Author: admin_cac

Cobb Area CounciL
PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday January 18, 2018, 6:00-8:00pm
Little Red Schoolhouse/Cobb Mountain Lions Club
15780 Bottle Rock Rd., Cobb, CA 95426
full agenda packet available at www.cobbareacouncil.org
PRESENT: Cindy Leonard, Ron Hasket, Gary Prather, Jessica Pyska, Eliot Hurwitz (Chair)
25 people in attendance
CALL TO ORDER 6:02 (shut down cell phones; rules of participation)
Welcome to new attendees
SHORT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Glenneth, MAC event about VanGough 7:30 tomorrow
Kelly- Cobb Lion’s Club Crab feed March 3, tickets $60.00
Cathy announced BlackRock golf course Jan 26 open mic 7-10, dinner for sale
Feb 4 Super Bowl party, dinner opening soon: Brandon new chef
March 24 disc golf tournament (90 golfers
Feb 3nd Moore Family winery crab boil, silent auction to benefit Cobb School Garden program
APPROVAL OF MINUTES from December, 2017
A few changes by Robert Stark
Motion to approve: Ron Hasket
2nd – Jessica Pyska
TREASURER’S REPORT, Gary Prather. Current balance $2,203.32 (no change)
PUBLIC and BOARD COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS (3 mins./individual)
Email notice to add to agenda items
Jessica Pyska hazardous trees photos have been forwarded to CalTrans
Big ear
Cindy Leonard report of the Friends of Boggs Mountain (FOBM) meeting Tuesday Jan 16th.:
Jeremiah and Brett from the California Dept. of Forestry gave an update: they are on track with clearing and burn piles will go through this winter. The next group of 400,000 trees will arrive soon and be stored in Kelseyville till they are planted in March. They are very pleased with the survival rate of the 300,000 trees that were planted last March. This will bring a total of 3,000 of 3,500 acres replanted. Boggs remains closed for safety.
FOBM elected a new president: Chris Blomquist
Debbie Bloomquist is working with REMBA and attended a trails conference.
FOBM will have a Community Dinner (date yet to be determined) in the spring as a membership drive and community information meeting. You can join ($20 individual) at boggsmtn.net, but this is not necessary to attend.
Boggs is a Demonstration forest (different than a State Recreational Park, for example) and lots of research is happening from plant related to bird recording.
Jeremiah reported that many of the challenges at our forest is helping to shape recovery policy. Bills submitted for making it easier for other forests that have burned.
David Theissen (previous president) added that we are all frustrated with not being allowed in, but that we need to continue to be patient.
Ron Hasket reports on the County meeting in Kelseyville. There are 19 positions unfilled, some that there are no funds to fill. 5 million dollar shortfall. Building Dept. not included at meeting, all others were. Lack of property taxes is a big reason for shortfalls. Some properties are being sold, even for a loss. The castle is still up in the air. Less tourism tax (Harbin). No money to clean up Lake or to promote it.
Robert: Konocti Harbor is in escrow again. The backlog of properties is a big issue. 175 properties that are unpaid property tax and could go to auction, but the county staff is so overwhelmed and they want to get out of the real estate tax.
Ron: They didn’t mention what they think they will generate from the cannibis tax. Cindy: Perhaps the profit will go to law enforcement.
Ron: We spoke to departments about speeding up inspections. Two new houses started construction on Cobb today!
Robert: New road tax will positively impact our county
Jessica: comment came through CAC website about road improvements
Eliot: Byron Turner is just about done with template for the area plan and passed to Bob Maserelli for Board of Supervisors for approval. Eliot is watching the BOS meeting minutes to see when that happens and we will get our Cobb Area Plan committee energized.
Lake County Broadband Solutions update:
-Terre Logsdon: Beta testing has begun around their offices. They are looking for solutions for Cobb. They are looking at products that would use the white space frequencies that were used by broadcast television. This means that we would not need “line of sight” which is a challenge on Cobb.
Website is live now: http://lakecountybroadbandsolutions.com
More information they will know after a meeting on Feb 9th.
There many folks in the area that cannot get any DSL, so this will be a new option for them. Kids won’t have to use a hotspot to do their homework. Many students at Woodland College do not have internet, so they rely on the school for internet, many folks work from home and do not have internet for their business and are using a cellphone hotspot. Software updates take up all their data.
Go to their website and enter your information and they can see if you are able to get their service and you can keep up to date on what is happening.
