SIERRA COUNTY FIRE SAFE AND WATERSHED COUNCIL, INC

ROLL CALL/INTRODUCTIONS:  Board present:  Peter Huebner, Gary Shelton, Laurenc DeVita, Nancy
Finney, Kathleen Goicoechea, and Andrew Winberry. Robert Eshleman absent.  Others present:  Cindy
Noble, Regine Miller, Mike Freschi, Bill Copren, Frank Stewart, and Dan Martyne.

PUBLIC COMMENT: Nancy read an e-mail she received form Jean Myles, a prior SCFSWC board
member, regarding the Watershed grant and how it should be administered.  She had some very good ideas
especially with stream contamination and tract involvement in watershed clean-up.
Robert Eshleman also e-mailed comments regarding the council and watershed policy.

APPROVE MINUTES-August 29th, September 30th-Andrew moved to approve, Nancy seconded, so moved
with three abstentions: Peter, Laurenc and Gary.

APPROVED AGENDA:  Gary moved to approve, Peter seconded, motion passed.

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS:  Elina Lin sent out handwritten thank-you notes to board members
participating in the interview process for watershed coordinator.

1.  Sierra Nevada Conservancy, invitation for full grant proposal.  Cindy reported that the council will
resubmit for the third time to treat the area beginning at the Pacific Trailhead and continuing to Goodyear’s
Bar  because SCFSWC could not meet the 50% match requirement from California Fire Safe Council on Western County Fuel Reduction Project.  Frank Stewart reported he is trying to get that reduced to 25%, however, the council
will still be unable to meet the match.

2.  Loyalton Pines fuel reduction-Stevens Act Grant- $55,000. have been granted to treat private land
contiguous to the Forest Service treatment area amounting to another 50 acres.  Ruby Burks has done all
the mapping and flagging for the project which will begin Spring of 2012.  Sam Donahue has been assigned
to that project.

3.  Eastern Sierra County fuel Reduction Project-Update-All units are complete.  The board authorized
Mike Freschi to mill a load of cedar for decking as compensation for 12 hours of equipment work on the
project.

4.  RAC Grants-Cindy, Mike, Genice, Forest Service Ranger for the Yuba River District and Quentin,
Tahoe District Ranger met in Sierraville to discuss several items.  There was 12k remaining on 2007/2008
grant.

5. Highway 49 Chipping @ Cal Ida.  The remaining RAC funds were  used to treat Irv Christiansen property
who is very pleased with the result. He was an active participant providing landowner contributions to the
project.  Genice has signed a “Categorical Exclusion” to begin work along Highway 49.  Caltrans is
providing cones and flagging 100 feet from the fog line.  Sierra County Chipper will be used between
Outpost and Downieville.  Caltrans and Sierra County work will be the match for the grant funds.

6.Request to incorporate Bookkeeping function into grant app’s. Laurenc motioned to obtain a bookkeeper,
seconded by Kathleen, motion passed.  Bookkeeping for administration of the 13,500 AIS RAC grant was
discussed.  Administration clarification was to provide voter surveys, outreach, marketing and education. A
question was raised on how, when and who Regine’s time will be reimbursed for the AIS administration.
Regine will contact Jan Holder with DOC and report back to the board.  Cindy, Mike and Bill Copren had
attended a 2-hour bookkeeping workshop, put on by the Forest Service which was not helpful.

7.  Watershed Coordinator Report: 

     A. DOC Work Plan review-Regine presented the Role of Watershed Coordinator-Goals and Objectives based on the Department of Conservation Work Plan. All agreed that the work accomplished was consistent with the Mission and Goals of the Council.

     B.  IRWM update-Regine has attended 2 meetings which were primarily designed to update the plan. The  Upper Feather River and CABY IRWM is well organized  and hope to have a project proposal in the fall.  The Department of Water Resources provided implementation money for the North and Middle Fork of the Yuba workshops.  There were 25 attendees developing 5 different proposals.  Regine facilitated the meetings only. 

     C.  CWGF proposal for watershed curriculum- There is 5k available from the California Wildland Grant Foundation to develop curriculum for middle and high school students in Downieville.  Although it was desirous of the
group to proceed, board approval of curriculum caused the proposal to die without a motion. 

     D.  LTR Working Group annual meeting-  The annual meeting on the Little Truckee River will be January 11 at the
Sierraville Forest Service conference room at 9:30 a.m.  The Little Truckee River is the only river completely in Sierra County.  Regine will act as the facilitator for Federal, State, local conservation groups and University participants.

8.  Watershed Policy -DeVita -Laurenc handed out an alternative proposal mission statement with regard to
watershed policy for discussion by the council.

9.  Mission and Goals-DeVita-Due to time constraints, item will be at the beginning of next month’s meeting
agenda.

ADJOURN-Nancy motioned to adjourn the meeting at 12:05 p.m. for Executive Session, seconded by Laurenc, motion passed.

Laurenc DeVita resigned his position on the SCFSWC Board