COBB AREA COUNCIL
PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday August 15, 2024 at 6:30pm
In-Person with Online Participation Possible
MINUTES (Approved 8-15-2024)
CALLED TO ORDER at 6:33pm
ROLL CALL
Present: Cathy McCarthy, Chris Nettles, Darlene Warner, Mel McMurrin
Absent: Jake Strickler, Joe Schneider
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of Agenda: Motion by Chris Nettles, 2nd by Darlene Warner. All in favor (4 Board Members, 5 Community Members), Agenda approved.
Approval of Minutes: Motion by Chris Nettles, 2nd by Robert Stark. All in favor (4 Board Members, 5 Community Members), Minutes approved.
Short Announcements
Robert Stark – announced the passing of former Treasurer/Secretary of the Mountain Lions Club, Lion Jon Meyer. A moment of silence was held. Lions are ready to make 1,200 servings of Blackberry Cobbler for the festival.
Inez Weinkus – Covid is on the rise. Has had mercury poisoning, been testing for mercury. The superfund site is still exposed. Stressed the importance of mercury poisoning.
Public and Board Comment on Non-Agenda Items (3 mins./individual)
Inez Weinkus – Attended the Clearlake Science Symposium, was full of information, all about there being Mercury in the Lake, and the fish dying. Has a flyer available.
Chris Nettles – Emergency Preparedness in Communities and CLERC are looking to hire a young AmeriCorp person on a monthly stipend basis. Contact Tammy at NCO 1-707-998-8643.
Mel McMurrin – CERT training was scheduled for the same day as the Blackberry Cobbler Festival; it has now been postponed for two or three weeks and will be held at the Mountain Lions Club.
Cathy McCarthy – Project Force Multiplier, sign up and get your free McCleod tool and water extinguisher from the South Lake County Fire Protection District. 100 are given out per household, so, act fast. Info also available from South Lake Volunteer Firefighters Association.
Visit www.southlakecountyfire.org/operation-force-multiplier
Supervisor’s Comments – Jessica Pyska
Attended the Clearlake Science Symposium, a free, 2-day event, open to the public. There will be a movie Friday night at the Soper-Reese Theater. Slow turnout on the Tree Survey – need more people to submit the ROE (Right of Entry) forms. During surveys, it was discovered that many trees actual died from “red ring rot” – this is not related to drought or the bark beetle and is therefore not covered under CDA funding, so we’ll need to find a way to deal with this. TetraTech has been doing the surveying of dead trees and found lots of evidence of the Mediterranean Oak Borer beetle (video available on RRA’s YouTube channel). TetraTech will be present at the Cobbler festival at the County CDD table and may have a table at Hardester’s in the future. We still need everyone to complete the ROEs so that all/majority of trees may be surveyed to find out how they died, and how to proceed. We need everyone in Cobb to complete surveys for the Cobb LAC (Local Area Plan) 2050. Please visit www.lakecounty2050.org
Fire Season Update – Paul Duncan
Not present, no report. Cathy – reminder to maintain and keep clear your Zone Zero (0-5 feet from your home/structures). Duncan Gamlen commented re a new Bill introduced entitled “Zone Zero” that will make it a law to have the first 5 feet clear around all structures.
Introduction – PG&E Government Affairs Representative, Jason Taormino
Cobb projects: 1) Undergrounding lines (currently happening at High Valley Road and Bottle Rock Road) 2) Reconductoring – a) hardening poles (insulated power lines/conductors, taller, metal poles); b) covered conductors; 3) Line Reclosers (EPSS) – turns power off in 1/10 second; requires physical inspection to turn power back on, either on ground or by helicopter. New insulated lines are going in everywhere in the area; this will be ongoing. PGE will have multiple project locations over multiple years – a constant state of upgrading, repairing and replacing. It is important that PGE have permission from landowners to enter property and easements; be sure to complete your ROE (right of entry). Jason is to send a written report/map to CAC when he receives his. Also mentioned that PGE is spending $1.8B annually on vegetation management and is undergrounding 10K miles of powerlines (not just our area). Every power line is inspected once per year, twice per year in high fire danger areas. Jason is happy to come out and do additional presentations and is available for further questions: email joseph.taormino@pge.com.
