GRIZZLY FLATS FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
September 6, 2008

 
  1. Call to Order
    The regular monthly meeting of the Grizzly Flats Fire Safe Council was held on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at the Grizzly Flats Fire Station #35. Chairperson Mark Almer called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m., the Secretary being present. Guests were welcomed and asked to introduce themselves.
     
  2. Flag Salute
    Brent Seibert led the flag salute.
     
  3. Council Members - Attendance
    Council members in attendance:
    • Mark Almer • Norma Dawdy • Mel Kelley • Bill Roloson • Lyle Tomlin
    • Marylou Brown • Phill Dayton • Liz Lawless • Tom Scepura • Walt Tyler
    • Don Cherry • Kathie Hawkins • Kathy Melvin • Brent Seibert
    • Kathy Criel • Steve Hupner • Eric Rasbold • Lynn Shetley

     
  4. Approval of Agenda
    Chairperson Mark Almer identified a correction to the Agenda and recommended 2 items be taken out of their listed order to accommodate the presenters schedule. Walt Tyler moved and Phill Dayton seconded that the Agenda be approved as amended. The motion carried.
     
  5. Minutes of the August 2, 2008 Regular Council Meeting
    Phill Dayton moved and Norma Dawdy seconded that the August 2, 2008 Regular Council Meeting Minutes be approved as presented. The Motion carried.
     
  6. Treasurer's Report
    Treasurer Kathy Melvin reported that the funds on deposit as of September 5, 2008 totaled $11,279.04.
     
    Out of sequence Item: See Item 9.C New Business- 2008-2009 GFFSC Budget
     
  7. Public Comments
    A member of the audience questioned what the income from the recent fund raiser was to be used for. Chairperson Almer described the multiple activities that the GFFSC provides to the community.
     
  8. Old Business
     
    1. Selection of GFFSC Meeting Place - Lynn Shetley described the events of her recent meeting with the Grizzly Flats Community Church Board of Directors; explaining that the Church Board was apologetic about their recent request for additional use of facilities funds. Lynn explained to the Board that the GFFSC received no funding, and invited the Board members to attend the monthly GFFSC meetings and/or CERT meetings.
       
      Walt Tyler described his recent meeting with Pastor Wheatley, wherein the Pastor said ". . . the church had let the request for funding go". Tyler and the Pastor discussed the relationship of the Church and the Grizzly Flats Community.
       
      Motion
      Norma Dawdy moved and Eric Rasbold seconded "that the Grizzly Flats Fire Safe Council should hold its regular meetings at the Grizzly Flats Community Church Lodge."
       
      Discussion
      The council members discussed the advantages and disadvantages of using the Grizzly Flats Fire Station #35 and the Grizzly Flats Community Church. Members of the Council expressed their personal feelings that they wanted the Church to be a part of the Community before the FSC should return to the Church Lodge.
       
      Vote
      The vote was 4 to approve and 13 against moving the GFFSC regular meeting place to the Community Church Lodge. [Treasurer Kathy Melvin had departed before consideration of this item.] The Motion failed.
       
    2. Evacuation and GF-4 Shaded Fuel Break Committee Reports - Consultant Barry Callenberger reported that the end date for the Evacuation Shaded Fuel Break had been extended to the end of November, 2008, and that additional properties would be included in the treatment. Walt Tyler questioned if the needed work at Woodpecker Acres was to be done. Callenberger responded by saying no approval to treat that area had been received. The importance of the area was discussed. Community residents Sandiforth (4932 Creekside Drive) asked if the undeveloped lot at the southwest corner of Creekside Drive and Old Mine Road was to be treated. Tom Scepura, representing the defensible space committee said they will look for the contact information on the landowners. The Council discussed the need to clean the first 20' along both sides of the evacuation routes out of the community.
       
      Callenberger reported that the remainder of the GF-4 Shaded Fuel Break funding will be done through the El Dorado County & Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts office, and that Mark Egbert, District Manager will be handling the funding.
       
      Callenberger reported that the GF-5 Grant had been approved by Cal Fire.
       
      Callenberger reported that a federal congressional staff met with Vicki Yorty and he, and visited the Georgetown area to see fuel reduction practices. The Grizzly Flats work was discussed during that event, even though the Grizzly Flats area was not visited.
       
    3. Sphere of Recognition - the Boundary - Consultant Barry Callenberger reported that no new information was available.
       
    4. Happy Valley Inclusion Request into GFFSC Sphere of Recognition - Proponent Claire McNeal was not in attendance at the meeting. Ray Nutting explained that McNeal was actively contacting the Happy Valley neighbors and that the item would be presented to the Council at a date during the winter. Chairperson Mark Almer suggested that the proponent pull this item from the Council's Agenda until February 2009. The Secretary will send an e-mail to Clair McNeal discussing the matter.
       
    5. BBQ Fund Raiser - Post Event Accounting - Eric Rasbold reported that the BBQ fund raiser was a success and included in excess of 200 volunteer hours and produced an income of $7,682.50. The net receipts were $6,382.21.
       
    6. Smoke Detector Drive - Eric Rasbold reported that the Smoke Detector distribution program was advertised in a flier distributed thru the CSD water bills, and resulted in 2 responses. Smoke Detectors are scheduled for installation on October 5 and 12, 2008. A thank you press release for the smoke detectors is scheduled and will name Kidde Fire, Placerville Home Depot, and Folsom Costco as donation sources.
       
    7. Legal Response Regarding GF-4 Gates - Chairperson Mark Almer provided the Council with the history of the matter. Almer asked Bill Roloson, resident in Unit #8, to look at his deed to see how it reads regarding the Common Area. Roloson will research his deed. Roloson reported that since the recent GF-4 mastication, he has observed debris and other evidence of people using the common area.
       
