COBB AREA COUNCIL
PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday February 20, 2019,
Little Red Schoolhouse/Cobb Mountain Lions Club
15780 Bottle Rock Rd., Cobb, CA 95426
Meeting called to order at 6:01
21 Community Members Present
Draft Agenda: Cathy motions to approve, seconded by Gemini
• Roll Call Cindy Leonard, Cathy McCarthy, Frank Lincoln, Eliot Hurwitz, Jessica Pyska Jake Strickler all present .and approval of Agenda
• Approval of Minutes from January 19, 2020
SHORT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gary announced the new CERT training in the month of March. It will be at the OES office in Lakeport.
Communications update: Sunday March 8 training for communications.
-Radio tech class through Mendocino College in Ukiah
-Wednesday nights at 6:30 is the GMRS check-in to find out who can hear you, who you can hear. Good to practice your radio before an emergency happens. Also please let us know if there is a desire for another operator training event on Cobb.
~David Thiessen reports that there is another volunteer work day coming up on March 14th. Please RSVP with the Formstack link on the Friends of Boggs Facebook page. Information also available on the Friends of Boggs Mountain website.
TREASURER’S REPORT Frank says total in bank is $12,929.00
PUBLIC and BOARD COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS (3 mins./individual)
Supervisors reviewed the Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance. (much delayed) Last year 2,000 inspections were done, 400 letters went out, and about 100 people are still not under compliance. This year the Supervisors are putting the inspectors on Fire Abatement and then later in the year they will go out to do the cannabis monitoring. They also decided to shortened the deadlines for compliance to 2 week to 2 week. If you respond and let them know that you are working on it, there will be a fine.
Jessica: The Forest Health Grant is still waiting to come through, and this will be the project that will clear large parcels of land.
There is a possibility of having lookout patrols since the Konocti Lookout Tower has been closed. This would be coordinated with the volunteer radio operators.
Local Fire Season Update – Firewise Community organizing update:
The Broom Buster inaugural event was a big success. About 20 volunteers attended and about 4 5-yard dump trailers were filled. Thank you to everyone who helped do the work and get the word out.
• Supervisor’s Comments, not present
Community Reports
PG&E representative (invited) to discuss tree work and PSPS
Magdalena announced that David Hotchkiss from PGE has been pulled away from coming to the Cobb Area Council meeting. There are several times he has been invited to our meetings, but is always pulled away.
Cobb Mt. Economic Development and Area Plan + YOUR INPUT
Eliot reports that the new grant program is proceeding:
-Revolving small business loans are now available
-Extensive business research creating a report. Interview process will build in the focus groups in a rigorous way so that it can be published in academic journals. Asset-based community development will be used so that we demonstrate our assets. Connections can be made within the community.
-In-depth community input on what the residents of Cobb envision for our area. The new website is at cobbconnecting.org and there is a Facebook page with the same name:Cobb Connecting
The goal it to come up with a strategy.
Cobb Resource Hub to Open this month
-focus groups can meet here
-find out what programs for Emergency Preparedness/Recovery and for economic development are available
Help draft our community plan!
New shop called “Giant Step” on the corner of Hwy 175 and Golf Rd. which is a community center for all ages. They are still at the beginning “dreaming” stage of what programs they will offer. This is a 30 year old organization that is running the center. Hopefully they will open soon and there will be an after school program till 5:30. A safe place for all ages.
Motion to adjourn, Magdalena, Seconded by Cathy
Meeting adjourned at 8:11