COBB AREA COUNCIL
PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday February 20, 2025 at 6:30pm
In-Person and Online Participation Available
MINUTES
CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:30PM
ROLL CALL:
Present: Cathy McCarthy, Jake Strickler, Chris Nettles, Darlene Warner, Paul Duncan
Absent: Joe Schneider
Attendance: 15 Voters: 15
Pledge of Allegiance
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion by Chris, 2nd by Magdalena. All in Favor, Agenda approved.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Chris, 2nd by Mary. All in Favor. Minutes approved as amended.
Amendment: Page 2, under Supervisor’s comments, Chief Sapeda’s name was misspelled with a “Z” rather than an “S”.
SHORT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mary – received a donation of $3,700 from the Frisbee Golf Tournament. Reminder that the crab feed is March 1st. Have a few tickets left. Easter egg hunt is coming up.
Public and Board Comment on Non-Agenda Items (3 mins./individual)
NONE
Supervisor’s Comments – Jessica Pyska (to include Roads Update)
Received an email that one of the bids was accepted for our roads project for approximately $5M. Should be coming before the BOS in a couple of weeks detailing which roads are involved. Will try to get Glen March on the March agenda to give CAC an update. On 2-25-2025 there will be a presentation to the BOS by RRA, RCD on the Mediterranean Oak Boarer. Video on the RRA YouTube channel. We think the reason why the Oak Boarer beetle has spread so quickly in Lake County is due to firewood. Figuring out best practices. Started burning Monday night at the carbonizer. This will burn 24/7 for two weeks, then cool down and cleanup, and fire-up again. This is a collaboration between PGE and Earth Foundries. PGE is responsible for taking the trees to the burner. This is a pilot program. Next week will be in D.C. working on National Task Force for FEMA. USDA has awarded us money – funds are frozen. Funds are frozen for many programs we have in the works.
Fire Season Update – Paul Duncan
Will be control burning around the school on the Boggs property through tomorrow. Stations are now at full staffing. Copter will be staffed in April. Community drop-off days for the ACI and carbonizer will start soon.
Treasurer’s Report – Chris
Submitted. Attached and incorporated herewith as Attachment “A”
County Park Update -Lars Ewing, Lake County Public Services
Presentation via Zoom. Summary of how we obtained the current park property. Pre-design work concepts presented; focus on the use of area up front as much as possible. Environmental studies are being done. Landscape architect has prepared a concept plan. Proposed for the East side is a network of trails. A parking lot is proposed with approximately 30 spaces, a picnic area and restrooms. South gathering area is TBD. Kelsey Creek – not in the plans, but has been suggested, a pedestrian crossing bridge. No funding available for this right now but pursuing grant opportunities. Tribal coordination is going on. Preparing documents necessary for the CEQA review – Request for Review should be ready by April 2025 and should take 4-6 months. Overall cost $2.5M, in phases. Trails on East side, Phase 2. Kelsey Creek bridge, Phase 3. Phasing will be funding dependent. Two ideas for areas in the park are for a Christmas tree, and a memorial for the Valley Fire. Funding for the overall project comes from geothermal royalty funds.
Discuss/Approve: Grant authority to CAC Chair and Treasurer to sign MOU with Seigler Springs Community Redevelopment Association SSCRA for Community Wildfire Protection Plan once legal review is completed.
Have a signed contract with the California Forest Service as of 1-31-2025. This MOU outlines the match between CAC and SSCRA, which is part of a 10% match. CAC has agreed to $5k over the course of a year. The Forest Stewardship Committee will be overseeing this and will begin meeting the last Friday of each month at the Loch Lomond firehouse.
Motion to authorize CAC Chair and Treasurer to sign the MOU made by Chris, 2nd by Darlene. All in Favor, none opposed. Motion passed.
MOU attached and incorporated herewith as Attachment “B”
Committee Reports (3 minutes/individual)
Firewise Communities – Magdalena, Cindy, Glenneth, David, Laurie
Five Firewise groups are now on-track. Seigler Springs, Rainbow Estates Mesa Meadow (REMM), Cobb View, Gordon Springs, and Loch Lomond.
3/29 – REMM group having a broom busters event
4/19 – having a disaster preparedness event
Communications Committee – Darlene
Still have about the same number of weekly check-ins, about 30; this should increase as we come out of winter season. There is a 3rd repeater up and running in the Loch Lomond corridor which is working well. Check-ins are every Wednesday evening. Radios were for sale at Madelyn’s Mail Express in Loch Lomond; unsure if they’re still available there or not.
Forest Health Committee – Eliot
Will be meeting the last Friday of each month at the Loch Lomond firehouse.
Economic Development Committee – Chris
Will have more next month. Cathy: Blackberry Cobbler Festival meeting is February 25, at 6pm at Cobb Mountain Pizza.
NEXT MEETING: March 20, 2025
Adjourned at 7:40pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Darlene Warner, Secretary