      Motion
      Liz Lawless moved and Marylou Brown seconded that the Council agreed to be committed to installing a gate at both ends of the common area road if there is a 100% written agreement from the Unit #8 contiguous neighbors to the common area.
       
      Vote
      The vote was 15 to approve and 2 against a committed agreement to install the subject gates. [Treasurer Kathy Melvin had departed before consideration of this item.] The Motion carried.
       
      Discussion
      Sheriff's Deputy Hunt gave the opinion that the installation of gates would not prevent inappropriate use of the Common Area and that the existence of gates will make it less likely a dispatched Deputy will drive into the Common Area.
       
      Out of sequence Item: See Item 11. Agency Representation; Pioneer Fire Prevention District (PFPD)
       
  9. New Business
     
    1. Animal evacuations from Grizzly Flats - Patty Perry, El Dorado Co. Animal Control Officer provided an informative presentation and discussion on the evacuation of animals, domestic pets and live stock during a wildland fire.
       
    2. Fund Raiser - "Grizzly Flat - The First 50 Years" - Text For Sale - Tabled to the next meeting
       
    3. GFFSC 2008-2009 Budget - Treasurer Kathy Melvin presented the 2008-2009 Budget. The Council acknowledged and accepted the Budget.
       
    4. 2008 GFFSC Cleanup - Lynn Shetley reported on the preparation and planning for the September 27, 2008 Grizzly Flats Community Cleanup.
       
  10. Agency Representation
     
    1. USFS - No representation.
       
    2. Cal Fire – No representation.
       
    3. Sheriff - See discussion item at item 8.G.
       
    4. 2nd District Supervisor – No representation.
       
    5. DOT – No representation.
       
    6. PFPD – In Chief Gill's absence, Fire Captain Justin Andrews gave Chief Gill's monthly report. A copy of Chief Gill's report is attached at the end of these minutes.
       
    7. GFCSD – In CSD Director Rich Englefield absence, Mel Kelley and Brent Seibert reported on:
       
      • The status of the CSD generator. It is up and running.
         
      • The pond. A flyer on the pond were distributed in the last CSD billing envelope.
         
      • The status of the current water supply. The water level in the system is going down. If there is an additional 3" loss of water, the District may need to impose a Stage 2 water emergency. Such action is possible before the end of the Summer.
         
      • Fire hydrant evaluations. Those property owners with a fire hydrants on their property are encouraged to do a visual hydrant evaluation. If the hydrant is impacted by dirt or brush, or if there appears to be a leak, the property owner should contact the CSD office with their findings.
         
  11. Committee Reports
     
    1. Newsletter - Eric Rasbold reported that there was no newsletter this past month. The next newsletter is expected to be out next month.
       
    2. Monthly EDCFSC Report - Coordinator Vicki Yorty was not present to provide a report.
       
    3. Unit Volunteer Coordinator - No report.
       
    4. Community Information - Eric Rasbold reported that:
       
      • Founders Day has been postponed.
         
      • Bingo in Grizzly Flats is about to start. See the Grizzly Flat web site for more information.
         
    5. Defensible Space - In Judie Irwin absence, Tom Scepura reported that 12 defensible space property evaluation were done this past month. Scepura also reported that 30 to 40 percent of the community properties are vacant/unoccupied parcels. Scepura's information is in further discussion of item 8.B regarding unoccupied parcels needing fuel reduction treatment. Brent Seibert offered that there are 611 water meters in the community, so it is possible to know more about which parcels are unoccupied, making research of those properties easier for the defensible space fuel reduction process.
       
    6. CERT - Liz Lawless reported that the CPR class at Station #38 was a success. Lynn Shetley reported that CERT's next activity was the September 27th Community Cleanup.
       
  12. Council Member Comments
     
    1. Mark Almer reported that shirts and hats (and a variety of other garments) with the council's logo can still be ordered.
       
    2. Eric Rasbold reported that there are full bottles of wine left over from the BBQ Fund Raise and they are being offered for sale to the Council first, and then to the public.
       
    3. Lynn Shetley announced that the Pioneer Fire Protection District will have their next Board of Director's meeting at Grizzly Flats' Fire Station #35 on September 9, 2008. Their District's Budget will receive its final review.
       
    4. Liz Lawless distributed a letter to the Council Members in which she describes her dissatisfaction with her inability to open e-mail attachments from the Secretary. The matter was discussed and concluded with an offer by Rebeca Marshall to assist Lawless with her computer and an offer by the Secretary to coordinate a fact finding e-mail to the Council members to learn who might be having e-mail communication problems.
       
    5. Phill Dayton asked if it was possible for the GFFSC to provide funds to the GF CERT. Chairperson Mark Almer said the subject would be placed on the October 2008 Agenda for discussion.
       
    6. Don Cherry asked if anyone is aware of abandoned vehicles in the community or surrounding forest area. If so, Don asked that he be notified. In the event Don has a problem with communications to the Sheriff's office, Mark Almer offered his assistance.
       
  13. Community Announcements
    No Announcements.
     
  14. Agenda Items for the Next Meeting - October 4, 2008
     
    1. Fund Raiser: Grizzly Flat - The First Fifty Years; A text to be offered for sale.
       
    2. CERT Request for Funds
       
  15. Adjourn
    The meeting was adjourned at 12:43 p.m. on a motion by Norma Dawdy. The motion carried.
     
Respectfully submitted:
Steve Hupner, Secretary