Initial price is still to be determined as they explore the equipment. Consumers will have equipment from Mimosa (a dish) that they buy, LCBS absorbs the cost of installation. There will be no contract requirements.
Glenneth: Hobergs has erosion control measures
Short reports from CAC Committees as needed
PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
A New Year on Cobb MT.
Prepare for UPCOMING TOWN MEETING on Neighbors helping Neighbors
Gary, Ron and Eliot met to put together some details for event Saturday March 3rd from 10:00 till 4:00 at Cobb Mtn. Elementary School for community emergency preparedness event. Fire Chief Mike Wink Brian Martin, Forestry, South Lake County Fire Protection Dist. Bureau of Land Management would present. We would talk about hazard mitigation, helping neighbors who are elderly or handicapped who might need help by identifying these folks and methods to contact them. Eliot would like to create the Fire Wise Community program here on Cobb. Lot by lot assessments, training to do this type of organization. Identify the logical places as hubs, then these areas will assess their neighborhood, then come together to make a plan.
Each year this process will become easier and more streamlined.
Where are the evacuation zones?
The Cobb Area Council will be the government liaison, the Seigner Springs nonprofit would organize the other groups like Lions Club, Churches, etc.
At the March 3 meeting there would be presentations, then we could divide up by community hubs, then begin to build the organization from there.
Gary: The fire prevention fee used to provide grants for fire prevention services, so we are wondering if that previous amount ($115) could be paid directly to our South Lake Fire Safe Council for their programs like the chipping program. Charitable contributions are still tax-deductible in the current tax law.
If we become a Fire Wise Community, it will make firefighters much more safe if they need to fight a fire here. Homeowners need to do their part to maintain any fire breaks or clearing.
We can start a sign up for “Neighbors Helping Neighbors”.
Jessica: last spring the Pine Summit Pool had a community burn day, but not enough people knew to participate
Glenneth: Time Bank would probably be thrilled to participate in this.
Cathy: office of emergency services should be involved.
Cindy: High School community service hours for students.
Mr. Curtola: we should contact UPS or FedEx or other to get food donated for the event. Cindy said she will look into it.
Motion made to establish a formal committee to organize the “Cobb Safe 2018” event for March 3. Motion: Ron, Seconded: Jessica
We should get copies of the Cobb Fire Safe Council evacuation brochure to have for this event.
We would like David Leonard to talk about Cobb School evacuation plan, they could perhaps help guide organizations like preschool to create a plan. (including a secondary plan if plan A is impossible).
Eliot will ask a few folks about putting a flyer together very quickly
Security at Cobb Elementary School/Neighborhood Safety
Toyota 4Runner seems to be the vehicle. They were tearing up the pool parking lot. Kathleen thinks it is dark green with two high spotlights on hood and a roof rack, lifted, but she cannot prove it. They are really going fast and unsafe. Call the 467-4000 number so that it goes to Ukiah and they can respond faster if you see them.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 First Gary, Seconded Ron

 
COBB AREA COUNCIL
PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday December 21, 2017, 6:00-8:00pm
Little Red Schoolhouse/Cobb Mountain Lions Club
15780 Bottle Rock Rd., Cobb, CA 95426
full agenda packet available at www.cobbareacouncil.org
PRESENT: Cindy Leonard, Ron Hasket, Gary Prather, Jessica Pyska, Eliot Hurwitz (Chair)
23 people in attendance
CALL TO ORDER 6:03(shut down cell phones; rules of participation)
SHORT ANNOUNCEMENTS
-Jon Lion’s Club 2:00-4:00 December 25 Christmas community dinner provided by Lion’s Club with cookie decorating for kids and caroling.
-The Lion’s club also provides food for the community the first Wednesday each month
APPROVAL OF MINUTES from November 16, 2017
Motion to approve: Gary Prather
2nd – Kathleen Hasket
TREASURER’S REPORT, Gary Prather. Current balance $2,203.32 (no change)
PUBLIC and BOARD COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS (3 mins./individual)
-Ron Hasket wants to clarify that he did not want his words from the CAC meeting last month to be mis-construed that he thinks that the first responders are inadequate or that they are not doing their job. He has the utmost respect for the fire fighters. He meant that people are needing to step up and take responsibility for yourself, not solely rely on someone else to take care of us. Gary Prather agreed. Rob Brown added that we need to be pro-active and make an effort to get security cameras and other measures to protect our property. This will eliminate some of the unnecessary law enforcement visits. (clearing gutters of pine needles and other fire safe prevention measures)
Rob Brown said that a lot of people stay behind during fires for various reasons, but it is not a criminal activity. They cannot force you to leave if you are on your own property.
