SIERRA COUNTY FIRE SAFE AND WATERSHED COUNCIL
Minutes April 1,2011

Roll Call/Introductions:, Lawrenc DeVita, Robert Eshelman, Peter Huebner, Andrew Winberry present.  Nancy Finney, Kathleen Goicoechea, Gary Shelton absent. Staff  Mike Freschi, and Cindy Noble present. Others:  Frank Stewart, USFS Mike Cherry and Travis Thane from the Yuba River District were present.
Board member Huebner called the meeting to order at 10:10 am

Public Comment: None
Approve Minutes of Feb 28, 2011, Eshlelman motioned to approve, seconded by DeVita the motion, motion passed.
Approve Agenda of April 1, 2011. DeVita motioned to approve seconded by Eshleman, motion passed.
Board Member reports – None.

Staff Reports-
a.  California Department of Conservation-Water Coordinator funding, Staff has received notice that we were chosen as the recipient of the Watershed Coordinator monies but we have yet to sign a contract. We are somewhat reluctant to even talk about this position without a signed contract. We hope to hear from the state in April 2011 in regards to this position. As a part of this discussion the board made sure to continue discussions with the “public” so that they know what we are doing, and out came the new banner that was purchased as a part of the Eastern Sierra Fuels Reduction project. Staff will put up these two banners in Sierraville this spring.

b.  Eastern Sierra Co. Fuels Reduction Project update: A brief update as to this stalled project was made by staff. The contractor has finished approximately 80% of the necessary treatment at the LDS camp. The Hand thin crew has started and stopped work in Calpine several times but good head way has been made there too. The council received a check for $9700.00 that is based upon product revenues that will put this project in excess of the necessary match by more than $7000. These funds can go back into the project and will allow us to  treat additional acres in the project area. Banchio has landowners lined up to sign and receive treatment when we start back at this project in the spring and early summer.

c.  Western Sierra Co. Fuels Reduction Project update: This project will consist of fuels treatment in Goodyears Bar, Downieville and Sierra City. Council staff was unsuccessful in their recent application to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for $23,000 to fund the permitting portion of this project. But we have secured a balance of more than $75,000 from Sierra County that was designated to do fuels treatments work on the West side of the county. Council  staff and Forester Banchio will submit an application  in early June to the California Fire Safe Council for $200,000 toward this project.

d.  Stevens Act application: Staff worked feverishly with USFS District Ranger Youngblood and Fuels Officer Donaldson on a Stevens act application that was submitted on Thursday March 31st. Additional work in Loyalton Pines would be treated if the council receives this funding. Many thanks to Ruby Burks for keeping the Loyalton Pines project on the front burner for this potential funding source.

e.  Bylaws, Policies & Procedures: Neither Board President Finney or Board member Goicoechea were present to discuss their progress. This item was tabled and will come back at the May meeting.

f.  CWPP update-The CWPP draft map was displayed and the roads layer was also provided for discussion. The board members present were very pleased with the progress that has been made in the last 60 days. Each fire Chief has been provided with the documents that must be updated by each fire house. Staff will send a letter reminding each respective chief of their part in this update of the county Fire Plan. Stewart asked that the maps be put on the council web site so that others could see what we have accomplished, he is still encouraging a annual planning process much like that of Lassen County for fuels treatment work in Sierra Co. Must add an industrial operations layer to our county wide map.

g.  SCFSWC Billing rate: Staff is working to establish a billing rate that would cover costs of council expenses and staffing time. Through discussion with Dist. Ranger Youngblood the number of 10% has been suggested and is up for discussion among the board. A motion was made (Eshelman/DeVita) to set the current billing rate for the council at 10%. Discussion in regards to the reasons why we need to set a rate and the fact that the rate could change   depending on the project. Motion passed to set the billing rate at cost plus 10% for now.

h.  Fire Safe Communities Assn: The board agrees that this effort is worthy of research and joining would be a good idea in that making better connections with other F.S. Councils is a good thing.

i.  Tour De Manure – June 11 2011- Staff will continue to work on council participation with this great annual event. It is looking like we will sell beer at the BBQ after the race.

j.  Reflective Signs update; By working with both newspapers and Sierraville F.D. we have sold 90 reflective signs to date.

k.  E mail contact for landowners with Council contracts: Trying to get e mail addresses for each landowner who has signed a project contact with the council. Staff would like to remind landowners of their duty to keep their personal responsibility area free of growth that might put them at risk of fire.

Old Business / New Business-
Watershed restoration Project in Carmen Creek Watershed – Randy Westmoreland  ( USFS Hydrologist) would like to make a presentation about this project to our council in May 2011.
 Frank Stewart made a call out to the council staff and board about the lack of finding from National sources for fuels reduction projects. He also reminded staff of the continued efforts to fund FS programs with SNC $, there will be a conference call later in April about this effort. Frank also reminds staff and board that DFPZ’s are the way to protect communities! These projects on the ground are not getting done because of litigants and Federal landowners who ultimately hinder all progress to protect rural communities from life threatening FIRE. We see this in Downieville and along the hwy 49 corridor.
Mike Cherry FS-Camptonville reminds council staff and board that FS councils are important to small rural communities about prevention and educational efforts.

Next Meeting: Sierraville CA @ USFS Ranger Station on April 29th 2011 @ 10 am.