Category: 2020 Minutes

COBB AREA COUNCIL
ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday November 19, 2020 at 6:30pm
Draft Meeting Minutes
PARTICIPATE online via ZOOM
MEETING ID NUMBER: 867 0565 0580 Passcode: 112872
or
Watch and comment via LIVESTREAM on FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/CobbAreaCouncil
CALL TO ORDER at 6:31
Roll Call: Cindy Leonard Secretary here, Cathy McCarthy Chair here, Frank Lincoln Treasurer here, Jessica Pyska Vice Chair here, Jake Strickler here, Chris Nettles here
21 people on Zoom call, around 10 people on the Facebook live site.
Approval of Agenda from 10-15-2020 motion to approve, Eliot; seconded Chris, all approve.
Minutes for 11-19-2020 motion to approve, Jessica; seconded by Eliot. All approve.
Short Announcements
Glenneth states that his clay classes are now starting. Tues and Thursdays. Reach out to him if you are interested.
Spirit of the Season helps individuals and families of Cobb, Middletown and HVL during the holiday season with food and gifts.
Sign up will be on December 1st and 2ND 4-6pm only at the Middletown office of Catholic Charities. Masks are required.
CalFresh Mass Replacement Waiver Approval–31 Counties Valerie at Catholic Charities still assisting folks over the phone, who need CalFresh and Medi-Cal benefits for the power outage food replacement.707.867.6160 o: 707.528.8712
Middletown Unified School District needs people for the Bond oversight committee. So far there are only 3 people signed up for the committee and they need 7 people for the committee to be complete. The bond passed 2 years ago and they need to have the oversight committee to spend the money.
Shawn wants to praise Mel McMurrin for all the work he has done on the CAVERN radio network. He is a calming and great moderator for this program. It is reassuring to have the radio quick notice!
The Lion’s club will be doing holiday pies and the deadline to order is coming up soon!
Treasurer’s Report- Frank
Cobb Area Council General fund: $1,656.36
Blackberry Cobbler Festival $3,316.53 (waiting for $3,000 from PGE)
Cobb Resilient: $1,456.28
Cobb Safe: $851.23
Economic Development (from Calpine): $1,300
Rebuild NorthBay (for Hub office and LakeCOAD website): $2,807.42
Science Camp 0
T-Shirt Fundraiser: $4,503.89
Wilder than Wild: $161.31
AHEAD Grant: $126,135.24
Committee Reports
Firewise Communities:
Magdelena: SSCRA just reimbursed 33 property owners a portion of their lot-clearing expenses, for a rounded total of about $34,000. (If you want to add thanks out loud: Jon and Pat Meyer gave up their place so that someone else more in need of the help can take advantage.) The total paid out so far to Cobb area residents is just under $75,000.
SSCRA has $49,000 left to cover a little over 46 acres remaining in the grant project. Everyone who is interested needs to be clear that application is not a guarantee of reimbursement. Some homeowners who registered earlier last year or this year have not been moving forward on getting the work done, and there have been additional applications. You have to apply first and go through a documentation process in order to qualify for the reimbursement. The grant expires in March 2022 or whenever the money runs out, so the homeowners who are already registered are in a kind of race to make sure they get their claims in.
Tomorrow, November 20 is the deadline for this year’s recertification of the Firewise Communities:
(Cathy McCarthy has been alerted, and I gave her the names and addresses of everyone in her Firewise Community who used the grant so she can include their work in her tally. I just don’t know if she’s completed the recertification application.)
Your group of course has already been acknowledged as recertified.
Cobb View is working on theirs — thanks to the people who stopped by the Resource Hub to get a copy of the Recording Sheet so they could throw their numbers in.
Seigler Springs is working on theirs as well.
Group 3 is making slow progress in getting organized to apply for the Firewise Communities designation. Contact Gene Yoon: gene@ginsudo.com
If you are a veteran or a family member, USAA gives a 5% discount on your insurance premiums. We heard earlier this week that Mercury Insurance will give an 18% discount, but we have been unable to confirm this. (There’s nothing mentioned on the Fire Safe Marin site, even though John Nowell announced this at the RRA meeting.)
We have also been able to get the firebreaks in Cobb that were recorded by the South Lake Fire Safe Council digitized so that we can begin to compare this data to the acres treated through the SSCRA grant and will be working with the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center to address additional properties when the CEQA clearance for their new grant is completed. That could take another few months.
Thanks to all the volunteers who have been working so tirelessly to collect all the data and to all our neighbors who have been volunteering theirs!
Cindy: firesafelake.org website is now live. Please visit and check out all the information specific to Lake County (plus we need clicks for our grant reporting!)
The Resource Hub is now open on Tues, Thurs and Fri from noon to 4:00.
Cindy would like to propose a Broom Buster event in February that would be funded through Calpine Corp. Components would include a broom clearing day and a homeowner recognition program with yard signs.
Jessica has noticed that there is more beetle killed trees this year because of the drought and warmer temperatures. The Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance covers those dead trees so keep an eye on that. Jake says that the tree workers have been spiking the trees instead of using the lifts and that makes the problem worse.
Glenneth says the Jones Creek Crossing will have another Zoom meeting next Thursday.
Cindy motions that we put out a request for proposals for upgrading the Cobb Area C
Communications Committee- Mel
Economic Development Committee
AHEAD Grant Update- Eliot
Eliot had a great meeting with the Federal Home Loan SF about getting an extension. They got a virtual tour of the Cobb Resource Hub. They said it is no problem at all to extend our deadline.
4 loans are currently out and about $25,000 is left in the pot for small business loans at 2% interest.
He is continuing with the interviews of local community members and will be reviewing these with Chris.
The broadband study has hit a bit of a roadblock with the Chico State folks, so they have put out a request for proposals.
The target is to have a first report draft for the community outreach at the beginning of 2021.
There is still $2,000.00 left for the creation of the Cobb Merchants Association.
Collaborative Marketing Initiative- Jessica states that the logo is now finished so Kim Lewis can finish up the ExploreCobbCa website. It will be full of information for locals and tourists. The Facebook page has been posting lots of photos of local shops and artists.
CAC website and mailing list- update, service, and maintenance. Call for volunteers and/or bids to update the website.
2020 Fire Season Update – Paul Duncan Calfire is down staffing their equipment and staff slowly. Burn ban will hopefully be lifted soon and then we can have residential burning. The crews are down to 2 with Konocti. 17 person crews. 3 crews at Delta camp. The numbers are decreasing so much statewide that some are closing. Bottlerock Road is a priority for the fuel reduction along the road this winter.
Jessica asks if the lack of hand crews will affect the winter work. Paul says yes, it will, but the projects will still keep going. There are several burn projects planned, but there needs some additional training to get more people educated on the practice.
Jessica asks if we could get a curtain burner. Paul Duncan said he will look into that.
Larry Allen & Co.- Neighborhood Concern: Larry says that there are many neighbors who are concerned about a high-occupancy facility in their neighborhood that is about to be approved. They are concerned about noise, traffic, devaluation of homes, septic, waste and many other possible hazards. They have called code enforcement and written complaints, but they are unsure what to do about it. They have come to the Cobb Area Council to see what they should do. Jessica states that after looking into it a little bit today, she is suggesting that they find out who the labor contractor is and they might be violating the H2A worker program. The workers are supposed to move in on January 1st. It sounds like substandard living conditions. There is mold in the lower section and they have a sub-standard septic system. It was converted from a 2 bedroom to a 4 bedroom cabin.
November 3rd Elections result in CAC vacancy in January.
Cindy suggests that we amend the bylaws to re-align the election of CAC officers to December of every year so that we can then have the Board of Supervisors appoint these folks.
Chris modifies the motion to appoint a committee to look at amending the bylaws which would then be presented to the Cobb Area Council meeting for discussion. Cathy firsts, Jessica seconds and all approve this motion.
Cobbite of the Year~ Chris, Cindy Cathy will be on the committee. Gayle Albo also said she will be on it as well
Date of Next Meeting: January 21, 2020
Adjournment at 8:06 Jessica motions, Chris seconds, all approve.