Kathleen Hasket brought up the article in the Lake County News that District Attorney Don Anderson will not be pressing charges for the people who caused the Valley Fire. Eliot brought up that they were not being malicious in setting the fire.
Lake County Hazard mitigation committee report: Joan Moss
Purpose:
-increase community outreach
-improve community’s
-increase wildfire resilience
Goal: get public input and to write a grant to get funding from FEMA for a County Hazard Mitigation plan
Cecilia Nelson from Habitat for Humanity is here to ask if we could put a link for the application on the CAC website. There is a grant money available for low income folks age 62 or older that need help for a home repair.
-Her home and one other are the two that are being built on Cobb by Habitat for Humanity
Rob Brown: 70 or so applications have been approved for CalHome project, and they are still looking for more people to apply (including renters)
Hope City is still continuing to build. All the money raised by them for Valley Fire must be used specifically for Valley Fire. (cannot be used in Santa Rosa, for example)
Cathy asked Rob Brown if the county might re-look at hazard mitigation for all the dead trees that are still standing. Jessica said she is especially concerned about the trees right along HWY 175 where the owner refused for PGE to remove the trees. They are really a danger. Karl Parker said he emailed photos of those trees to Lars Ewing a year ago with no action.
Short reports from CAC Committees as needed
-Karl Parker report on Hobergs Resort: The never-ending story.
Last month we reported that Ray Raminski had signed that the cleanup goals had been met. And the official letter was sent on December 15 of this month. Karl reads official letter. Wood waste must be continued to be cleaned up. Monitor erosion control.
Concrete processing continues, volume of wood continues to decrease. Cal works grant ended, but they hope to get a new grant to help with labor costs.
A request was made to please do everything possible to improve the look of Hobergs for the public. They have tidied up cars.
Hobergs did not receive help from the CalRecycle program, so they have had a great financial burden. Roughly their expenses $400,000 for Hazmat workers, $78,000 for testing, $75,000 dump fees, $489,000 equipment costs. Cal works grant helped with cleanup labor only.
Eliot suggested that Karl might state to Hoberg’s that they could be involved with the updating of the Cobb Area Plan. Karl said he will let them know.
Rob Brown thanked Karl Parker for all the time and effort put into his Hoberg’s reports for the Cobb Area Council
PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Water and Fire –Eliot wants to continue the discussion of what our community can do to for fire prevention, continuing the Neighbors Helping Neighbors program or the FireWise program. Ron agreed that we could have a few people to do some training to be able to go door to door to give people suggestions to make their home fire safe. We could identify a few trainers, like Gary, others. A video presentation with law enforcement as well as fire responders present. Jessica pointed out that one of the biggest problems is the absentee property owners who are not here to cut tall grass, clean property.
Taking the time to prepare for next year’s fire season
-Ron, Gary and Eliot will work on a program to make a community presentation on possibly Thursday March 1st at Cobb School multi-purpose room. Show a video, talk about house-to-house visits.
Rainbow Bridge update by Robert Stark:
-There is no more bridge, thanks to Ken Gifford, Steve Moore, Ben Murphy. Bailey bridge came out in 6 hours. Don Prather helped with the disassembling of the bridge in another 6 hours. Fish and wildlife insisted the old bridge also come out. That was a more difficult project with the i-beams to cut out. Then the abutments also had to come out because they dropped. All was dug out behind abutments, 26 tons of rip rap was stacked by Steve, the east side abutment had two pieces of rebar to be removed. The previous bridge must not have had a Fish and Game permit, so there was much work to do to bring it up to appropriate standards. From now, it is up to Cobb Area Water District and the County to take the next steps.
The grant money should arrive to the water district in April or so, and the hope is that the bridge would be completed by the end of summer 2018. Thanks to Rob Brown with assistance with the acquisition of the block grant. Robert Stark has agreed to help Ben to find the bridge builder contractor. Abutments must be on hard ground and not in the creek. If we can get the original Bailey bridge signed off on by and engineer, then we will use it.
CORRECTION- Robert Stark-
1. Rainbow Bridge, there was only one 6-hour period to remove the Bailey Bridge.
2. The abutments were not removed, remained in place and leaned back after digging out behind them.
3. Strike the “Previous Bridge” sentence.
Water system consolidation: flyer has been prepared by Cindy Leonard with names of representatives to contact. Please let us know if you would like your name printed as a supporter
Robert says the application is submitted, the County is working hard to help with the consolidation. We are now only short about $3 million for the project (out of about $20 million). This is record time for a project of this size for a consolidation! The State of California Water Resources Board is very committed and behind this project and is spending a lot of money to push this project forward.
