COBB AREA COUNCIL
ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday May 21, 2019
PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM ONLINE: www.zoom.us
MEETING NUMBER: 873 9477 0577
PASSWORD: 607 765
FOLLOW ALONG VIA FACEBOOK LIVESTREAM ON COBB AREA COUNCIL PAGE
Draft Meeting Minutes by Cindy Leonard
1)CALL TO ORDER 6:35 – INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM, FACEBOOK OR PHONE
2)Roll Call PRESENT: Jessica Pyska, Eliot Hurwitz (Chair), Cindy Leonard (Secretary), Cathy McCarthy, Frank Lincoln (Treasurer) NOT PRESENT: Jake Strickler
31 community members joined the Zoom meeting
3)Approval of Agenda: Cindy motions, Jessica seconds, all approve
4)Approval of Minutes from January 19, 2020: Jessica motions, Cathy seconds, all approve
5)TREASURER’S REPORT, Frank Lincoln:
Ahead Grant $162,616.27
Blackberry Cobbler Fest $3,316.53 (new donation of $3,000 coming)
CAC General fund $3,316.35
Cobb Resilient $1,456.28
Cobb Safe $851.23
Economic Development $1,300
Rebuild NorthBay (Hub) $5,000 (new)
T-shirt Fundraising $4,343.89
Wilder than Wild $161.31
Community Reports/Updates:
6)Fire Season and FireWise Community update – Cindy Leonard and Magdalena
-Newsletter just went out to Cobb community emphasizing preparations for wildfire season, opening of new Cobb Resource Hub and our preparedness event on June 13.
-Recent $5,000 grant from Rebuild NorthBay provides money to buy office supplies for the Resource Hub office space.
-Drive Through emergency preparedness event on June 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (replaces Cobb Safe). This will focus on evacuations during a pandemic. Funded through several small grants.
-Prioritize vegetation clearing around home, especially because of the extra rain we have received which is causing extra vegetation growth.
7)CALFIRE report – Chief Mike Wink
-Late season rains mean that some burning can still happen on large landowner parcels. Clearing continues along evacuation routes. Paul Duncan is taking Chief Bertelli’s position as Chief of Konocti Camp.
The new Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk helicopter is scheduled for delivery to the Cobb heliport probably in November. We might see one of those new hawks supporting incidents in the area, but it would not be the one that we will be getting. The sound is a little different, a little lower. Doesn’t seem to be louder, just lower pitch.
Fuel moisture is collected by the remote stations and locally (probably in June) it will start happening to research fire risks.
Magdalena asks regarding incident management: do you know if our county supervisors have had the national incident management training? Chief Wink says that OES has had all risk NIMS training. As one of the conditions for reimbursement dollars, they are all required to have minimum training.
Jessica asks how many acres of control burns have happened: Chief Wink says there will be a quarterly report from Doug Gerhart at Air Quality.
8)Scott’s Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ Bio-Char project- Terre Logsdon
Terre says they filed the major use paperwork in February 2019 with the County. The planning commission continued it, April 23rd it passed the commission. The Red Hills Alliance filed an appeal and so it will go in front of the Board of Supervisors. They have created a presentation for the Board of Supervisors to educate everyone about the bioenergy/biochar facility. This location has a lot of woody material to supply the facility, as well as being located in a central grid. They would like to partner with the South Lake Fire Safe Council to streamline the delivery of the biomass. They are envisioning 4-5 deliveries of pre-chipped wood per week. Fuels could be staged in a different location, chipped, then delivered.
Jessica asks, how many jobs would be created by this operation? Terre says one or two operators at the location, but many others who would be employed by the fuels mitigation and ecological restorations to bring the biomass vegetation fuel to the facility.
Jessica asks where does the power get tied in? Terre says that at this location, the electricity would be put into the grid and the tribe would be paid for the electricity. It is a small facility, and there is enough fuel being removed around the county to run about 20 facilities this size.
This technology runs a turbine without creating smoke. The power produced could run a wastewater treatment plant that utilizes the biochar that is produced
Jessica motions that we draft a letter of support for the biochar plant, Glenneth seconds, everyone is in favor.
This letter will be drafted and sent for the BOS
9)Rainbow Pipeline support structure – Ben Murphy
Last month we went out to bid, 347,000, one 202,894. Bill Daniel Steel & Machine Inc. in Ukiah won the contract. The Rainbow pipeline structure is 90% finished at their location and then will be delivered.
Driving piles hopefully in June. The pipeline structure should be usable in August, then the actual pipeline attached in October.
The Hoberg’s property is being used as a staging area, and Hoberg’s also has a project they are doing.
Argonaut Constructors is doing the Summit project. They are starting at Emerford, moving toward Angelly, to Upper Summit above the church, then hopefully toward Glen, Shasta, Trinity area. They expect to have all of that done by September, at which time they will move to Rainbow.