COBB AREA COUNCIL
ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday September 17, 2020 at 6:30pm
PARTICIPATE online via ZOOM
MEETING ID NUMBER: 845 4932 4010 Passcode: 466118
or
Watch and comment via LIVESTREAM on FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/CobbAreaCouncil
Draft Meeting Minutes
1. CALL TO ORDER at 6:35
Roll Call: Cindy Leonard Secretary here, Cathy McCarthy Chair here, Frank Lincoln Treasurer here, Jessica Pyska Vice Chair here, Jake Strickler (not present), Chris Nettles here
2.Approval of Agenda motion to approve by Eliot, seconded by Chris, all approve
3.Approval of Minutes from September , 2020 motion to approve: Eliot, seconded Chris, all in favor.
4. Short Announcements Cobb Resource Hub is open Tues/Thurs noon-4
5. Treasurer’s Report- Frank $49.99 to renew Quicken account only expense this month.
Cobb Area Council General fund: $1,715.36
Blackberry Cobbler Festival $3,316.53
Cobb Resilient: $1,456.28
Cobb Safe: $851.23
Economic Development (from Calpine): $1,300
Rebuild NorthBay (for Hub office): $835.50
T-Shirt Fundraiser: $4,503.89
Wilder than Wild: $161.31
6. Committee Reports
Firewise Communities: Magdelena, Cindy, Glenneth,
Cindy says Rainbow Bridge event was a great success! Look for articles in Record Bee and Lake County Bloom
we have a rack card being designed for the Hub with the information about the Hub.
Glenneth is planning an event October 17th from 10-1:00 at their Jones Creek crossing Firewise neighborhood. They have a website and also will have a Zoom meeting next thursday at 6:00. Call Glenneth if you would like to help. tiny url.com/jonescreekcrossing
Magdalena ~ SSCRA has 3 more communities to bring to the area as a goal for the CalFire grant. Gene is working on a website for Group 3.
Dottie and Damon Bates are working on another Firewise Community for the Loch Lomond area in Group 5.
Communications Committee- Mel
It was a busy month for the communications committee. There are about 120 members now. Two new GRMS operators.
There is a new Ham operator class coming up in Kelseyville next month.
CAVERN.mobi has a lot of links for information about current fires.
The overnight watches during a real time fire is very comforting.
Economic Development Committee
AHEAD Grant Update- Eliot
budget is on track (spent $73,686.46 of the $200,000)
half of the loan fund has been loaned out
Collaborative Marketing Initiative- Jessica
Abby the Facebook page is now live: explorecobbca.com
Karen has been taking lots of photos for the content
Kim Lewis produced 4 logos to get feedback.
The website basic structure is done
7. 2020 Fire Season Update – Paul Duncan
Current fire status in Lake County: our fire is looking pretty good, homes burned or damaged property needs to be reported to CalFire, 95% containment, small smokes will pop up, but we have resources to jump on it.
North of us they have 100 miles of fire line to contain in very rough terrain.
The goal is to get all the small fires out before they get to 10 acres.
Mike Wink is at the fire in Fresno and they are making good progress there.
Red flag warning this weekend on the East side
8. Update: response to letter to OES to request the September test to be louder and longer. They actually cancelled that test because of fire activity. She has asked if this could be done in October but has not heard anything back.
9.Update: Presentation to Lake County BOS on 5th Anniversary of Valley Fire: Jessica has created a video to re-cap the 5 years of progress and recovery in the Cobb Community.
We would like to make a presentation to the BOS with items that we still need here for more progress to be made. We need their help.
There is a slideshow that Jessica created to outline what our thoughts are as we move from recovery to development.
10. Date of Next Meeting: October
11. Adjournment at 7: 47 Motion by Cindy, seconded by Eliot, all in favor.

