Categories2024 Minutes by

Minutes | March 21, 2024

COBB AREA COUNCIL

PUBLIC MEETING

Thursday March 21, 2024 at 6:30pm

In-Person and Online Participation Available

 

MINUTES (Approved 4-18-2024)

 

CALLED TO ORDER at 6:32pm

ROLL CALL

Present: Cathy McCarthy, Darlene Warner, Jake Strickler, Joe Schneider, Mel McMurrin

Absent:  Chris Nettles

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by: Darlene, 2nd by: Jake. All in favor, Agenda approved with Amendment.

Amendments: Suggestion made by Darlene to move guest speakers to 6:40 position, with Jessica and Paul’s reports afterwards in respect of guest speakers’ time. All in agreement.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by: Jake, 2nd by: Paul. All in favor, Minutes approved.

SHORT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Robert – crab feed was a success. On Saturday, March 30th at Mountain Meadow, there will be an Egg Hunt with Easter Bunny for pictures, and Mountain Meadow will be open during the event. There will be 1,400 eggs to be found and separate sections for infants and toddlers. Age-appropriate toys in the eggs. On April 26th there will be a Campfire sing-along at the Mountain Lions Club.

Public and Board Comment on Non-Agenda Items (3 mins./individual)

Greg, Mountain High Coffee – thanked CAC for the Cobbite business of the Year Award. Feeling disenfranchised with the additional rate hikes from PG&E, it’s hurting his small business. Would like to see an independent panel with the State, and CAC’s small business loan fund money loaned out.

Lake County Community Foundation – Annette L. Kamaloni, Chuck Bevin

Lake County had no way to receive funds, now we do with Lake County Community Foundation, started in August 2023, acting as a fiscal agent for the County. www.lccf.org

Building of H.O.P.E. Center in Clearlake. Urgent need for housing (projects in the works), workforce training, grants. LCCF will provide a roundtable for Lake County for Agencies to talk together. LCCP is in it for the long-haul. Jessica’s comments: planning in times of blue skies. Will prevent our money from going to other Counties, such as Sonoma County after the fires because Lake County did not have a fiscal agent. LCCP will now be our fiscal agent, after several years of work.

Supervisor’s Comments – Jessica Pyska

Commented on Greg’s Public Comment regarding PG&E rate hikes – that they are authorized through the CPUC and are supposed to be for recouping money for vegetation management. The CPUC is the place to give comments and participate in working groups. Also commented on the decommissioning of landlines by ATT and hearings being held at the CPUC. We have a new Government Affairs Representative for PG&E, his name is Jason, and we hope to have him at our May meeting. This summer, PGE will be undergrounding lines from Bottlerock Road to Sulpher Creek Road. Anyone with leftover PGE trees (approximately 1,100) from their vegetation management efforts, contact/email Jessica. Two weeks ago, the generator was installed at Little Red, with thanks to the Red Cross, the Lake County climate team, and Lions Club. The Lions Club can now be utilized as an emergency shelter. Happened quickly, start to finish in about 2 weeks. Our next meeting will start early at 6PM and will be a presentation by the County’s Community Development Department – kicking off our Cobb Area Plan – our local area plan, which is our portion of priorities and ideas for the Cobb Area Plan, to be included in the larger County General Plan, which will take place over the next 2 years or so. A new MAC was just formed for the Kelseyville area – the Big Valley Area Council (BVAC) – last week. In parallel we will be updating the County General Plan over the next 3 years. Escrow on the park property closed on Friday. Cobb Park received a federal grant to cover approximately half the purchase price of the park property. Calpine turns 40 this year. This year, Boggs Forests turns 75 years old; possible celebration (hike, lunch, music, more) on June 22nd.

Fire Season Update – Paul Duncan

The National Weather Service (NWS) is looking for 10 people to be weather spotters for the Cobb area; 2 hours of training provided by NWS, most likely will be at Cobb Fire Station. We do not have a RAWS station, so we there will be one going into Boggs. There will be more clearing up in Boggs, and the work behind the school in the amphitheater area is looking amazing. Copter crews are getting their night-vision qualifications done this year. Burn permit period ends April 30th.

Treasurer’s Report – Chris

Darlene reported that there was no treasurer’s report from Chris, but Chris said there wasn’t any change from last month and that normal monthly expenses would be reflected in next month’s report. Chris had a family emergency.

Committee Reports (3 minutes/individual)

Firewise Communities – Magdelena, Cindy, Glenneth, David, Laurie

Eliot – May 4th is National Wildfire Cleanup Day. Grant received via SSCRA from NFP to assist community Firewise Groups in clearing out flash/brush and cleanup over the next couple of months in preparation for National Wildfire Cleanup Day. Check with your neighborhood Firewise Group.

