COBB AREA COUNCIL
PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday April 17, 2025 at 6:30pm
In-Person and Online Participation Available
MINUTES (Approved 5-15-2025)
CALLED TO ORDER at 6:36pm
Roll Call
Present: Cathy McCarthy, Chris Nettles, Darlene Warner, Paul Duncan
Absent: Jake Strickler, Joe Schneider
Attendance: 16 Voters: 13
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval Of Agenda: Motion by Chris, 2nd by Darlene. All in favor, Agenda approved.
Approval Of Minutes: Motion by Paul to approve minutes as amended, 2nd by Chris. All in favor. Minutes approved as amended.
Amendments: Under Firewise Communities, “per household” should be “per Firewise Community” and add, “may be able to do individual households after 4-22-2025.”
SHORT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Robert – on 4/19 at Noon is the Easter Egg Hunt at Belmont Pines. Lions Club has stuffed 2,200 age-group appropriate eggs. Games, activities, and the Easter Bunny will be there. The egg hunt starts at Noon sharp.
Public and Board Comment on Non-Agenda Items (3 mins./individual)
Greg – spoke about the increasing costs of PGE and challenges with costs of solar. Jessica suggested attending CPUC hearings and contacting State representatives.
Supervisor’s Comments – Jessica Pyska
SCP (Sonoma Clean Power, non-profit geothermal) looking to expand into Lake County. They rent infrastructure from PGE; there would be no change to our infrastructure. About a 7% savings over PGE. On Tuesday, the BOS approved a feasibility study by January 2026. Could see this service available by Summer of 2026. Will be able to use the power generated in our County. Several cities in Sonoma County have been using SCP for about 10 years now. CPUC – ATT is trying again to do away with POTS/Landlines – attended for a 2nd time, an additional workshop held at Twin Pine Casino. Discussion was had from a public safety point of view, especially in a rural area. Finalized roads contract – awarded $5.1M project to Argonaut to redo 16 miles of roads in Cobb; project to begin in May. Last week at the BOS meeting, had a very thorough update on the Federal cuts. Cuts to Health and Human Services are affecting many of our programs. Region 9 office in SF closed, which affects our Head Start, TANF, Senior Centers, and Meals on Wheels programs.
Fire /Storm Season Update – Paul Duncan
Boggs Forest roads closed until May 1st. There will be work at the Cobb Fire Station next to the post office while the water main is being replaced. Station 60 in Middletown is holding it’s Open House on Saturday 4/26 from 10am to 3pm. ACI community drop-off dates are this Saturday and next Saturday from 10am to 2pm. The ACI will be leaving May 1st. There is a 2nd carbonizer there now until May 1st. Biochar will be available from Earth Foundries in a 4x4x4 sack. Can be picked up with 5-gallon buckets at the Middletown Community Garden, date(s) TBD. Friends of Boggs Mountain will be hosting the 20th Annual Bike Money Race on 5/3; CalFire will have First Aid station open, and Boggs Helitack will be staffed.
Treasurer’s Report – Chris
Submitted. Attached and incorporated herewith as Attachment “A”
COMMITTEE REPORTS (3 minutes/individual)
Firewise Communities – Magdalena, Cindy, Glenneth, David, Laurie
Magdalena – All 6 of our active Firewise groups have applied for grant funds. Looks like we’ll have some money left over. We (SSCRA) were only one of 12 that were chosen in the Country, and the only one in CA. Jessica – May 6th will be the annual proclamation of Wildfire Preparedness at the BOS.
Communications Committee – Mel
Mel – a new acronym, WORO. “Winter’s Over, Radios On.” Brian has radios for sale. Email: cobbalertnet@gmail.com. Check-ins continue to be about 30 per week.
Forest Health Committee – Eliot
Nothing new on the Federal grant but still forging ahead. CWPP kickoff plan – thanks to CalFire with helping to develop GIS mapping. Jake and the Strickler family are hosting a Cobb Forest Summit on 6/7 at Whispering Pines, information will be in the SSCRA newsletter. Forest Stewardship Committee meeting is the last Friday of every month from 4pm to 5:30pm at the Loch Lomond Firehouse.
Economic Development Committee – Chris
Cathy – the Blackberry Cobbler meeting will be on 4/30 at 6pm on the deck at Belmont Pines. For vendors wishing to sign-up, only contact Jennifer Gayda (Bottlerock Candle Studio), Cathy, and/or the official Facebook page to avoid scammers. Have verbal confirmations from CalPine and Sutter for sponsorship.
Next Meeting: May 15, 2025
Adjourned at 7:33pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Darlene Warner, Secretary