COBB AREA COUNCIL
ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday October 21, 2021, at 6:30pm
Online via Zoom and Facebook
1. 6:30 CALL TO ORDER by Chairperson McCarthy
2. Roll Call
Present – Cathy McCarthy: Chairperson, Cindy Leonard: Vice-Chairperson, Frank Lincoln: Treasurer, Chris Nettles: Secretary, Jake Stickler: Member-at-large, Joe Schneider: Alternate
3. Approval of Agenda and Minutes
Eliot Hurwitz made a motion to modify the agenda
Motion is to add an item to the Economic Development report:
Authorization for committee to accept an MOU for the LCBS Cobb Broadband pilot project. Item 11f
Amended Agenda –
Motion to approve amended agenda by Cindy Leonard
Seconded by Chris Nettles
No Discussion
Unanimously approved
Motion to amend and approve September minutes made by Cindy Leonard
Typos & clarification on Rebuild Northbay grant was awarded to pay Cobb Resource Hub rent & utilities for 3 months. PG&E grant to county was to cover municipal advisory councils’ overhead costs.
Seconded by Chris Nettles
Discussion: John Carlisi asked if funders need to be notified. Cindy L. clarified funders are aware of the details.
Unanimously approved
4. 6:35 Short Announcements
Check out ExlporeCobbCA website for information on Cobb Businesses
Middletown Area Merchants Association in cooperation with the Cobb Area Council is able to offer a one-year free basic membership to any business located in the Cobb Mountain area.
New fire risk website. New platform to visualize your area’s fire risk: https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2021/10/21/terrafuse-ai-launches-new-platform-visualize-california-wildfire-risk/
Middletown unified school district has a new Superintendent: Tim Gill, a Cobb resident; while, Kelseyville is sad at the loss of their Assistant Superintendent, Tim Gill.
5. 6:40 Public and Board Comment on Non-Agenda Items (3 mins. /individual)
David T. brought up the epidemic of tree beetle issue! It’s on Clear Lake Environmental Research Council’s radar, they’re planning to utilize Fire Prevention Grant funds to deal with the Fox Drive parcel.
6. 6:45 Treasurer’s Report- Frank
Total Current balance is $15,829
General fund: $984
Blackberry Cobbler Festival $5794.50
Cobb Resilient $1,456
Cobb Safe $851.23
Economic Development $1,300.00
Rebuild NorthBay $862
T-shirt fundraising $4,272
Wilder Than Wild fund $161
Broom Busters $146.20
1 Cobbler Festival refund checks still outstanding.
Questions about end year expenses and potentially selling Cobb SWAG on the website.
7. 6:47 Supervisor’s Comments- Supv. Jessica Pyska
PSPS Power outages – PGE came to BOS meeting. Installing backup generator at Cobb school.
Shout out to Lions Club who opened up the Little Red School House as a community resource center during the power shutoff.
Massive tree deaths all around the county – all species of conifers. Effect of the drought. County is working with landowners to clear standing dead trees.
Still in a drought – please conserve water!!
May Darby is the new Community Development Director is working hard
Events: Cobb park visioning in November at the Little Red Schoolhouse
Kelseyville Business Association (KBA) is having a Halloween Event on Main Street
They (KBA) are also planning on the Christmas in the County event
Discussion continued about dead standing trees and notifying landowners. Jessica suggested that the Neighborhood Firewise group identify problematic parcels and forward that information to Jessica. She will work with Code Enforcement to help address those lots.
There are apps that can identify the names of people who own land, for example Huntstand.
8. 7:00 Fire Season Update – Chief Paul Duncan
Chief Duncan welcome’s the rain, with hopes that it will end our fire season; however, the drought is still/will be an issue.
Some recent structure fires that were quickly brought under control, preventing spreading.
No date yet on lifting the burn ban but stay tuned. It will likely be soon. (Maybe Nov 1)
Mentioned that people need to be able to recognize a dead/hazardous tree. Look for information on the South Lake Fire Protection website.
Since the weather is getting cooler, before starting up your wood-burning stove, please make sure your stoves and chimneys are clean and properly maintained.
Operations Force Multiplier will be continuing. They are giving out tools to help regular residents extinguish small fires.
Working on the Fox Drive dead trees issue with CLERC & SSCRA
Candy Cane Run will be happening in 2021
John Carlisi mentioned the What Three Words application
9. 7:10 Lars Ewing to hear Public Input County Parks and Trails in the Cobb Area
Opportunity for Public input on Cobb Area parks needs assessment – November 10th 6pm probably at Little Red Schoolhouse (still confirming)
10. 7:30 Laurel Bard to hear Public Input on CLERC Forest Health Projects
Spoke about Forest Health grant awarded from CalFire to CLERC started this past August 2021. There was about a 1 year delay. Showed project areas. Forest Health grant is intended to improve forest health, ecosystem regeneration, and decrease fire risk in areas across the county. Removing dead trees, thinning, and cleaning hazardous vegetation. Approximately 600 acres in the Cobb Area begin treated. Will be an opportunity for community input. Expect to begin work in February 2022.
Small parcel clearing is funded through the Fire Prevention grant.
11. 7:50 Committee Reports- (Limit to 3 minutes each)
a. Firewise Communities: Magdelena, Cindy, Glenneth,
Magdalena V. – Neighborhood Firewise reports:
5 neighborhood groups in existence. Many need to do a community recertification.
Home assessment training available Oct 27th & November 3rd
Evacuation Planning Resources (webinar recordings) are available here
Glenneth: Jones Creek monthly meetings is temporarily on hold.