COBB AREA COUNCIL

COBB AREA COUNCIL
Special Meeting
ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING
Friday August 7, 2020 at 6:30pm
PARTICIPATE online via ZOOM https://zoom.us/
MEETING ID NUMBER: 831 7950 3868 Passcode: 361749
or
Watch and comment via LIVESTREAM on FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/CobbAreaCouncil
Draft Agenda
CALL TO ORDER at 6:33
Roll Call: Cindy Leonard Secretary, Cathy McCarthy Chair, Frank Lincoln Treasurer, Jessica Pyska Vice Chair, Jake Strickler (not here), Chris Nettles all present
Eliot Hurwitz, Karen Pavone, Paul Duncan, Tom Slaight, Buelah Farquar
Cobb Economic Development Committee- hear and approve proposed subcontracts for work to be done in accordance with AHEAD grant.
Abby Leutholdt – project manager: collaborative marketing initiative
Kim Lewis – web design and logo
Karen Pavone – photography
Cobb Area Council
Marketing Collaborative Initiative
August 7, 2020
Summary:
The Cobb Area Council (CAC) received a $200,000 grant from the Federal Homeloan Bank of San Francisco in September 2019 for the economic development of the Cobb Area following the Valley Fire.
The Marketing Collaborative Initiative:
The CAC allocated $25,000 for a marketing campaign to draw visitors to the Cobb Area to support the local economy. The Marketing Collaborative Initiative will work through the economic development sub-committee, and include business owners, artists, and community members who will develop and steer an inclusive campaign that will benefit and elevate all of the Cobb Area community.
Proposal:
Engage a team of local experts to build the marketing strategy through September 6, 2021 (Labor Day 2021) by developing a website, photography assets, social media campaigns, market research, and outreach, to be coordinated with local business owners, artists and events.
Abby Leu Presents
Abby Leatholdt
Project Manager (see proposal)
$1,200 retainer, $800 monthly (13 months) $10,800
KL Designs
Kim Lewis
Website and Logo Design $2,570
Hosting/Domain (3 years) $480
InkFarm Creative
Karen Pavone
Photography (see shoot list) $6,000
TOTAL $19,850
Chris Nettles requests that it is written into the contract that any additional fees need to be pre-approved.
Eliot makes a motion from the floor that the Cobb Area Council approve the contract for Abby Leu Presents, Chris Nettles seconds the motion. All approve.
The team that will be working with the three project experts will be the Economic Development Committee. Any financial changes to the contracts will need to be approved by the Cobb Area Council.
The website content is up to us to deliver to Kim Lewis. We have a few optional items that we can discuss later (like adding advertising to the website).
Cindy motions to approve the contract with Kim Lewis design, Chris Nettles seconds. All approve.
Chris Nettles makes a motion to accept the contract with Karen Pavone, Frank Lincoln seconds, all approve.
Jessica will reach out to them to get contracts signed and Eliot and Cathy will get checks signed.
Eliot says that we had 10 people viewing the meeting on Facebook live.
Cathy makes a motion to adjourn, Chris motions, Frank seconds, all approve. Meeting adjourned at 7:23.

