SIERRA COUNTY FIRE SAFE AND WATERSHED COUNCIL

Board Meeting Minutes for

July 12, 2010

Board Present:  Nancy Finney, Gary Shelton, Peter Huebner, Robert Eshleman, Laurenc DeVita, and Kathleen Goicoechea.  Others:  Cindy Noble and Mike Freschi, Co-Executive Directors.

1.  Staff Reports:

            a.  RAC grant application-Mike reiterated, contrary to the Sierra Booster reporting, that the 45K received would be used for the entire county and 5k of that grant was for watershed administration.

            b.  Western Sierra County fuel reduction application- Funding was not granted for the application to begin treatment in Sierra City and Downieville.  However, the council will still be collaborating with Steve Folsom at Cal Trans for roadside clearing and chipping days in those two areas and the Clark, Carvin, Haskell Peak Tracts.   Costs for chipping ranges between  $800 and $1,200 per acre depending on the site.  Calpine treatment cost $1,050 per acre.  Jim Turner, from SPI will continue placing bins in designated areas.  Sierra Foothill Tree Service can blow chips into trucks for transport to the transfer landings.

            c.  “Living With Fire” newspaper insert/handout-Plumas and Sierra County Fire Safe Councils will work collaboratively for community outreach.  SCFSWC will be included in the “Living With Fire” A Homeowner’s Guide for $500.   The Mountain Messenger has 1, 000 subscribers and will put the insert in their paper to hopefully reach the absentee landowners.

            d.  Sierra Nevada Conservancy meeting June 23^rd, 2010-Mike reported  that Jim Turner gave a presentation on the Loyalton BIOMASS Plant.  The Loyalton operation is one of only two generation plants in California capable of burning green waste from Sacramento along with in-forest fuels.   Jim Branham from Sierra Nevada Conservancy was pleased to know that the council has begun working with other non-profits to help with watershed issues.  The meeting included a tour of Sierraville,  the Hwy 49 lookout, San Francisco Research campus, Big Springs, Downieville and other points of interest.  Bill Nunes, Supervisor, is the representative for Sierra County and Sheryl Thrall, Supervisor, is the Plumas County representative on SNC.  SNC was impressed with the area and has scheduled their next state-wide meeting in September here.

            e.  Sierra  County Biomass meeting June 25^th, 2010-Mike and Peter attended the meeting and reported that Nevada City did not receive more funding for biomass projects. Keith Logan and Associates are very knowledgeable and would be an excellent resource for Sierra County.

            f.  Large  pictures of Calpine 2008 project-18months later-Mike and Cindy had Kinko’s professionally put before and after photos of the Calpine treatment project on foam board to present at the biomass meetings.   Gary recommended using the photos and sharing a booth at the Plumas-Sierra County Fair with Plumas Fire Safe Council.  Danielle Banchio’s GPS photo points will be used for future projects.

            g.  USFS Loyalton Pines Thin Project-Mike took a tour of the progress and confirmed that the area is too steep to be used as biomass for SPI.

            h.  Eastern Sierra County Fuel Reduction Project update-Maps were passed out to the board showing landowner acceptance.  The Mormon Church’s 100 acre property has signed the contract.  The 70- acre Amodei properties have voiced concerns of having contractors on their property.  The hiring policy and requirements are listed on the website and contractor bids must be for the entire project.  Work will begin sometime in September when the weather has cooled down and the danger of sparks from equipment is reduced.  No funding from the California Fire Safe Council has been received yet.

            i.  Bin loading reimbursement vs. chipping-Title II RAC-  The funding cannot be used to reimburse a loader at transfer sites, but can pay for chipping into trucks for transport.

2.  Sierra Nevada Forest and Community Initiative-Encouraged individuals to go on the website http://www.sierranevada.ca.gov/snfci_home.html to endorse the initiative.

3.  Board Member Reports:

            a.  Trucks around the biomass generation plant have signs, “Got Brush.”

            b.  No brush is going to the dump now, all transfer bins are going to SPI. 

            c.  Mike has a key to the transfer dump if anyone is interested.

            d.  Nancy would like to invite Arnie Olson to do a presentation on the 1954 Sierra Buttes Fire.  A suggestion was made to do it in the Downieville Community Hall sometime early Fall.

            e.  District Fire Chiefs should attend and be on the agenda next meeting.

            f.  Air Quality Board is testing in Loyalton and will be issuing citations.  Early results reveal other sources of particulate matter supporting SPI assumptions.

            g.  Grant writing is a function of the executive director, however, if the Registered Professional Forester, familiar with the project writes the grant, it is a more workable document.

4.  Executive Director compensation comparables were discussed.  In-kind contributions are valued at $25 per hour.  The board would like the item discussed further as a closed session item on the next agenda.

5.  The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, August 27, 2010 in Downieville.  Peter will make sure the Board room is available on that date.

6.  Meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m.