GRIZZLY FLATS FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes of January 9, 2010
Grizzly Flats Fire Station #35, Grizzly Flats, California

 
  1. Call to Order
    The Grizzly Flats Fire Safe Council Regular Meeting of January 9, 2010, was called to order by Chairperson Mark Almer at 9:00 a.m. at the Grizzly Flats Fire Station #35. Guests were welcomed and asked to introduce themselves.
     
  2. Flag Salute
    Charlie Lukes led the flag salute.
     
  3. Council Members - Attendance
    Mark Almer Phill Dayton Steve Hupner Liz Lawless Lynn Shetley
    Marylou Brown Kathie Hawkins Judie Irwin Kathy Melvin Lyle Tomlin
    Don Cherry Craig Heinrich Charlie Lukes John Rogers Walt Tyler
    Kathy Criel Dennis Henderson Bob Krieg Bill Roloson
    Norma Dawdy Terry Henderson Dan Lauther Tom Scepura

  4. Agenda Approval
    Chairperson Mark Almer asked for any amendments to the Agenda. There being none, Walt Tyler moved and Norma Dawdy seconded that the Agenda be approved as presented. The motion carried.
     
  5. Minutes of the November 7, 2009, Regular Council Meeting
    Walt Tyler moved and Dennis Henderson seconded that the Minutes of the November 7, 2009, Regular Council Meeting be approved as presented. The Motion carried.
     
  6. Treasurer's Report
    Treasurer Kathy Melvin reported the funds on deposit as of January 8, 2010, totaled $10,546.62.
     
  7. Public Comments - There were no public comments.
     
  8. Council Member Comments
     
    1. Mark Almer passed around the recent Firewise newsletter to the council members.
       
    2. Judie Irwin announced there will be an H1N1 shot clinic at Pioneer Bible Church on January 14th from 1 to 3 p.m.
       
    3. Walt Tyler discussed several issues regarding current events at the Pioneer Fire Protection District and encouraged community residents to show their interest in maintaining periodic PFPD Board meetings at the Grizzly Flats' Station 35, by attending the January 12, 2010, PFPD Board Meeting (6:00 p.m.) at Station 38 in Mt. Aukum.
       
    4. Don Cherry inquired about the ongoing discussion for a proposed AT&T cell tower to be located in Grizzly Flats. Mark Almer noted there will be an update of this matter during New Business.
       
    5. Craig Heinrich inquired about the County's plan to modify/rebuild the Bucks Bar Bridge. Mark Almer and Ray Nutting provided a brief discussion of the January 6, 2010, Public Information Meeting. Ray Nutting requested that anyone with comments and/or input on the subject get in touch with Matthew Smeltzer at the El Dorado County Department of Transportation.
       
  9. Old Business
     
    1. GF-4, GF-5, GF-6, & GF-7 Committee Report - Barry Callenberger reported:
       
      • GF- 4 The Contractor (Brush Busters) will be moving on site during the coming week.
         
      • GF- 5 The Contractor (Mt. Enterprises) has been on site and working for a month.
         
      • GF- 6 & 7 Project funding has been approved, however some property owner approvals remain unsigned. The Contract is expected to be signed by May or June 2010. The GFFSC GF Project Committee will meet next in February 2010.
         
      Discussion: Barry explained the need for getting the private landowners located within these GF Projects to be responsible for all future maintenance of the treated lands as the grants do not provide money for maintenance. The best way to handle the maintenance issue is to include it in the Agreements the Landowners sign before their properties are treated. Ray Nutting discussed the use of fire as the method of future project area fuel reduction maintenance. Barry offered that if fire was to be used it would require Cal Fire's involvement . Barry suggested the project areas would likely require maintenance in 5 to 7 years.
       
  10. New Business
     
    1. Update on Green Waste Chipping at 9060 Grizzly Flat Road - Mark Almer reported the large chipping piles on Grizzly Flat Road have been completed.
       
    2. Status of Meeting with AT&T Rep. regarding AT&T Cellular Tower in G/F - Mark Almer and Chief Gill discussed the current status of coordination with AT&T to create adequate land line infrastructure and maintenance of the infrastructure to be able to provide reliable telephone service during an electrical power outage in the community and surrounding area, and to establish an AT&T cellular tower on the GFCSD property. Such a cellular tower will create a redundancy of telephone service for not only community cell service in the community but also a redundancy of phone service during an emergency. It was agreed that it is time to have another meeting between County Supervisor Ray Nutting, Fire Chief Bob Gill, GFFSC Chair Mark Almer and representatives of AT&T. Mark noted that State Assemblyman Ted Gaines office is now aware of the phone service issue. Ray offered the County facilities for a place to hold the meeting and said he would be responsible for contacting Steve Davies of Assemblyman Ted Gaines' office for their support and/or attendance at the meeting.
       
    3. Aerial Map Sales - Mark Almer reported the inventory of the original aerial photo maps has been depleted. Mark reported that Rich Englefield indicated the County can reproduce the original 5 year old maps (without updates). The printing cost for 12 sets of the original maps is $99. The map information is off of the Google Earth website. If the Council wishes to have updated maps with current information (from the Google Earth website), the cost will be $204 to do the updates plus the $99 for 12 sets of maps. Craig Heinrich, representing the Leoni Meadows Camp, offered to donate $200 toward the updating fee if Leoni Meadows can have one set of 3 maps. Motion: With that offer, Judie Irwin moved and Norma Dawdy seconded that the Council accept the Leoni Meadows donation offer and purchase 12 sets of updated maps from the County. A discussion followed wherein Leoni Meadows raised their donation offer to $300. Judie Irwin and Norma Dawdy then amended the motion to include the "$300" donation and to make the remainder of the maps available for sale to the public. The Motion carried.
       