The goal is that each customer will pay $50 a month rate, eventually after the entire process is finished.
Meeting adjourned at 7:37 Robert motion to adjourn, seconded by Gary.

Minutes- November 16, 2017
COBB AREA COUNCIL
PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday November 16, 2017, 6:00-8:00pm
Little Red Schoolhouse/Cobb Mountain Lions Club
15780 Bottle Rock Rd., Cobb, CA 95426
PRESENT: Cindy Leonard, Jessica Pyska, Eliot Hurwitz (Chair), Barbara Flynn, Gary Prather, Ron Haskett
30 people in attendance
Chair called the meeting to order at 6:02PM
Agenda
• CALL TO ORDER (shut down cell phones; rules of participation)
SHORT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Magdalena- 3 folks need handyman tools and landscaping tools, please contact her if you have any
Barbara- December 2nd, Christmas in the Village at the Brick Oven. 6:00. Santa will visit.
Lion’s Club bingo will be third Friday of every month
Christmas dinner at the Lion’s Club for all the public. Donations needed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES from October, 2017
MOVED to accept the Minutes of October, 2017 as is: Barbara Flynn: SECONDED: Ron Haskett. MOTION CARRIED: All ayes to accept the Minutes of October, 2017 as is.
TREASURER’S REPORT, Gary Prather: $52.00 paid for Post Office Box, $27.95 paid to Jessica Pyska for website. Current balance $2,203.32
PUBLIC and BOARD COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS (3 mins./individual)
Short reports from CAC Committees as needed
Glenneth shared the following report from Karl Parker:
COBB ABATEMENT MONITORING COMMITTEE—Report to Cobb Area Council
1 SOIL TESTING—GREAT NEWS!! Earlier this week, I received the following message from Ray Ruminski, Director of Environmental Health:
“We have received and reviewed the report from Schutze & Associates : SOIL TESTING REPORT: SAMPLING FOR ASBESTOS AND METALS and CONFIRMATION SAMPLING FOR LEAD, Former Hoberg’s Resort ( noted Project No. SCS601.1, October 31, 2017).
Based on the sampling and analysis for metals after debris and soli removal, I agree with conclusions and recommendations in the report that the site of the burned structures has been adequately remediated and that no additional work is required. I consider that the cleanup goals established for this portion of the Valley Fire area have been met. “
2 CONCRETE REMOVAL—You may have noticed the foundations of the old lodge complex being broken up and gathered into piles. As previously reported, the plan is to move the concrete away from the road closer to the ridge where it will be ground up and recycled as road base. Progress on this part of the project will be impacted by weather conditions – heavy rains will make it increasingly difficult to operate heavy equipment in the mud.
3 WOOD PROCESSING—Work continues. The reduction in the wood remaining on the property is now clearly visible from Highway 175, although a substantial amount remains. Processing will continue through the next several months.
4 EROSION CONTROL—An erosion control plan has been prepared by Cort Munselle Engineering of Healdsburg, California, and will be submitted to Ray Ruminski for review and approval. The primary goal will be to stabilize conditions as much as possible and install barriers in order to prevent excessive silt content in the water running downstream off the property.
Respectfully submitted, Karl E. Parker
Cobb Area Plan update: Eliot met with County. The revision will begin most likely in January. We will want a lot of input from the people of Cobb.
Joan Moss gave an update from the Board of Supervisors meeting.
-The Red Net fire dispatch will be passed to the control of the Fire Dept.
-The Supervisors are considering allowing Mendocino fire debris to be taken to Lake County dump
Communications update- Mel: goTenna mesh, devices connect to each other automatically. Currently sold out on Amazon ($180 per pair), but he is going to get them as soon as available. These will work even if cell towers are down. He will continue to research and let us know his findings. 900mhz range. He is still recommending that people get radios ($54) plus license ($70). BTECH GMRS-V1 Two-way radio. He suggests that we all bring our radios to the next meeting.
Eliot said that the Middletown Rancheria gave $22,000 to complete purchase of sirens. One in Cobb, one in Loch Lomond. Magdalena talked to Del with OES and he says he is still trying to figure out what action they will tell the public when the siren goes off. Joan Moss: Lake County disaster meeting, Dell is working to map out area to finish disaster plan for Lake County (including evacuation plan). Madeline says Chief Mike Wink has re-submitted agreement with Calpine and it was approved last night. The Fire District can now install the sirens and they should be installed very soon.