COBB AREA COUNCIL ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday July 16, 2019
PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM ONLINE: www.zoom.us https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88405388677 MEETING ID NUMBER 884 0538 8677 Password: 693412
FOLLOW ALONG VIA FACEBOOK LIVESTREAM ON
COBB AREA COUNCIL PAGE
CALL TO ORDER at 6:33
Roll Call: Cindy Leonard Secretary, Cathy McCarthy, Frank Lincoln Treasurer, Eliot Hurwitz Chair, Jessica Pyska Vice Chair, Jake Strickler all present
Approval of Agenda motion to approve with one modification to approve the two contracts: Cindy , seconded Cathy: all in favor, motion passes
Approval of Minutes from June 18, 2020 motion to approve: Cindy, seconded Jessica, all in favor.
TREASURER’S REPORT, Frank Lincoln
Cobb Area Council General fund: $3,974.35
Blackberry Cobbler Festival $3,316.53
Cobb Resilient: $1,456.28
Cobb Safe: $851.23
Economic Development (from Calpine): $1,300
Rebuild NorthBay (for Hub office): $2,008.41
Science Camp 0
T-Shirt Fundraiser: $4,343.89
Wilder than Wild: $161.31
AHEAD Grant: $164,283.27
Community Reports/Updates
Annual Council Election for Board
Eliot will be stepping down from the CAC board. He says he is grateful for the opportunity and he has been happy to be part of the establishment of the CAC. And he says we are just getting started!
Jessica thanked him for all the work he has done. She asks for nominations for the position. Glenneth nominated Chris Nettles.
All were in favor of Chris Nettles to join the Cobb Area Council
Nominations for Chair: Cathy nominated
Jessica has a couple of announcements:
There were some nesting birds so the Rainbow Bridge was delayed, but now it is back on track.
The pipeline project at Pine Summit is on a 10 day stop work because of COVID-19 infection of one of the worker’s wife.
Chris Nettles says the Census will be starting up again in August, going door-to-door. They will be coming to houses that have not submitted and also to houses at addresses they did not expect.
Dottie is opening True Grit Coffeeshop in Loch Lomond. She is waiting for the final visit from the Health Department to hear what day they can open. She hopes it is by the end of the month.
2. 2020 Fire Season Update –
Chief Mike Wink: We are in the summer hot weather and so the incident activity is increasing. So far it is in a normal amount. All equipment is now available. The incidents so far have been taken care of very quickly.
Please be aware of conditions and prepare as best you can.
Question from Jessica: Is there a new goal to keep the size below a certain amount? The goal is to keep 95% of the fires at 10 acres or less. Was there a contract helicopter at Boggs recently? It was there, then to Santa Clara, then was back, then up North to a fire, then back to Cobb. They put additional resources at Cobb when conditions require it. Our new helicopter is in training and will arrive in Cobb in the fall.
Response to fires has been much quicker. Where we used to send 5 engines, now they send 8, etc. Last summer two fire cameras were added in Lake County and that has helped a lot.
Go to: Alert wildfire North Bay to see the cameras.
The crews are taking extra PPE care to deal with the job during a pandemic
Glenneth says he heard about a fire on Wildcat today and is wondering about the alarm system
The fire on Wildcat did not turn into a fire.
The Sheriff can request the siren activation for 3 minutes to increase situational awareness in the community in case of a large incident.
Please keep your phone on at night so that you can receive alerts in the night.
All 4 of the sirens were activated successfully during the test last week.
Test will be the first Monday of every month at 11:00.
The lookout tower is not abandoned, it is being evaluated for repairs. The volunteers are doing the lookout from the top of the mountain.
Magdalena says that folks in her neighborhood are planning to stay in place and not evacuate.
Chief Paul Duncan says they would like folks to be out of the fire danger. If they wait till the fire is on top of them then it puts themselves at risk, plus the firefighters at risk. He is willing to go talk to people who really are afraid of the COVID-19 danger
3. Report on the formation of the Lake County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) – Cindy Leonard
The Lake COAD is working on a new website to help all the organizations in Lake County be stronger together when planning for and responding to disasters.
Please make sure you are prepared with your GoBag or your StayBox because it is fire season! Do not forget to prepare items for your pet.
If you need a helpful list or other documents for emergency preparedness, please visit the Cobb Resource Hub on Tuesdays or Thursdays from noon to 4:00.
Committee reports:
local community businesses: Pine Grove talks about how busy they have been with people from the Bay Area.
Jake says that Whispering Pines Resort is different this year. 20% down from the regulars, but a LOT of new people are coming up. It isn’t the usual long rentals, but more 4-7 days. It has been a good thing. First timers have been very impressed with Lake County.
Raoul from Mandala Springs resort: They are finding a lot of people just wanting to get out of the city and it is very busy. They are family oriented and spread out, so that makes people feel comfortable. The mini-golf is now open and other day-use for the community. Rack cards or other brochures. Rates are $15
Joe from Pine Grove: They have been very busy. Three different parties that have already come back within a 3 week timespan.
Jessica says that we have a budget for marketing. We would like to gather photos and videos in a library to use for marketing. We talked about hiring a photographer to get some of the photos of our assets.
The next meeting of the Economic Development Committee is the 27th.
Cathy says the Communication Committee is doing their regular check-ins.
Eliot says that they will have some radios at the Resource Hub.
Mike Wink says that he received a call about a group that wants to do the same as our CAVERN group. CAVERN.MOBI
4. Cobb Economic Development Plan and AHEAD Grant update – Eliot Hurwitz
Eliot shared his slide show which recapped the scope of work for this grant.
This month we will be switching the accounting part of the report to separate it from the Cobb Area Council bank account.
Please look at the Cobb Area Council website to find the tab for up to date information about what is happening with the AHEAD grant.
They are looking for 4-5 people to become part of the data analysis team looking at the interviews. Chris Nettles will help the team have a structured review. Facilitator-led process to come up with consensus as a group to feed that into a report.
The contracts for both revised scopes of work have been presented to the Economic Development committee. The contract with Jeff Lucas stays intact, with an addendum to do the Broadband work. Chris Nettles motions to adopt the contract, Cindy seconds. All agree and it passes unanimously.
The contract with Eliot with SSCRA is more detailed in the changes. Cathy makes a motion to accept the new contract as amended, Chris seconds, all agree. Motion carries.
5. Endorse California Forward request to Governor for a Statewide Broadband Action Policy – Jessica Pyska
Glenneth motions that we endorse, Eliot seconds. All are in favor and the motion carries.
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 by Jessica, seconded by Chris, all approve, motion carries.

Agenda- June 18, 2020
COBB AREA COUNCIL ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday June 18, 2020
Draft Meeting Minutes by Cindy Leonard

1. CALL TO ORDER  6:32
2. – INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM, FACEBOOK OR PHONE

3. Roll Call Present: Cindy Leonard Secretary, Cathy McCarthy, Jessica Pyska, Eliot Hurwitz Chair, Not present: Frank Lincoln Treasurer, Jake Strickler.

4. Approval of Agenda motion: Cindy Leonard, seconded: Cathy McCarthy: all approved

5. Approval of Minutes from May 21, 2020.  motion to approve: Cathy, seconded: Cindy, all approve

6. TREASURER’S REPORT by Cindy Leonard:

Cobb Area Council General fund: $3,974.35
Blackberry Cobbler Festival $3,316.5323
Cobb Resilient: $1,456.28
Cobb Safe:  $851.23
Economic Development (from Calpine): $1,300
Rebuild NorthBay (for Hub office): $2,008.41
Science Camp 0
T-Shirt Fundraiser:  $4,343.89
Wilder than Wild: $161.31
AHEAD Grant: $164,283.27
Eliot notes that he would like to discuss combining some of the above
Community Reports/Updates
Kyle Noble: Mountain Lions Club would like to announce the re-opening of Cobb Community Center for events with social distancing protocols.
Cathy has an update from Ben at Cobb Area Water:
Hill 9 and 10 project is one week ahead
Pine Summit is two weeks behind
Rainbow bridge is one week behind
An update on the Alpine Meadows project will be done at the future meeting
Cathy also says to be on the lookout for the Census packet.  It is important to fill it out
6.Cobb Safe Drive-Through Event Report – Cindy Leonard
We were very happy with the event! Approximately 250 people attended and there were 10 volunteers. There is also the GoBag and information that will be delivered to the meals on wheels seniors. This is definitely an event that we will do again and other groups around the county are also hoping to try this drive-through style.
At the event we also had a ribbon cutting for the new Cobb Resource Hub office. We are grateful for all of the organizations who contributed to the establishment of this office for our community, including: The AHEAD grant, Rebuild NorthBay Foundation, Catholic Charities, Kim Lewis Design, Greg Clouse, Kevin Luhr, among many others.
Check out the article in the Record-Bee:
https://www.record-bee.com/2020/06/13/cobb-hosts-first-drive-thru-wildfire-preparedness-fair/
Glenneth mentioned that he would like to also utilize the Resource Hub as a place for the CERT training. (and possibly CART)