      Motion: Dennis Henderson moved and Judie Irwin seconded that the Grizzly Flat Fire Safe Council purchase a set of new aerial photos / maps for the Pioneer Fire Protection District, Station 35. The motion carried.
       
    4. Public Education Banner - Mark Almer presented the 3 new two sided banners, previous approved by the Council. The banner sides read "Change Your Clock; Change Your Battery" (in your smoke detectors) and "Stay Safe With An Emergency Power Kit". One of the banners will be presented to the Pioneer Fire Protection District at the next Board of Directors meeting. The other 2 banners will be displayed at the 4 corners (Somerset intersection) and on the Grizzly Flats Fire Station 35. Phill Dayton will install the local banners and do any maintenance on the banners. Mark presented a one page recommended list of items to be included in a Power Emergency Preparedness Kit. The list will be provided to the community in future evacuation packets with copies of the list provided to the Fire District for distribution to the public at their front counter. The banners reference the list.
       
    5. Grizzly Flat Road; Steely Fork Bridge to 9100 Grizzly Flat Road; Fuel Reduction Grant Application - Barry Callenberger reported that following a meeting with Mark Almer and Steve Hupner, he has applied for a grant to the Forest Service to cover the cost of a fuel reduction project between the described road limits and to extend 200' up slope and 50' down slope. The project will address reducing the ladder fuels within the project area and include providing an adequate separation of trees (tree thinning) to stimulate good forest growth. Tree thinning could include trees up to 24" in diameter, which when harvested will offset the cost of the project. The Project is expected to require the creation of a Timber Harvest Plan. Besides being a major improvement in reducing the potential of a wildland fire along this section of the Grizzly Flat corridor, the project is expected to improve the driving conditions and road environment as well. County Road Superintendent Don Spear offered to assist with coordination of issues involving proposed project work near the County road. Following a discussion of the lack of traffic control signage at the Steely Fork Bridge, Don Spear will contact the County Traffic Advisory Committee.
       
  11. Agency Representation
     
    1. 2nd District Supervisor - Supervisor Ray Nutting reported:
       
      • Happy Valley resident Ms. Jo Gunther will be heading up a new Fire Safe Council to cover the Happy Valley community.
         
      • He is in communication with the Regional Council of Rural Counties (a 28 county group) to get legislation into the State and Federal levels to implement augmention funds into fuel reduction programs.
         
    2. PFPD - Chief Gill gave his monthly report, a copy is attached at the end of these minutes. Following the Chief's report, there was a discussion of the use of Station 35 by the Fire Safe Council. Motion: Judie Irwin moved that the Council donate money to the PFPD for the use of the Station 35 facilities, to offset the rental and cleaning cost of the portable toilet and insurance, the amount being not less than $100. A discussion followed. Judie amended her motion to include a directive that the Board shall do a Use of Facilities Cost Study for Station 35. Walt Tyler seconded the motion. The motion carried.
       
    3. DOT - County Highway Superintendent Don Spear provided comments to Agenda items 8 (Bucks Bar Bridge) and 10E. See comments those items. Liz Lawless requested the relocation of the Logan's Grade westerly traffic control sign. Don addressed the issue and made recommendations to Liz. Don discussed the snow damage to County road vegetation caused by the recent snow storm. Don explained this cleanup of storm damage has impacted DOT's program to "treat" the Grizzly Flat Road roadside vegetation trimming program. DOT will finish the Grizzly Flat Road program after finishing the storm damage cleanup work.
       
    4. GFCSD - No representation.
       
    5. USFS - No representation.
       
    6. Cal Fire - No representation.
       
    7. Sheriff - No representation.
       
  12. Committee Reports
     
    1. Newsletter - Terry Henderson reported the December newsletter was cancelled for a lack of articles. Terry requested that anyone wishing to place an article in the newsletter needs to have the article to her before the 20th of the month.
       
    2. Monthly EDCFSC Report - No representative.
       
    3. Unit Volunteer Coordinator - No report.
       
    4. Defensible Space - Judie Irwin reported this is the off-season for Defensible Space Inspections, however they are continuing to support EDCFSC requests and explained they are available to any one being cancelled by their insurance company to do Defensible Space inspections.
       
    5. CERT - Liz Lawless reported the next CERT meeting is January 10, 2010, 4:00 p.m. at Station 35. Dennis Henderson reported there is a new CERT class scheduled for the week of March 3 thru 13, 2010.
       
  13. Community Announcements
     
    1. Lynn Shetley reported the January Pantry will be January 16, 2010, at the Community Church. The Leoni Meadows Camp has been and is supporting the Panty's food drive.
       
  14. Agenda Items for next Meeting - February 6, 2010
     
    1. Donation to Pioneer Fire Protection District
       
    2. GFFSC Annual Fund Raiser
       
  15. Adjourn
    The meeting was adjourned at 10:56 a.m. on a motion by Phill Dayton and seconded by Liz Lawless. The motion carried.
     
Respectfully submitted:
Steve Hupner, Secretary