GRIZZLY FLATS FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
October 4, 2008

 
  1. Call to Order
    The regular monthly meeting of the Grizzly Flats Fire Safe Council was held on Saturday, October 4, 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
    Duane Nelson led the flag salute.
     
  3. Council Members - Attendance
    Mark Almer Phill Dayton Steve Hupner Kathy Melvin Brent Seibert
    Don Cherry Kathie Hawkins Mel Kelley Eric Rasbold Lynn Shetley
    Kathy Criel Dennis Henderson Jim King Bill Roloson Lyle Tomlin
    Norma Dawdy Terry Henderson Bob Krieg Tom Scepura Walt Tyler

     
  4. Approval of Agenda
    Walt Tyler requested that the Council Member Comments be discussed after Public Comments. The Council members agreed to make this a permanent change, effective with this meeting. Lynn Shetley noted that the New Business item, CERT Request for Funding was not on the prepared Agenda. The item was added to the Agenda as item 9-C. Norma Dawdy moved and Lynn Shetley seconded that the Agenda be approved as amended. The motion carried.
    [Editorial note: The order of the items in these minutes reflect this Agenda Change]

     
  5. Minutes of the September 6, 2008 Regular Council Meeting
    Walt Tyler moved and Norma Dawdy seconded that the September 6, 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 October 3, 2008 totaled $11,799.82.
     
  7. Public Comments
    Ray Nutting reported that as a frequent attendee of many of the satellite Fire Safe Councils in El Dorado County , he has observed that the Grizzly Flats Fire Safe Council was the most organized, and offered his praise for their many accomplishments.
     
  8. Council Member Comments
     
    • Walt Tyler reported that he and Lynn Shetley had recently met with ten members of the Grizzly Flats Community Church. He reported that the Church expressed their desire to do a community fund raising event. Walt reported that he had offered to assist with food preparation, and explained that the Church would be responsible for the event's main attraction. Lynn reported that CERT would provide their services and support. She also expressed her appreciation to the Church with the recent Grizzly Flats Cleanup event. Chairperson Mark Almer requested that the Fire Safe Council members support the Church's fund raising event and clarified that the Fire Safe Council could not offer financial support; the Council Bylaws are specific as to how Council fund can be used. Eric Paulson, representing the Church, thanked everyone for their support and explained that since the recent referenced meeting, the Church had revised its plans and are now planning to have an Open House, which will include food
       
    • Walt Tyler expressed an interest in seeing the community Food Closet retained within the community and not sent down the hill. Lynn Shetley further discussed a community Food Closet. She explained that Pastor Wheatley (the Church) had agreed to the use of the Church for the Food Closet. Lynn expressed an interest in a community Food Closet associated with the County Food Bank, and using community facilities such as those at the GFCSD, the Church and the Post Office.
       
    • Jim King discussed the need for community property owners to remove small "go-nowhere-trees" that are potential ladder fuels in a wildland fire.
       
    • Mark Almer reported that Council member Bob Signor had contacted him and resigned his position on the Fire Safe Council. Mark reported that Signor expressed his thanks for the opportunity to serve as a Council member and wished to remain on the mailing list. With Signor's resignation, Mark expressed an interest in filling that empty position with a community member that has been volunteering to the community and the Council as a Unit Leader without being a member of the Council. With that introduction, Mark nominated John Rogers.
      Motion
      Kathy Criel moved and Walt Tyler seconded that John Rogers be made a member of the Grizzly Flats Fire Safe Council. The Motion carried.
       
    • Mark Almer passed out a document prepared by Steve Hupner discussing the results of the Council members ability to receive "pdf" formatted email attachments. The document shows that Marylou Brown and Bob Krieg do not have computers, Walt Tyler and Liz Lawless had not responded to the survey (test), Phill Dayton is not able to receive documents on his BlackBerry, and the rest of the Council members are able to receive "pdf" formatted email attachments. Mark reported that based on these results, the Secretary will continue to distribute Council business "mail" by email with "pdf" formatted attachments and that hard copies of the documents would be mailed to those that are unable to receive e-mail. Phill Dayton expressed that it would not be necessary to send him a hard copy, that he would read the Agenda and Minutes when he arrives at the meeting.
       
  9. Old Business
     
    1. GF-4 Common Area Gates - Chairperson Mark Almer reported that since the last Council meeting, he had discussed the matter of installing gates across the access road to the common area behind some of the properties in Unit #8 with the EDCFSC. In accordance with the Fire Safe Council Bylaws, spending Council funds on such improvements is not an acceptable use of those funds and therefore the project would not proceed. Almer suggested that if the Unit #8 residents felt they needed the gates, they should get together and act on their needs. Rich Englefield provided additional background and some history of the requirements listed in the Bylaws.
       
    2. Smoke Detector Drive - Eric Rasbold reported that there have been 8 responses from the community water billing insert requesting smoke detectors, and that those requests have been scheduled for installation on Sunday, October 5, 2008. Eric requested that if there was anyone present at the meeting that wished to participate in the smoke detector program that they should speak up now as the remainder of the smoke detector inventory would be turned over to the Pioneer Fire Prevent District for their distribution into the Fire District in a manner as they see fit.
       