Communications Committee – Darlene

Mel – had two deep-cycle auto batteries donated for backup power to Mountain repeater. Monthly check-ins still the same amount, would like to hear from people once per month. Asked if there were videos and/or classes on “how to” operate the radios – visit the website: www.cobbalert.net. Getting a 3rd “Ridge” repeater up and running. Darlene – answered a question about emergency siren not being heard well. Mentioned well aware of situation, ideal situation would be additional siren at helitack base, but a new siren costs approximately $50K.

Forest Health Committee – Eliot

No report.

Economic Development Committee – Chris

None. Chris was absent due to a family emergency.

Blackberry Cobbler Festival – Cathy

Met with Jennifer Gayda two weeks ago, will meet with her again next Thursday.

Cobbler Festival will be Saturday, August 24th from 11A to 4P. The new owner of Mountain Meadow venue has agreed to have the festival there still.

CalTrans emailed Cathy asking what we thought of the new bridge: Paul said the bridge is amazing, can’t see it, but there’s beautiful artwork on the side of the rock wall portion. Reflectors are raised rather than inset. Won’t survive snowplows, need to be in-ground, inset. There is a grinder that will inset the reflectors. Jake commented that CalTrans has been going above and beyond with cleaning up fallen tree debris beyond the right-of-way.

 

Next Meeting: April 18, 2024 at 6:00 *** Early Start time for Community Development Department

 

ADJOURNED AT 7:52pm

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Darlene Warner, Secretary

Categories2024 Agendas by

Agenda | March 21, 2024

COBB AREA COUNCIL

PUBLIC MEETING

Thursday March 21, 2024 at 6:30pm

In-Person and Online Participation Available

 

Agenda (Approved March 21, 2024)

 

6:30 CALL TO ORDER

  • Roll Call / Pledge
  • Approval of Agenda and Minutes

6:32 Short Announcements

6:35 Public and Board Comment on Non-Agenda Items (3 mins./individual)

6:40 Lake County Community Foundation – Annette L. Kamaloni

6:50 Supervisor’s Comments – Jessica Pyska

7:00 Fire Season Update – Paul Duncan

7:15 Treasurer’s Report – Chris

7:20 Committee Reports (3 minutes/individual)

  • Firewise Communities – Magdelena, Cindy, Glenneth, David, Laurie
  • Communications Committee – Darlene
  • Forest Health Committee – Eliot
  • Economic Development Committee – Chris
  • Blackberry Cobbler Festival – Cathy

 

7:35 Next Meeting: April 18, 2024 at 6:00 *** Early Start time for Community Development Department

7:36 Adjournment

*************

 

How to Participate in Cobb Area Council Public Meeting 3/21/2024

 

  1. Join us in person at the Little Red Schoolhouse 15780 Bottle Rock Road
  2. There may be occasions when a board/committee member may request and be permitted to participate in a board/committee meeting remotely to the extent authorized by and in compliance with California Assembly Bill 2499.   In such case, the majority of the board/commission will be physically present at the meeting location.  Members of the public may participate in person or via Zoom:
  1. By Computer Join our Zoom Meeting

Go to:  https://app.zoom.us/wc/join

Enter the Meeting ID: 832-3038-3747 and Passcode: 672104

To make a comment or ask a question, use the “Q&A” icon.

  1. Call into the Zoom meeting on any phone:

Call (669) 900- 6833

Enter the Meeting ID: 832-3038-3747 and Passcode: 672104

Recordings will be uploaded to PEGTV’s YouTube channel within 48 hours of the meeting.

Categories2023 Minutes by

Minutes | March 16, 2023

COBB AREA COUNCIL

PUBLIC MEETING

Thursday March 16, 2023 at 6:30pm

In person and Online via Zoom

Minutes (Approved 4-20-2023)

 

CALLED TO ORDER at 6:34pm

 

ROLL CALL/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENT: Cathy McCarthy, Jake Strickler, Darlene Warner, Mel McMurrin

ABSENT: Chris Nettles, Joe Schneider

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion to approve made by Darlene Warner, 2nd by Jake Strickler. All in favor, Agenda approved.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to approve made by Magdelena, 2nd by Robert Stark. All in favor, Minutes approved.

SHORT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Glenneth Lambert – Sculpture Jam has had 3rd Committee meeting. There will be a main event and kid’s activity. There are 2 potential sites. Need more people on the Committee. Call Glenneth at 707-296-6934 for more info.

Robert Stark – the Lion’s Club had a successful crab feed. Thanks the community for all the support. 500 pounds of crab wasn’t enough. Asked on March 5th to open Lion’s Club/Little Red as a warming shelter. 225 Grab & Go bags were handed out. Had about 172 people come on the 1st day. PG&E finally took the generator back after it ran continuously for 15 days.

