no December meeting. There were, however, three special meetings held. One was with EID concerning the proposed reservoir site. The second was with other agencies concerning drought analysis and the third was concerning the Joint Use Fire Station and Community Center. Rich believes bids for both buildings should be done at the same time to try to bring costs down. Discussion followed concerning the placement of the buildings and the possible relocation of the helipad.
  12. NEW BUSINESS - Addressed prior to Agency Representation in Agenda due to time limitations of guest speakers.
    1. El Dorado County Development Services Department - Larry Lohman, Deputy Director, and Steve Hust (introductions by Mark Almer). Mr Lohman spoke to dispelling the confusion regarding canopy and defensible space requirements. He stated that El Dorado County and CDF are working through conflicting rules with regard to tree regulations. There was discussion of "continuous forest" interpretation and inspectors' interpretation. Steve Hust acknowledged some possible "field confusion". The County can't or chooses not to assert itself into timber operators who work under Woodland rules and not Conifer Forest rules.
  13. COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS - None
  14. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING FEBRUARY 3, 2007 - None
  15. ADJOURN - The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 p.m. on motion made by Walt Tyler and seconded by Phill Dayton.
     
    Respectfully submitted:
     
    Kathie Hawkins, Pro Tem