  10. New Business
     
    1. Pacific Gas and Electric Company Demonstration, Exhibit and Discussion - Steve Brown and Greg Cocard, linemen with PG&E, provided an informative presentation and discussion on electrical transmission line safety.
       
    2. Fund Raiser - "Grizzly Flat - The First 50 Years" - Text For Sale - Mark Almer discussed the possibilities of making the subject text, authored by Keith Algier in 1992, available for sale as a Council fund raiser. Walt Tyler expressed the opinion that the text was not factual. There being no one to champion the matter, the subject of this fund raiser was dropped.
       
    3. CERT Request for Funds - Lynn Shetley reported that CERT can not take financial support.
       
  11. Agency Representation
     
    1. USFS - District Ranger Duane Nelson introduced members of his staff, including Steve Parr and Brian Lavine. Steve described the fuel reduction work along String Canyon Road at the Forest Service Property. The multiple piles will be burned during this wet weather season. Because the smoke will be an issue, the burn will be scheduled for a weekend when school is not in session. Additionally, there will be lots of information put out to the public in advance of the burn. Brian described the planning and scheduling of the fuel reduction project called the Henry's Prescribed Fire Project. The project is a 2,000 acre burn that will include multiple phases. The project is projected for the Spring of 2009 at the gentler upper elevations and the Fall of 2009 at the steeper lower elevations. The burn will be schedule based on the weather. Brian also discussed fuel reduction burns at other portion of the Eldorado National Forest.
       
    2. Cal Fire - No representation.
       
    3. Sheriff - No representation.
       
    4. 2nd District Supervisor - No representation.
       
    5. DOT - Highway Superintendent Don Spear reported that the County budget was recently passed and there are the same funds in the DOT portion of the budget as there were in last year's budget, therefore, the Grizzly Flats community can expect the same level of road maintenance and snow removal services as last year. Don offered to provide a snow plow show and tell experience for the Council at the November meeting. The offer was well received by all in attendance.
       
    6. PFPD - In Chief Gill's absence, Phill Dayton read Chief Gill's monthly report. A copy of Chief Gill's report is attached at the end of these minutes.
       
    7. GFCSD - Mel Kelley reported on the status of the used truck recently purchased from the El Dorado Irrigation District. Rich Englefield reported that the GFCSD Board of Directors will be discussing the water billing rate at its October 14, 2008 meeting. District General Manager Bob Hovland reported that the reservoir is up 3" and will start to over flow with an additional12" of water depth.
       
  12. Committee Reports
     
    1. Newsletter - Eric Rasbold reported that he is looking for someone to take over the publication of the newsletter. Terry Henderson suggested that the newsletter should be distributed quarterly. Suggested topic for discussion in the newsletter included: the Henry's Prescribed Fire Project, Snow removal at fire hydrants, articles of interest from the Eldorado National Forest, the County DOT, and the GFCSD.
       
    2. Monthly EDCFSC Report - Walt Tyler reported: the County of El Dorado owes the EDCFSC approximately $70,000., so projects are slow in being coordinated right now. Walt also reported that there will be BLM money for next year's chipping program.
       
    3. Unit Volunteer Coordinator - No report.
       
    4. Community Information - Eric Rasbold reported that:
       
      • This year's Bingo in Grizzly Flats will start at 4:00 p.m., October 5, 2008 at Fire Station #35.
         
      • There will be a swap meet on October 18, 2008 between 9:00 and 3:00 at, and next to, Fire Station #35.
         
      • Walt Tyler reported that the annual Halloween event will include a haunted house and take place on November 1, 2008 at Fire Station #35.

       
    5. Defensible Space - In Judie Irwin's absence, Mark Almer reported that the property owner for the Grizzly Flats Post Office property has contacted him to report that the property is now cleaned up and ready for a followup evaluation. Mark asked Tom Scepura and Jim King to make that evaluation when they have time in their schedules.
       
    6. CERT - Lynn Shetley reported that the Tire Amnesty program is taking place at the Placerville Fair Grounds over the weekend of October 4 & 5, 2008; at no charge to the public. Lynn also reported there will be a hazardous waste collection taking place at Fire Station #38 on October 11, 2008, 9:00 to noon and at no charge to the public. Lynn reminded the Council that the Christmas family event is coming, and she looks forward to a coordinated effort with the Community Church and/or others. Robin Kelley can be contacted for more information.
       
  13. Community Announcements - No Announcements
     
  14. Agenda Items for next Meeting - November 1, 2008
     
    1. Paid service for Fire Safe Council Agenda advertising
       
    2. Snow plow show and tell experience
       
  15. Adjourn
    The meeting was adjourned at 12:28 p.m. on a motion by Walt Tyler and seconded by Tom Scepura.
    The motion carried.
     
Respectfully submitted:
Steve Hupner, Secretary