7. Cobb Economic Development Plan and AHEAD Grant update – Eliot Hurwitz

Access to Housing and Economic Assistance for Development – Disaster Recovery
This is a series of regional banks that invest in the community.  It is not public funds
Five parts of our grant:

• Small Business loan
• Economic Study and Marketing
• Community Involvement
• Cobb Area Merchants Association
• Economic Strategy Report

1. Loan Program: approved one loan, 3 Cobb applicants in process, 1 middletown in process
2. Economic Study and Marketing: done by Community Development 

projections, dynamics in tourism economy, business success in our community, study of broadband funding in rural areas as a key, marketing program to help current businesses and bring new business and new homeowners. 
3)  Community Involvement: a core dimension is to use community interviews to help guide the direction.  17 interviews have been done and the goal is 40 interviews total. The Cobb Resource Hub will be utilized for meetings and access to materials.  The Cobb Area Council website also has a tab for information on the AHEAD grant
4) Cobb Area Merchants Association: 
5) Economic Strategy Report
~Here we need to insert the Economic Strategy Report from Eliot~
8 points in the report
Budget:
Small business loans: $50,000 ($687.50 $2,750
Economometric data:  $40,000 ($1,875 $2,750
Broadband exploration $20,000 ($500)
Marketing – residents: $10,000
Marketing – current businesses: $15,000
Marketing – future businesses: $10,000
Community Outreach (interviews): $25,000  ($25,000 check written to Eliot)
Community Outreach (Resource Hub): $5,000
Community Outreach (Website): $5,000 (Lions Club $2,200)
Draft report: $10,000
Print report: $1,000
Cobb Merchants Association: $19,000
Who will be heading up the marketing program? 
What is the plan for the Merchants Association?
Jessica suggests that we set another Economic Development Committee meeting to specify these things.
The meeting will be June 29th, 6:00 p.m.
Jessica suggests that we create a document to give to Frank so that he has guidance on what to expect for the checks that he will be writing.
Cubit report could help us with marketing. Ultimately the marketing part will be done by someone else.  
Cathy moves, Jessica seconds the motion to adjourn, all approve
Meeting adjourned 7:43

COBB AREA COUNCIL

ONLINE PUBLIC MEETING

Thursday May 21, 2019

PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM ONLINE: www.zoom.us

MEETING NUMBER: 873 9477 0577

PASSWORD: 607 765

FOLLOW ALONG VIA FACEBOOK LIVESTREAM ON COBB AREA COUNCIL PAGE

Draft Meeting Minutes by Cindy Leonard

1)CALL TO ORDER 6:35 – INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM, FACEBOOK OR PHONE

2)Roll Call PRESENT: Jessica Pyska, Eliot Hurwitz (Chair), Cindy Leonard (Secretary), Cathy McCarthy, Frank Lincoln (Treasurer) NOT PRESENT: Jake Strickler

31 community members joined the Zoom meeting

3)Approval of Agenda:  Cindy motions, Jessica seconds, all approve

4)Approval of Minutes from January 19, 2020:  Jessica motions, Cathy seconds, all approve

5)TREASURER’S REPORT, Frank Lincoln:

Ahead Grant $162,616.27

Blackberry Cobbler Fest $3,316.53 (new donation of $3,000 coming)

CAC General fund $3,316.35

Cobb Resilient $1,456.28

Cobb Safe $851.23

Economic Development $1,300

Rebuild NorthBay (Hub) $5,000 (new)

T-shirt Fundraising $4,343.89

Wilder than Wild $161.31

Community Reports/Updates:

6)Fire Season and FireWise Community update – Cindy Leonard and Magdalena

-Newsletter just went out to Cobb community emphasizing preparations for wildfire season, opening of new Cobb Resource Hub and our preparedness event on June 13.

-Recent $5,000 grant from Rebuild NorthBay provides money to buy office supplies for the Resource Hub office space.

-Drive Through emergency preparedness event on June 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (replaces Cobb Safe). This will focus on evacuations during a pandemic. Funded through several small grants.

-Prioritize vegetation clearing around home, especially because of the extra rain we have received which is causing extra vegetation growth.

7)CALFIRE report – Chief Mike Wink

-Late season rains mean that some burning can still happen on large landowner parcels. Clearing continues along evacuation routes.  Paul Duncan is taking Chief Bertelli’s position as Chief of Konocti Camp.

The new Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk helicopter is scheduled for delivery to the Cobb heliport probably in November. We might see one of those new hawks supporting incidents in the area, but it would not be the one that we will be getting. The sound is a little different, a little lower. Doesn’t seem to be louder, just lower pitch.

Fuel moisture is collected by the remote stations and locally (probably in June) it will start happening to research fire risks.

Magdalena asks regarding incident management: do you know if our county supervisors have had the national incident management training? Chief Wink says that OES has had all risk NIMS training. As one of the conditions for reimbursement dollars, they are all required to have minimum training.

Jessica asks how many acres of control burns have happened: Chief Wink says there will be a quarterly report from Doug Gerhart at Air Quality.

8)Scott’s Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ Bio-Char project- Terre Logsdon

Terre says they filed the major use paperwork in February 2019 with the County.  The planning commission continued it, April 23rd it passed the commission. The Red Hills Alliance filed an appeal and so it will go in front of the Board of Supervisors. They have created a presentation for the Board of Supervisors to educate everyone about the bioenergy/biochar facility.  This location has a lot of woody material to supply the facility, as well as being located in a central grid.  They would like to partner with the South Lake Fire Safe Council to streamline the delivery of the biomass.  They are envisioning 4-5 deliveries of pre-chipped wood per week. Fuels could be staged in a different location, chipped, then delivered.