Tom Slaight – commented about treatment at Board of Supervisors meetings, and commented on hearing of more single vehicle rollovers and falls with loss of consciousness on the scanner lately.

PUBLIC AND BOARD COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS (3 mins./individual)

Cathy McCarthy: Left something off the Agenda. There’s enough money for a new generator for the Lions Club. Will be voted on in April.

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Nomination and Election of New Alternate to serve the term (beginning January 2023 and ending December 2023). Darlene Warner nominated Mel McMurrin. Mel present and accepted nomination. Darlene moved to approve Mel as new Alternate, Eliot 2nd. All in favor, Mel McMurrin elected as Alternate to Cobb Area Council.

 

Treasurer’s Report – Chris (Given by Cathy McCarthy)

Charges in the past 30 days: $500 rent for The Hub; $49 for Zoom Webinar Service

$  5,415.66        General Fund

$14,589.26        Blackberry Cobbler Festival

$     624.62        Cobb Resource Hub

$  2,417.62        Emergency Preparedness Fund

$23,047.16        Operating Funds Balance

$48,082.63        Small Business Loan Fund (Originally from S.F. Home Loan Grant)

$71,129.79        Net Assets

Supervisor’s Comments- Jessica Pyska 

A huge thank you to the Lion’s Club for opening up as a warming center. There is a way for private property owners to report snow damage related to this 2nd Federal Disaster declaration by reporting it to our OES office. Leah is the manager of our OES. You can also visit the County Facebook page and Sheriff’s page. Two CalFire grant applications were submitted this week – RCD for $5M and CLERC for $5M, all for CWPP fire mitigation projects. The Sheriff’s Department and OES is having their Hazard Mitigation meeting in Hidden Valley Lake on the 23rd. The Lake is full! Another County Supervisor is working on creating Bylaws for all Advisory Councils around the Lake/Lake County.

Fire Season Update – Paul Duncan (Given by Battalion Chief Brian York)

With 10 days of snow, and snow down to Lake level, it was a rare time that SLFD utilized it’s SnowCAT and plow equipment to assist in plowing local roads, as County crews were limited to 3 plows and 600 miles of roads throughout the County. A thank you to PCF’s Robert Manning, Mike Hess, and Hunter Duncan at the Cobb Station. Several houses were red-tagged due to tree falls and vehicle damage. CalFire is hiring back firefighters the 1st week of April, with peak staffing mid-May. Operation Force Multiplier will continue this Spring, the program is working.

Presentation – Terre Logsdon, Chief Climate Resiliency Officer, County of Lake

Handed out Survey, presented slide presentation regarding climate impacts on Lake County. Her position is funded by CalOES’s Jump Start Grant that was awarded last July, she was hired in December. She is the Liaison between County Departments, programs, grants, and the community; there are now 20 Climate Resiliency Officers. She will be focusing full-time over the next 5 years on the HMP. The HMP wants to see 10 projects in the County by April 5th. Will work with CLERC to see what more we can do regarding working on evacuation routes for entire County; working with CWPP on how to do evacuation practice runs. Reviewing several funding projects. Lake Tahoe has an excellent program “Tahoe Central Initiative – The Pillars of Resilience” that she would like to use as a framework for Lake County. Each County will be getting a toolkit based on this in September of this year. The CLERC has a Hitch Observation form that can be filled out online.

Letters of Support

Harbin Hot Springs seeking a grant – Chris (Cathy) – deadline has passed, no action taken

Mountain Lions Club seeking multiple grants – Cathy was contacted by Kyle Noble asking for a Letter of Support of the Mountain Lions Club as a “Community Resiliency Center” for the purpose of applying for the available grants. Cathy asks the Board for permission to write an official letter of support. Motion made by Eliot, Magdelena 2nd, all in favor – motion passes.

COMMITTEE REPORTS (3 minutes/individual) 

Firewise Communities – Magdelena – submitted Cobbview and Loch Lomond projects to RCD for consideration for inclusion. Loch Lomond is divided up; grants are not able to take entire number of projects. Attended the 150-year fire trends meeting and report on the Pepperwood Preserve, which focused on the Cobb Area mostly. Would like the presenter to come out here to Cobb area; Mel is a friend of presenter, and will ask.

Communications Committee – Darlene and Mel

Darlene: A lot of testing has been going on at the new “Mountain” location. There are two repeaters currently in use, “Hill” and “Mountain.” Most users are hearing really well on “Mountain.” GMRS users have had their radios reprogrammed to access the “Mountain” repeater. Some areas are not hearing “Mountain” as well as they could hear “Hill” previously. Hoping this will improve with the new Bridgecom repeater arriving towards the end of March. This will require further testing and reprogramming of radios, and hope to have it up and running by July. Check-ins have been about 30 each week. Small radios are available for sale at The Hub.