Lake County 2050 – Local Area Plan Advisory Committee (LAPAC) Update – Chris
The last Cobb area plan was done in 1989. Has a printout of a list of key issues for Cobb that were derived from the community input session held at previous CAC meeting and first survey results. A new survey is out now and has printed copies of this survey available. We need more people from Cobb to complete these surveys; had only received 22 for the first survey. The Cobb LAPAC has been appointed by the County and will have a table at the Blackberry Cobbler Festival. The LAPAC will hold public meetings, the first beginning in September. For more information, visit: www.lakecounty2050.org, scroll down to Cobb Area section for the Cobb-specific survey(s) and information. Also suggested paying attention to the Middletown Area Plan.
Treasurer’s Report – Chris
Treasurer’s report submitted to Secretary and is attached and incorporated herewith as Attachment “A.” Mentioned there are funds in the Emergency Preparedness account that have not been utilized, and welcome ideas on how to best use these funds.
COMMITTEE REPORTS (3 minutes/individual)
Firewise Communities – Magdalena, Cindy, Glenneth, David, Laurie
NO REPORT (Magdalena at Symposium)
Duncan Gamlen – mentioned there have been 46 fires in Lake County since May 2024.
Jessica – had monthly panel with CalFire Secretary Crowfoot and Chief Tyler – very informative overview; a video of this is available on CalFire’s or the Secretary of State’s YouTube channel.
Communications Committee – Darlene
Will be at Cobbler festival with new logo and big banners and radios for sale. Have had some annoyances on-air with music being played in the middle of the night, apologies. We have a method to curb this and are testing further intervening measures. Reminder that CAN is an emergency alert network intended for public safety and is not to be used for lengthy chit-chat. Suggested to limit non-emergency traffic to respectable hours, such as not after 10pm, the same as the County Noise Ordinance. Keep it on 9, you’ll be fine. Reminder that Channel 9 is for Alerts only, do not talk on channel 9.
Mel – will possibly have a few GMRS radios available for sale but will be programming radios. Will have more “little” radios and new labels. A reminder to note: if you hear a “beep” after a transmission, that means it’s “ours” (someone who has access to our repeater) – it’s coming through our mountain repeater.
Forest Health Committee – Eliot
NO REPORT (at Symposium)
Economic Development Committee – Chris
Focus has been on the Blackberry Cobbler Festival.
Blackberry Cobbler Festival – Cathy
Thanked sponsors so far. Platinum level sponsors: CalPine (for the 4th year), Sutter Lakeside (new co-sponsor). Our cups have a new look this year, including both platinum sponsors on them. Gold level sponsors: Reynold’s Systems, Hardester’s (also sponsoring Cobbler contest). Silver level sponsors: The Fainting Couch (new business), Mandala Springs, Kelsey Creek Brewery. Bronze level sponsors: Belmont Pines (formerly known as Mountain Meadow Venue), Twin Pines Casino, Lake County Waste Management, Alan Hurwitz. Thank you to Jennifer Gayda of Bottle Rock Candle Studio for her in-kind donation of her time, work and dedication as Director of the festival; also, Chris Nettles, Sally Wiatrolik, Cliff (?), Joe Grigsby, Marilyn White. Cobb Elementary School PTO is sponsoring the Kids Zone. Celebrity judges will be California Howland (Cobb Water District), Michelle McKenna (Hardester’s new Baker), and Timothy (CEO of Sutter Lakeside). The art contest will be in the pro shop, as well as the cobbler contest – be sure to bring your cobbler to the pro shop by 11:45am. Music/bands will be 3 on the Tree and The Gill Brothers, who will also be taking care of sound all day. Admission and parking (on the fairway) are free. There will be no parking on Golf Road. Still need more volunteers – email bbcobblervolunteers@gmail.com. High school students can get credit for service hours; some positions require age 21+. The Mountain Lions booth (same spot as last year) is the only place to get Blackberry Cobbler, they will be selling whole cobblers as well as individual servings. Also special thank you to Pine Grove Resort, 3 Mile Brewing Company (Davis), R Vineyards, and Six Sigma.
NEXT MEETING: September 19, 2024
ADJOURNED at 7:41pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Secretary Warner