Jessica asks, how many jobs would be created by this operation?  Terre says one or two operators at the location, but many others who would be employed by the fuels mitigation and ecological restorations to bring the biomass vegetation fuel to the facility.

Jessica asks where does the power get tied in? Terre says that at this location, the electricity would be put into the grid and the tribe would be paid for the electricity.  It is a small facility, and there is enough fuel being removed around the county to run about 20 facilities this size.

This technology runs a turbine without creating smoke. The power produced could run a wastewater treatment plant that utilizes the biochar that is produced

Jessica motions that we draft a letter of support for the biochar plant, Glenneth seconds, everyone is in favor.

This letter will be drafted and sent for the BOS

9)Rainbow Pipeline support structure – Ben Murphy

Last month we went out to bid, 347,000, one 202,894.  Bill Daniel Steel & Machine Inc. in Ukiah won the contract.  The Rainbow pipeline structure is 90% finished at their location and then will be delivered.

Driving piles hopefully in June. The pipeline structure should be usable in August, then the actual pipeline attached in October.

The Hoberg’s property is being used as a staging area, and Hoberg’s also has a project they are doing.

Argonaut Constructors is doing the Summit project.  They are starting at Emerford, moving toward Angelly, to Upper Summit above the church, then hopefully toward Glen, Shasta, Trinity area.  They expect to have all of that done by September, at which time they will move to Rainbow.

Hill 9 and 10 by Red Hills, that has already begun and have about 1500 feet.

Cobb Area Water has 3 major projects at about $7.2 million dollars. It took over 3 years to come to this point.

The county has approved repaving, but it might be next year

Mapes Pass is being repaved this summer.

It will be a savings to the grant funds.

Rich Curtola asks if Cobb Area Water will be okay financially after all of this expense and increases in cost, etc. Ben says yes, mainly because of all the donations from Friends of Cobb and donation of $23,000 for the planning expense by bridge builder.

10)Cobb Area Small Business Loan Program – Jeff Lucas

The loan program is designed to help people with the PSPS, one loan has been approved, five are being considered. The loan program has now been expanded to all of the Lake County who are suffering with the Covid pandemic. 

The original purpose is for generators and working capitol, but there are so many needs and we want to help so there are other

The applications have been a mix of needs: need a generator, need capitol to pivot to online format, etc

There has been announcements with the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and also word of mouth is picking up.  Jeff says he will be making more announcements.

This is one of the elements of the grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco for Community Development

Deb asks, what types of businesses can apply for this? Jeff says any business.

11)Cobb Area Volunteer Radio Network CAVERN update – Mel McMurrin

There is a new check-in sheet for the (over 100) members. Usually about 15 check in, now there are new net control operators.  25 checked in last night.

Communications Committee / CAVERN Links

cavern.mobi

How to Get a GMRS License

https://quality2wayradios.com/store/gmrs-fcc-license

Lake County HAM radio Club for future tests

LCARS.club

https://sites.google.com/site/lcarsca/recources

Works in progress from CAVERN partner CryptoRights Foundation

vern.org

https://blaze.smokepatrol.org/group/CAVERN

cobbweb.org

Meetups are 6:30 on Wednesday.  Saturday will be added in June

Here are slides Mel presented:

12)PG&E tree work Update – Jessica Pyska

There was a break in work and they re-trained subcontractors.  The hardening of the grid system is being done on Cobb and is very exciting.

They are also adding more cooling stations for the PSPS around Lake County.

13)Cobb Economic Development Plan update – Eliot Hurwitz

The initial design of how we would do the loan is two fold: business loan program as well as a detailed analysis of the current economy, as well as what we hope for our future of economic development.

about 20 interviews have been done and about 20-25 more will be done.

The Cobb Resource Hub is another aspect that will be rolled out as we recover from the shelter in place.

Question: are there any restaurants or potential new businesses? Eliot says that he is not aware of any.  The golf course has lowered the price.

14)“Grow a Row” – community garden donation – Jessica Pyska

Jessica says that food insecurity is a challenge right now. She is promoting the concept that you can donate extra produce that you grow.  You are protected by the Good Samaritan Law, so please consider donating your extra produce to the Lake County food pantries.

See the Cobb Area Council webpage for more details.

15)Community Center Update- Kyle Noble

10 Lions Clubs in Lake County and 3 have a building. The Cobb Little Red Schoolhouse must always be used as a Community Center.

In 2005 a ramp was constructed, which caused termites to move in.  There are structural improvements and pest control that needs to be done. The exterior needs fresh paint and there needs to be exterior drainage.

There is a great need for this space for the community as a donation center and many other uses. 

The pest report will be re-done with Aardvark and they will help us match with a contractor. She expects that it is tens of thousands of dollars.

She is presenting this tonight so that the community knows what the dire situation is.

There are many ways that you can help the Lion’s club. You can join the Lion’s club, but you can also help without joining.

Many Lion’s Clubs do not have buildings, but they would like to keep the building open for the community.

She hopes that in the Cobb Area Plan that Little Red and the area around it could be designated as a community center.

Jon Meyer is the treasurer and is happy to answer any questions about the Financials 707-928-0106

The most recent partnership was with the Cobb School for Breakfast with Santa and also the St. Patricks Day fundraiser.

She would like a letter of support from the Cobb Area Council for any grant applications.

Jessica asks what the status of the historical point of interest marker.  Kelly says that they need to make a presentation for the BOS to get the County to declare it a point of Historical Landmark.

Jessica motions that we write a letter to the BOS to declare Little Red as a point of historical interest/landmark. Eliot seconds, all approve.

What is typical operating budget? Usually they raise about $20,000 per year for operation and maintenance.