Hill 9 and 10 by Red Hills, that has already begun and have about 1500 feet.
Cobb Area Water has 3 major projects at about $7.2 million dollars. It took over 3 years to come to this point.
The county has approved repaving, but it might be next year
Mapes Pass is being repaved this summer.
It will be a savings to the grant funds.
Rich Curtola asks if Cobb Area Water will be okay financially after all of this expense and increases in cost, etc. Ben says yes, mainly because of all the donations from Friends of Cobb and donation of $23,000 for the planning expense by bridge builder.
10)Cobb Area Small Business Loan Program – Jeff Lucas
The loan program is designed to help people with the PSPS, one loan has been approved, five are being considered. The loan program has now been expanded to all of the Lake County who are suffering with the Covid pandemic.
The original purpose is for generators and working capitol, but there are so many needs and we want to help so there are other
The applications have been a mix of needs: need a generator, need capitol to pivot to online format, etc
There has been announcements with the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and also word of mouth is picking up. Jeff says he will be making more announcements.
This is one of the elements of the grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco for Community Development
Deb asks, what types of businesses can apply for this? Jeff says any business.
11)Cobb Area Volunteer Radio Network CAVERN update – Mel McMurrin
There is a new check-in sheet for the (over 100) members. Usually about 15 check in, now there are new net control operators. 25 checked in last night.
Communications Committee / CAVERN Links
How to Get a GMRS License
https://quality2wayradios.com/store/gmrs-fcc-license
Lake County HAM radio Club for future tests
LCARS.club
https://sites.google.com/site/lcarsca/recources
Works in progress from CAVERN partner CryptoRights Foundation
https://blaze.smokepatrol.org/group/CAVERN
Meetups are 6:30 on Wednesday. Saturday will be added in June
Here are slides Mel presented:
12)PG&E tree work Update – Jessica Pyska
There was a break in work and they re-trained subcontractors. The hardening of the grid system is being done on Cobb and is very exciting.
They are also adding more cooling stations for the PSPS around Lake County.
13)Cobb Economic Development Plan update – Eliot Hurwitz
The initial design of how we would do the loan is two fold: business loan program as well as a detailed analysis of the current economy, as well as what we hope for our future of economic development.
about 20 interviews have been done and about 20-25 more will be done.
The Cobb Resource Hub is another aspect that will be rolled out as we recover from the shelter in place.
Question: are there any restaurants or potential new businesses? Eliot says that he is not aware of any. The golf course has lowered the price.
14)“Grow a Row” – community garden donation – Jessica Pyska
Jessica says that food insecurity is a challenge right now. She is promoting the concept that you can donate extra produce that you grow. You are protected by the Good Samaritan Law, so please consider donating your extra produce to the Lake County food pantries.
See the Cobb Area Council webpage for more details.
15)Community Center Update- Kyle Noble
10 Lions Clubs in Lake County and 3 have a building. The Cobb Little Red Schoolhouse must always be used as a Community Center.
In 2005 a ramp was constructed, which caused termites to move in. There are structural improvements and pest control that needs to be done. The exterior needs fresh paint and there needs to be exterior drainage.
There is a great need for this space for the community as a donation center and many other uses.
The pest report will be re-done with Aardvark and they will help us match with a contractor. She expects that it is tens of thousands of dollars.
She is presenting this tonight so that the community knows what the dire situation is.
There are many ways that you can help the Lion’s club. You can join the Lion’s club, but you can also help without joining.
Many Lion’s Clubs do not have buildings, but they would like to keep the building open for the community.
She hopes that in the Cobb Area Plan that Little Red and the area around it could be designated as a community center.
Jon Meyer is the treasurer and is happy to answer any questions about the Financials 707-928-0106
The most recent partnership was with the Cobb School for Breakfast with Santa and also the St. Patricks Day fundraiser.
She would like a letter of support from the Cobb Area Council for any grant applications.
Jessica asks what the status of the historical point of interest marker. Kelly says that they need to make a presentation for the BOS to get the County to declare it a point of Historical Landmark.
Jessica motions that we write a letter to the BOS to declare Little Red as a point of historical interest/landmark. Eliot seconds, all approve.
What is typical operating budget? Usually they raise about $20,000 per year for operation and maintenance.
Does Lion’s Club international help? There is an international fund, but usually that is for an emergency, not for a repair.
Jessica said that Dan Nelson asked if the community would support high-density housing. Jessica says that we need to keep an eye on what they are doing.
Blackberry Cobbler Festival will not happen this fall, it is postponed till 2021. We will be getting the $1500 from PGE that they promised last year, plus a donation for our next festival.
Motion to adjourn at 8:24 by Cathy, seconded Jessica, all in favor