Gene Yoon mentioned the Lake County Prescribed Burn Association will be presenting as the Cobb Mountain Arts & Ecology event Nov 13th & 14
Wendy Collins discussed the Welcome Wagon program would provide packages to new homeowners about various fire prevention and other community resources. Will be distributed by real estate agents & offices,
No Spark tow-chain covers are available at the Cobb Resource Hub.
b. Communications Committee- Mel
Radios at the Cobb Resource Hub – Cobb Alert Net Wednesday nights are check-ins.
c. Cobbite of the Year-
Cathy McCarthy – Selection to be announced at December meeting/social.
d. Budget Committee
Chris Nettles – Expect to have a 2022 budget for approval at the November meeting.
e. Forest Health Committee
Eliot Hurwitz – Forest Health meeting will be happening within the next couple of weeks. Plan is to chart out goals of group for the coming year.
Cindy suggested that the committee create a list of contractors who can help with tree issues
f. Economic Development Committee
Marketing Initiative- Website Chris
New Cobb Area Council website will be ready by the end of the year.
Please check out https://explorecobbca.com/ for information on Cobb Businesses
Cindy Leonard also mentioned she is working on a “Made in Lake County” sticker for businesses to add to their products.
Memorandums of Understanding: KBA and MAMA
Free membership in the Middletown Area Merchants Association is available to all Cobb Area Businesses
Still waiting for signed agree from Kelseyville Business Association
Upcoming Events: Christmas in the County Float
2nd Monday of every month the Economic Development Committee meets – all are welcome
Suggestion to pull local Tree contractors on ExploreCobbCa website
Motion put forward by Eliot Hurwitz to authorize the CAC Economic Development Committee approve an Memorandum Of Understanding between the Cobb Area Council and Lake County Broadband Solutions regarding a local broadband demonstration project using money from the AHEAD grant.
Motion seconded by Chris Nettles
Motion passes unanimously.
11. 8:20 Project: Cobb Beautification – Phase One– Deborah Doran
Working with the CalTrans for cleaning roadsides. More to come soon.
12. 8:30 Nominations and Elections for Cobb Area Council will take place at
November Meeting for terms to start in January. The alternate is re-elected every year, as well as three seats on the council (the odd numbered year)
Up for elections:
Cathy McCarthy
Cindy Leonard
Frank Lincoln
13. 8:30 Date of Next Meetings:
November 18, 2021 online;
December 16, 2021 social- in person 5 minutes of business followed by social.
14. 8:31 Adjournment
Magdalena moves to adjourn
Cindy seconds
Motion passes without objection.
Attendance:
24 on Zoom
11 on Facebook
Chat from Zoom
From Magdalena Valderrama to Everyone: 06:40 PM
New platform to visualize your area’s fire risk: https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2021/10/21/terrafuse-ai-launches-new-platform-visualize-california-wildfire-risk/
From Will Evans to Everyone: 06:45 PM
It’s on CLERC’s radar, we’re planning to utilize Fire Prevention Grant funds to deal with the Fox Drive parcel
From Cathy McCarthy to All Panelists: 06:51 PM
i dropped in!
From Glenneth Lambert to All Panelists: 06:53 PM
Our winters haven’t been cold enough to kill them off .
From Gene Yoon to All Panelists: 07:10 PM
btw our Firewise group was hoping to invite Paul to an event this fall. is there a good email to send the invitation?
From Paul Duncan to Everyone: 07:19 PM
Gene, my state email is paul.duncan@fire.ca.gov
From John Carlisi to All Panelists: 07:21 PM
What3words site info:
What3words site: https://what3words.com/products/what3words-app/
From Magdalena Valderrama to Everyone: 07:22 PM
Will the CAC send out the message confirming the public meeting on the location for the park discussion?
From Me to All Panelists: 07:22 PM
Yes. We can send out that information
From Cathy McCarthy to Everyone: 07:22 PM
YES!
From Me to Cathy McCarthy: (Direct Message) 07:23 PM
Quick question. I don’t see any mention of CAC elections in November on the Agenda. Was someone going to mention that?
From Cathy McCarthy to Me: (Direct Message) 07:24 PM
It’s down at 8:30
From Me to Cathy McCarthy: (Direct Message) 07:24 PM
Date of next meeting?
OK…I must be missing something on the agenda.
From Magdalena Valderrama to Everyone: 07:25 PM
thank you all
From Cathy McCarthy to Me: (Direct Message) 07:27 PM
sent you an email with agenda again, and yes it is included with info about next meetings
From Me to Cathy McCarthy: (Direct Message) 07:28 PM
Awesome. I think I might be working with an earlier version. Thanks!
From Noriko Kawamoto to Everyone: 07:33 PM
What is considered a larger parcel?
From Magdalena Valderrama to Everyone: 07:33 PM
5 acres and up.
From Noriko Kawamoto to Everyone: 07:34 PM
Thanks
From Laurel Bard (CLERC) to Everyone: 07:35 PM
Clear Lake Environmental Research Center
From Will Evans to Everyone: 07:35 PM
www.clerc.co
From Magdalena Valderrama to Everyone: 07:48 PM
FAC Net Evacuation Planning Perspectives webinar series! We hope you enjoyed hearing from both practitioners and researchers who are working to better plan for evacuation. Recordings, supplemental information, and additional resources are now available on FAC Net’s website at https://fireadaptednetwork.org/evacuation-planning-perspectives/
Tribal Eco Restoration Alliance
From Me to Everyone: 07:52 PM
https://goo.gl/maps/N2iizK3EHSo2qy7G7
Link above is the location of the Cobb Resource Hub