Does Lion’s Club international help?  There is an international fund, but usually that is for an emergency, not for a repair.

Jessica said that Dan Nelson asked if the community would support high-density housing.  Jessica says that we need to keep an eye on what they are doing.

Blackberry Cobbler Festival will not happen this fall, it is postponed till 2021.  We will be getting the $1500 from PGE that they promised last year, plus a donation for our next festival.

Motion to adjourn at 8:24 by Cathy, seconded Jessica, all in favor

COBB AREA COUNCIL
PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday February 20, 2019,
Little Red Schoolhouse/Cobb Mountain Lions Club
15780 Bottle Rock Rd., Cobb, CA 95426
Meeting called to order at 6:01
21 Community Members Present
Draft Agenda: Cathy motions to approve, seconded by Gemini
• Roll Call Cindy Leonard, Cathy McCarthy, Frank Lincoln, Eliot Hurwitz, Jessica Pyska Jake Strickler all present .and approval of Agenda
• Approval of Minutes from January 19, 2020
SHORT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gary announced the new CERT training in the month of March. It will be at the OES office in Lakeport.
Communications update: Sunday March 8 training for communications.
-Radio tech class through Mendocino College in Ukiah
-Wednesday nights at 6:30 is the GMRS check-in to find out who can hear you, who you can hear. Good to practice your radio before an emergency happens. Also please let us know if there is a desire for another operator training event on Cobb.
~David Thiessen reports that there is another volunteer work day coming up on March 14th. Please RSVP with the Formstack link on the Friends of Boggs Facebook page. Information also available on the Friends of Boggs Mountain website.
TREASURER’S REPORT Frank says total in bank is $12,929.00
PUBLIC and BOARD COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS (3 mins./individual)
Supervisors reviewed the Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance. (much delayed) Last year 2,000 inspections were done, 400 letters went out, and about 100 people are still not under compliance. This year the Supervisors are putting the inspectors on Fire Abatement and then later in the year they will go out to do the cannabis monitoring. They also decided to shortened the deadlines for compliance to 2 week to 2 week. If you respond and let them know that you are working on it, there will be a fine.
Jessica: The Forest Health Grant is still waiting to come through, and this will be the project that will clear large parcels of land.
There is a possibility of having lookout patrols since the Konocti Lookout Tower has been closed. This would be coordinated with the volunteer radio operators.
Local Fire Season Update – Firewise Community organizing update:
The Broom Buster inaugural event was a big success. About 20 volunteers attended and about 4 5-yard dump trailers were filled. Thank you to everyone who helped do the work and get the word out.
• Supervisor’s Comments, not present
Community Reports
PG&E representative (invited) to discuss tree work and PSPS
Magdalena announced that David Hotchkiss from PGE has been pulled away from coming to the Cobb Area Council meeting. There are several times he has been invited to our meetings, but is always pulled away.
Cobb Mt. Economic Development and Area Plan + YOUR INPUT
Eliot reports that the new grant program is proceeding:
-Revolving small business loans are now available
-Extensive business research creating a report. Interview process will build in the focus groups in a rigorous way so that it can be published in academic journals. Asset-based community development will be used so that we demonstrate our assets. Connections can be made within the community.
-In-depth community input on what the residents of Cobb envision for our area. The new website is at cobbconnecting.org and there is a Facebook page with the same name:Cobb Connecting
The goal it to come up with a strategy.
Cobb Resource Hub to Open this month
-focus groups can meet here
-find out what programs for Emergency Preparedness/Recovery and for economic development are available
Help draft our community plan!
New shop called “Giant Step” on the corner of Hwy 175 and Golf Rd. which is a community center for all ages. They are still at the beginning “dreaming” stage of what programs they will offer. This is a 30 year old organization that is running the center. Hopefully they will open soon and there will be an after school program till 5:30. A safe place for all ages.
Motion to adjourn, Magdalena, Seconded by Cathy
Meeting adjourned at 8:11

