COBB AREA COUNCIL
PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday November 16, 2023 at 6:30pm
In-Person and Online Participation Available
MINUTES
CALLED TO ORDER at 6:33pm
ROLL CALL:
Present: Cathy McCarthy, Chris Nettles, Darlene Warner, Mel McMurrin, Jake Strickler
Absent: Joe Schneider
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Paul, 2nd by Eliot. All in favor, Minutes Approved as Amended.
Amendment: Chris Nettles was marked “present” at last meeting when he was in fact absent. Minutes will reflect that he was absent.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion by Paul, 2nd by Chris. All in Favor, Agenda approved. Strike Supervisor’s comments, Supervisor Pyska is at a conference.
SHORT ANNOUNCEMENTS
John/Lion’s Club – Breakfast with Santa at the Lion’s Club at 9am on 12/9. Supports the PTO for Cobb Elementary School. Tentative bonfire on January 20th.
PUBLIC AND BOARD COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS (3 MINS./INDIVIDUAL)
None
Supervisor’s Comments – Jessica Pyska
Not present – at CSAC conference
Fire Season Update – Paul Duncan
At reduced staff – one engine per station. Copter: not staffed daily, but still flying around. State excavator is at Boggs Forest; trying to get into Gifford Springs area. If you see them working, stay back about 300 feet. Had three large prescribed burns: 13 acres with TERA on Bottlerock Road, 53 acres in Lower Lake, and 3 acres in Loch Lomond. Positive, very good fire. Natives call it “fire medicine.” Good to have TERA involved; Cobb is the hub for 6 tribes that were involved. ACI has been relocated to Hwy 175 just north of the settling ponds just outside Middletown. Should be up and running first part of 2024, have to put fencing up around it. The intent is for it to be free of charge. Cobb area Candy Cane Run will be on December 8th, weather permitting.
Treasurer’s Report – Chris
Attached and incorporated herewith as “Attachment A”
Discuss/ Approve: RFP Explore Cobb webpage/ social media management recommendation of Economic Development Committee
Chris recapped issue. Received 2 proposals and main difference between the 2 was cost. Economic Development Committee reviewed both proposals and recommends accepting the proposal from Sally Wiatrolik. It was noted that Glenneth recommended Sally during last month’s CAC meeting. Eliot recommended adding maintenance of CAC website to duties covered by proposal. Motion to accept proposal from Sally Wiatroliak made by Chris, 2nd by Darlene. All in favor (10 votes aye, 0 votes nay). Motion Approved. Chris will inform Sally. Cathy acknowledges and thanks Abby.
Committee Reports (3 minutes/individual)
Firewise Communities – Magdalena, Cindy, Glenneth, David, Laurie
Magdalena – 6 Firewise Communities in the Cobb Area. One Firewise community has received renewal – Firewise Group 2. Deadline has been extended to December 15, 2023 due to website glitches. Waiting for Cobb View (in process), Seigler Springs, Loch Lomond, Jones Creek (in process), and Gordon Springs is completed. For a list of Firewise communities, visit: www.firesafelake.org. Can also email Magdalena with questions: magdalenavh@sscra.org. David Dolezal is the new Firewise Ranger from the Bureau of Land Management to conduct the community risk assessments. Pay attention to how current your Action Plan is; these Action Plans must be renewed every 3 years instead of the nationally required 5 years.
Communications Committee – Darlene
Mel – reminder that CAN (Cobb Alert Net) hours are Firewise hours. Communications Committee meeting tomorrow at 5pm – Bit.ly/coms.meet/nov2023 to attend online. Need new members; looking at members at large to participate – actively recruiting for 4 open positions. FireAdaptiveNetwork.org (FAN) has an article about CAN (Cobb Alert Net) thanks to Magdalena. FAN is a national organization. Please visit to read and comment on article, it needs comments. Check-ins are in the 15-30 range, the usual. Winter is a fun time to practice and check-in. Visit our website at: CobbAlert.net and email us at: cobbalertnet@gmail.com. We monitor controlled burns, so check your radio first. CAN is a very good resource for winter storm information as well.
Comment from Duncan – new fire Marshal for Mountain Of Attention – if we had better communication, we would have saved more structures. Positive comments about Cobb Alert Net.
Forest Health Committee – Eliot
Reminder: committee meets last Friday of every month. Now meeting at Loch Lomond fire house. SSCRA submitted a 20-page CWPP application for a grant; expecting to hear back in February. Attended CalFire research meeting – fire research done on Cobb, there’s 9 years of data. Watershed Restoration Public Forum will be December 18th from 5-7pm at Mandala Springs – reviewing first year of operations.
Economic Development Committee – Chris
Has not met since review of website/social media proposals.
Blackberry Cobbler Festival – update on financials – Chris
Still have not closed the books. Beginning balance approx. $14K, ending approx. $18K, we made approximately $4K overall – about a 29% profit margin. Sending Thank You’s to sponsors.
Cobbite of the Year – Committee Nomination Meeting November 30th at Cobb Mountain Pizza at 6pm.
If you’ve received award before, you’re automatically on the committee this year.
Candidates needed for nomination/election and appointment to CAC board. Terms start in January 2024, staggered terms. County has incorrect information on their website (says non-staggered, and all up in January 2025). Cathy, Joe, and Darlene’s terms are up this year (12-31-2023). Alternate is a one-year term, so Mel is up. Chris and Jake are not up until 2025. Need 4 nominees. Robert suggests we put out a public notice for recruitment/nominations. Press release, flyer, social media. Include committees that need members. Nominations can be emailed to: cobbareacouncil@gmail.com. This will be on next month’s Agenda. Process: Nomination, election by CAC, then appointment by BOS.
Next Meeting: December 21, 2023 – Brief Agenda and Social Hour to follow. Wear an ugly sweater.
ADJOURNED at 7:28pm
Respectfully submitted,
Darlene Warner, Secretary