Redwood Valley had sirens, but decided it would be better for people to shelter in place. Lots of lessons to be learned from the failed systems there.
Cathy looked into the programs with NOAH program, like Crescent City.
Gary suggested everyone get a scanner so you can always flip it on if you are wondering what is going on. They cost about $100
Barbara agrees that we should make a plan, since our community is so easily cut off from communication in and emergency
Joan attended the Hazard Mitigation meeting yesterday with OES and they are creating a plan.
Ron also agrees that we need to prepare ourselves, not to wait for someone to make a plan for us.
John Carlisi- We should talk to hospitals, fire dept., etc to find out their plan. We can talk to Sutter Lakeside
Magdalena- It is apparent that we don’t (for example) have enough ambulances to take people away. If we can get some basic training, then at least we can set up a triage area to assist with an emergency. Another good program is Fire-Wise community program, a grant program to get defensible space clearing.
Eliot said perhaps Jon can tell us if the Lion’s club could help to organize the training. We should plan a workshop in January for emergency preparedness. Magdalena said the Red Cross might have money to help with this.
CERT program training.
Ken can schedule for the Ham radio test, which is this Saturday in Ukiah
Mr. Curtola suggests that we keep things small, just make sure you know your 5 closest neighbors and take care of them in an emergency. Let’s not wait to get everyone certified and trained, let’s just make a phone tree and keep it simple for right now.
PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Report on the Cobb Water System Consolidation by Ben Murphy, General Manager of Cobb Area Water District
Loch Lomond is not participating, nor is Mtn. of Attention. or Whispering Pines or Cobb Mtn. Water
After the fire it was determined that the consolidation was the best plan for recovery. Eight systems will be combined. About 20% of the pre-fire numbers have come back.
Sphere of Influence: 8 systems participating, but this area also protects water districts in areas nearby that are not participating in case of emergency. Keeps those districts from the danger of being taken over. If these areas want to later join, they would have to pay all the fees. You pay by the acre, so it would be very expensive!! Whispering Pines is very complicated, so $15 to 20 million to put in infrastructure, so that area is not participating in this phase.
This is a great opportunity for us to move forward, have control, upgrade our system. In the future our base rate will be lower.
Cost: $22 million in upgrades, $12 million of that in severely distressed systems.
Funding that has been raised: ~$10 million, needing an additional $10 million ?
Possible Bond?
If we don’t consolidate, we will accrue a lot of debt, for example Starview.
The goal in 5 years after consolidation is that we have monthly bills of $50, the costs would be much, much higher if we do not consolidate and do not take advantage of the grant money.
Many areas have tar-wrapped steel that was installed about 50 years ago and are failing. New fire regulations find our systems inadequate.
This consolidation process is underway and hopes are that approval will happen by August 2018.
What can we do? Call state representatives, let them know that we need this project. Tell them that they need to lean on the finance dept to push forward this project. 1,000 homes will be impacted for safe, reliable drinking water. And perhaps just as important is to upgrade our infrastructure to help create a fire safe community!
Eliot: We will have the talking points and phone numbers as a handout at our next meeting
We will not see any rates being raised without community input.
Jessica: How many jobs will be generated? Ben: Maybe 2, hopefully after consolidation as long-term employees.
Construction work will go out to bid, a big construction company will hired to do project to federal standards.
The original Pine Grove tank is not useable because of surface water contamination. It is too complicated to use that water for fire hydrants
Alpine Meadows should speak now if they want to participate.
Case: The water board is looking for an additional board member. Meeting is the second Wednesday of every month. John Carlisi is possibly interested.
Update from Robert on the Rainbow Bridge:
The permit is received, a couple of days of dry weather then we can pull up asphalt, and a plan is being formed to remove both bridges (because of rules of Fish and Wildlife). K rail and cyclone fence will be installed. The bridge is now officially owned by the water company. The engineering will most likely going to cost $50,000. We hope the bridge installation will cost under $20,000. Robert says the Fish and Wildlife organization has been very good to work with. Robert will let us know when we need to help. This will be very important when the creek banks need to be “vacuumed”, since nothing can be allowed to fall into the creek.
Move to adjourn at 7:35. Motion Gary , Seconded Inez
Minutes taken by Cindy Leonard