Draft Meeting Minutes- January 16, 2020
COBB AREA COUNCIL
PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday January 16, 2020
Little Red Schoolhouse/Cobb Mountain Lions Club
15780 Bottle Rock Rd., Cobb, CA 95426
Draft Meeting Minutes by Cindy Leonard
• CALL TO ORDER (shut down cell phones; sign in please) at 6:37
Roll Call: Cindy Leonard Secretary, Cathy McCarthy not present, Jessica Pyska, Eliot Hurwitz Chair, Frank Lincoln Treasurer, Jake Strickler not present, Alternate
11 community members present.
• Approval of Minutes from November, motion Frank, seconded Jessica, all approve
SHORT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ben Murphy from Cobb Area Water says the Pine Grove (Rainbow) Bridge project goes out to bid around next Wednesday.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Cobb Area Council General $1,745.35
Cobb Resilient $1,456.28
Cobb Safe $ 851.23
Economic Development $1,300.00
Blackberry Cobbler $3,316.53
T-shirt Fundraising $3,498.29
(Outstanding check #1089 $50.00)
Wilder than Wild $ 161.31
Total $12,329.59
Our new AHEAD grant for our Economic Development Committee:
$200,000 has been put into our new, separate account
-one check of $2,200.00 has been written to Cobb Mtn. Lions Club
PUBLIC and BOARD COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS (3 mins./individual):
Gemini Garcia brought a list of homeowner rights and information she compiled to help the public address issues they are having with PGE tree removal. She is collecting letters from individual homeowners to give to a PGE manager who is focusing on all the issues that Cobb is having with tree removal.
Council informed all attending that next month there will be a PGE official at the Cobb Area Council meeting.
She is suggesting that we have an ordinance. She will research into similar ordinances that other towns have.
Here are the documents that she has written:
“To the council:
PG&E has not provided the public with an official EIS, Jessica told me Rob Brown, district supervisor is checking on that.
James, a supervisor and subs contractor for this program with a degree in environmental studies feels it is worrisome for our community that PG&E is lacking the impact study because he feels this programs is “definitely impacting the environment.”
This program is designed to make our community safer from electrical fires. It will not make Cobb safer from wildfires.
(SB754 section 1) states
“The risk of severe fires is increased by removing large, fire-resistant old growth trees from the forest, because those trees shade out flammable undergrowth and preserve moisture in the forest.”
Every assessment is done multiple times by inexperienced pre-inspectors. It has been documented and verified in writing they have marked more trees than necessary for the scope of work.
I was told today the scope of work is 4’ from power lines, but until today I have been told multiple times and on PGE website the scope is 12’ minimum.
The supervisors seem to be in conflict of what the actual scope of work is. The preinspectors and work verifiers are also unsure of the exact scope of work and are notorious for mislabeling tree names, status of tree health and have failed repeatedly to gain permission for access before entering. They are not required to consider hazards to the environment.
For all of these reasons I’d like the council to consider an ordinance to protect our old growth and heritage trees.
I would also like to ask for your help to pause all tree cutting and removing until an environmental impact study has been completed and provided for the public. Cal trans his is available at the library for public viewing but no one can verify PGE was required to do this.
During the time PGE prepares a study, they will be able to employ their current contractors to contact every property owner and examine each parcel independently and gain permission for the proper work to be done with inspectors present.
I was told this is an 8 year program and if true, that’s ample time to do efficiently with community support “ Gemini Garcia
Second document:
January 16, 2020
Some things residents should know:
Paint color is not consistent with the amount of trees to be removed. If a tree does not have spray paint or tape, it may still be marked for removal. You can wrap pink tape on your trees if you feel any of them may be marked inappropriately. The tree cutting company, AERI should confirm with you before cutting across it.
There is no discrimination between dead or heathy trees. The inspections have repeatedly shown heathy trees being marked as hazardous or within scope of power lines incorrectly.
All companies are required to notify owners and tenants of presence in advance and must ask permission before entering property. If you have pg&e service, they already have your contact information. You are not required to have a trespassing sign, your property is your property. Trespassing is illegal. Residents should call the police if anyone is trespassing and ask the workers for identification and take a picture.
All tree companies are required to obtain written permission before cutting or removing anything from any property. If they fail to do so, take a picture, call the police and report theft. Again, ask for Identification and take a picture of it.
Crews do not check IDs to confirm homeowners when giving permission to cut or remove. If crews say they have permission to cut your trees, ask for proof, take a copy, and report them if you did not give permission.
To request a copy of your parcel’s evaluation, call pg&e. Also call the company supervisors, you can request a personal walk through and re-evaluation by a certified arborist.
7. If you have any particular experience or issue with pg&e or the subcontractors, please write a letter with full description. You may include pictures, but be sure to write your parcel number and include your contact information.
I will collect all letters at a community meeting on this subject next Thursday, January 23rd at the little red schoolhouse. Your letters will be delivered to pg&e’s vegetation manager who has promised to address each resident and their concerns individually.
Or email them to me, Gemini Garcia at thirdeyris@gmail.com
Council informed everyone in the meeting that we don’t have the power to issue an ordinance but that we can bring the concerns of residents to the notice of the county board of supervisors so that they can include these whenever they talk with PG&E. Also, Council rep Jessica Pyska is in regular conversation with California Senator Mike McGuire’s office (and also Aguiar-Curry?) updating him about these and similar cleanup issues and setting a course for action.
Local Fire Season Update – Firewise Community organizing update
-new grants submitted to North Coast Opportunity EPIC grant (3 from the Cobb area out of 27 grant submitted from Lake and Mendocino
-Working on a “scotch broom eradication day” for February 17. Volunteers needed.
-new combination Cobb storefront for Disaster Preparedness and Economic Recovery/Development. Hoping it can open mid-February. Present possible names of storefront office.
List of Resources to be available at the “Resource Hub” office:
Emergency Preparedness Projects:
Cobb Mountain Firewise Communities
CERT Training
EPIC Training
Homeowner insurance in the WUI (California Fair Plan and insurance discounts)
Homeowner grant information for defensible space clearing
Lots of handouts about defensible space clearing and Home-hardening
-Red Cross, FEMA, NFPA, etc.
Scotch Broom Eradication Project (Broom Busters/Scotch Broom Challenge)
Tool Lending Library (Weed wrench)
Economic Development Projects:
Low-interest business loans
Cobb Merchants Association
Community Events (Blackberry Cobbler Festival, What’s Up on Cobb?)
This is also where the Community Visioning oversight is going to be done out of, and people can come and talk about the economic recovery and development of our area. We really want to emphasize that conversations and meetings will be held here, not just distribute information.
Jessica states that the moratorium on cancelling homeowner insurance is now in effect for certain ZIP codes near the Kincade Fire, but for some reason Cobb was not included. Jessica is in contact with Mike McGuire’s office to find out why people who are in newly rebuilt homes are getting cancelled. We hope to get to the bottom of this issue soon!
Lots of burn piles happening
Supervisor’s Comments
Community Reports
Cobb Mt. Economic Development Project
Eliot states that we have created the two contracts to implement the grant. One is the consulting agreement with SSCRA to create online resources, the community Drop-in office space, Visioning meetings with the community and local businesses, and a final report.
The updated contract (incorporating the changes requested at the Economic Development meeting Monday) was presented to the group. It was accepted as amended and formally signed in front of the group.
Next economic development committee meeting is Monday February 17 at 6:00, at the Cobb Resource Hub to
help plan input to our community plan.
Gemini reports that the new teen center has opened, although one of the owners has just been diagnosed with cancer so it will be re-opening again soon. It is called “Giant Step”. It will be a safe, comfortable space for teens to go and have fun and hang out after school till their parents get home.
Motion to adjourn meeting at 7:25 by Jessica, seconded by Magdalena, all approve.