Terre Logsdon: asked about funding for the repeaters. It was mentioned the new repeater was made possible by a large and very generous donation from a private party. Terre stated there may be funding available specifically for communications and alerts. Sirens used to be in that. Terre believes the funds are within the HMP, with some funds coming from CalFire. She is putting out an email to CalFire heads with related information, having a meeting April 5th. Darlene mentioned she has received calls that the Siren cannot be heard in the Hoberg’s area unless you’re outside. Terre will bring that up to CalFire.

Mel: Expressed excitement for how things are progressing, gave a big thank you to the Prather family, and to Precision Wireless for use of their equipment at Seigler. We need to “wake up” the 250 or so members that we already have, with only 30 or so of them checking in weekly. Talked about how we have a dual tone system, one for day-to-day use and one for emergency alert use.

Budget Committee – Chris (not present) 

Forest Health Committee– Eliot, Robert Thomas

Cobb Mountain Watershed Restoration is underway and having an event at Mandala Springs which will be in-depth education and action. Forest Stewardship Committee in April, May, June looking at 3 other sites along key tributaries managed by Siegler Springs Redevelopment Association. Brought up Robert Thomas to speak regarding the ACI (Air Curtain Incinerator). The ACI is active as of today, 1st time in quite a while. Residential community drop-off days and place(s) needed. People from Clean Burning Company in Napa came to visit and offered pro tips on efficiency and provided demos. Other options include grinding, mulching, bio char, composting. Want ACI’s throughout the County. Need funding.

Economic Development Committee – Cathy

Cobbler Festival Committee – Cathy

Next meeting is April 6th at 5:30pm at Cobb Mountain Pizza

Note of Thanks: Alan Hurwitz Media will no longer be providing audio/video services for CAC meetings. Cathy thanked them for their years of providing their services to CAC. Stated will need to find other audio/video provider, and there may be an option with the County.

Next Regular Meeting: Thursday, April 20, 2023

TBD: Date of Next Special Meeting to Discuss Cobb Area Council Goals, Strategy, and Budget

ADJOURNMENT: Motion made by Eliot to adjourn, 2nd by Magdelena, all in favor, adjourned at 8:05pm

 

Categories2023 Agendas by

Agenda | March 16, 2023

COBB AREA COUNCIL

PUBLIC MEETING

Thursday March 16, 2023 at 6:30pm

In person and Online via Zoom

Agenda (Approved 3-16-2023)

 

6:30 CALL TO ORDER

  • Roll Call / Pledge
  • Approval of Agenda and Minutes

6:32 Short Announcements

6:35 Public and Board Comment on Non-Agenda Items (3 mins./individual)

6:40 Nominations and Elections

  • Nominations and Elections of New Alternate to serve the term (beginning January 2023 and ending December 2023.

6:45 Treasurer’s Report- Chris

6:50 Supervisor’s Comments- Jessica Pyska

7:05 Fire Season Update – Paul Duncan

7:10  Presentation and Survey from Terre Logsdon Chief Climate Resiliency Officer, County of Lake

7:35 Letters of Support

  • Harbin Hot Springs seeking a grant- Chris
  • Mountain Lions seeking multiple grants-Cathy

7:40 Committee Reports (3 minutes/individual)

Firewise Communities- Magdelena, Cindy, Glenneth-/Richie, Gene, David, Laurie

Communications Committee- Mel

Budget Committee- Chris,

Forest Health Committee- Eliot

Economic Development Committee- Cathy

8:05 Next Meeting:

  • Date of Next Regular Meetings: April 20, 2023.
  • Date of Next Special Meeting to Discuss Cobb Area Council to discuss Goals, Strategy, and Budget

8:07 Adjournment

 

*************

How to Participate in Cobb Area Council Public Meeting 3/16/2023

  1. Join us in person at the Little Red Schoolhouse 15780 Bottle Rock Road
  2. There may be occasions when a board/committee member may request and be permitted to participate in a board/committee meeting remotely to the extent authorized by and in compliance with California Assembly Bill    In such case, the majority of the board/commission will be physically present at the meeting location.  Members of the public may participate in person or via Zoom:
  3. A) By Computer Join our Zoom Meeting

Go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84982968469 and enter passcode: 737694

To make a comment or ask a question, use the “Q&A” icon.  B) Call into the Zoom meeting on any phone:

Call (669) 900- 6833

Enter the Webinar ID: 849 8296 8469 Passcode: 737694

 

You can follow along via CAC Facebook Livestream:

Go to: https://www.facebook.com/CobbAreaCouncil

We will try to address comments and questions from Facebook but it is best to Zoom for full participation.