HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020.11.18 Wildfire Safety Commission Minutes MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE WILDFIRE SAFETY COMMISSION
Wednesday,November 18",2020 11:OOAM to 1:OOPM Zoom
As the November 18th Wildfire Safety Commission(WSC)will be held electronically, any public forum testimony is to
be submitted in writing by members of the public by 1OAM the day before the scheduled meeting. Staff will compile all
written testimony into one document and send the document to the Commission members and post the testimony on the
agenda the day before the meeting after I OAM. The written testimony will also be included in the minutes.
Members of the public are welcome to listen or view the Wildfire Safety Commission meeting live. Please contact
katie. ig bblegashland.or.us if you would like to listen to this meeting live.
Meeting protocol via Zoom: raise hand to chime in and Stephen or Katie will facilitate when you can begin speaking
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Stephen Gagne, Chris Chambers, Tonya Graham,Dan Dawson, Paul Behrhorst,Kent Romney, Bruce
Moats, Charisse Sydoriak, Guest: Pricilla Franco
II. INTRODUCTIONS
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. All approved
IV. PUBLIC AND GUEST FORUM
V. ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA
VI. CITY COUNCIL CHECK-IN
A. Obj ection to Fire Chief option prior to new Council and new Mayor entering the City.
1. Fire Chief decision was passed by City Council, 11/17/2020
2. Fire department is understaffed during council transition
B. Tonya: next steps on Post Almeda Fire Commission's Recommendations to City Council?
1. The recommendations were a great service to the community. Recommendations will come up
again for further consideration as City goes into the budget process.
2. Charisse requests how the Council responded to the Recommendations list
a) Discussion was heavy around budget questions, owing to current budget constraints
b) There was question about prioritizing the list,with the menu
C. More budget cuts will likely be needed within City finances moving forward
1. By end of June 2021,we need biennial budget for the next two years(budget cycle begins July 1,
2021). Budget talks begin shortly after elections.
2. COVID hindered much strategic planning with public engagement
3. Chris C: Prioritization process like was done last time was too broad. Are any improvements for
strategic planning anticipated?
a) Ahead of this budget,not a lot of time for prioritization
b) Find grants and other resources to fund some items on the recommendations list.
4. Kent R: Budget committee is allowed,by state law,to be utilized outside of budget planning time
to set priorities. Why not activate budget committee earlier to set priorities.
a) Council sets priorities,not the budget committee
MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE WILDFIRE SAFETY COMMISSION
Wednesday,November 18t'',2020 11:00AM to 1:00PM Zoom
b) Tonya agrees that using the Budget committee outside of the planning timeframe makes
sense. Budget committee advises the council on the budget-building,the Council builds the
budget.
VII. OLD BUSINESS
A. Working Group Re-evaluation
1. Real Estate Engagement Program(SG,KG)
a) All components of the program are complete except for the 2-day NFPA course,which
was cancelled due to COVID restrictions on gatherings. Aiming to get class in Spring 2021,
before grant expires.
2. Nuisance Ordinance Expansion(DD, CS, CC,KG)
a) Dan: Charisse and Dan looked at examples from other jurisdictions to create draft of
changes to current nuisance ordinance. Brian and Katie reviewed the draft and then sent up to
Chris and Ralph.
b) Recommends that this not need to be within the working group list,but be recurring on
the agenda
c) Chris and Ralph will have a review back to the Commission next meeting
3. Home Inspector Capacity-building(Kent)
a) Thinks this should continue being on the list
b) CERT members would be the best people to take on the work of inspections
(1) Kent offers that only allowing CERT members to do this work could be limiting
c) Charisse requests to join this working group
4. FAC Expansion/integration(KG,KR, CS, DK)
a) Charisse requests to keep this on our working group list
b) Move to the top of the current list
5. Spring Wildfire Preparedness Campaign(KG, KR, CS,DK)
a) January or February this will be brought back out for discussion
6. Intterra/WiRe Program rollout(DD,BM,KG,KR)
a) Katie suggests taking it off the working group list
b) Move to old business
c) Keep it on the list for now
7. Nursery/Landscaper Education(CS,KG)
a) This group has not done work yet
8. Fire-Safe Business License Program for Landscapers and Contractors (KG, SG)
a) Leave it on the list
9. New Building Code Adoption advocacy(KG, SG)
MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE WILDFIRE SAFETY COMMISSION
Wednesday,November 18t'',2020 11:OOAM to 1:OOPM Zoom
a) Commission passed resolution onto Council requested that staff take action
b) Chris requests that Tonya coordinate with Adam on where this is with staff,because it
has not appeared to go anywhere in past 2-3 months
10. Consistent messaging by all departments (CS,KR)—Tonya check-in
a) Communications person,as concept, is being discussed by Council. Adam is looking for
funds to fund this position—a couple avenues may be possible.
b) This no longer needs to be in working group list because item is already being considered
by Council
11. Identify Alternative Funding Sources(KR, KG)
a) Take this off the working group list, as this is something we are constantly working on
12. City Finances(SG)
a) Take off of list at this time. Stephen has been working on this as a pet project on his own
13. Electric Utility Risk Assessment(SA)—Steve check-in
a) Keep on the list,nothing to report
14. Illegal Camping Ignition Sources (KG, CC)
a) Chris is providing report to Parks and Rec about drone program. Parks and Rec is looking
to expand the drone program to the greenway.
b) Move to old business
15. Updating CWPP
a) Move to number 1 or 2 on the list
b) Kent, Paul and Charisse request to be on that group
B. Farmer's Market(Doug)
C. Homeland Security Grant for evacuation planning (Katie)
1. Still on schedule to complete by end of year
D. DEQ Grant(Katie)
1. Quick update
E. Drone program end of season report(Chris)
1. Postphone to open discussion to group
F. Building code update (Chris)
1. Already discussed
VIIL NEW BUSINESS
A. Volunteers (home assessments, other FAC tasks)
1. Volunteer Volunteer coordinator
a) Chris estimates 5-10 hours a week for that position
MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE WILDFIRE SAFETY COMMISSION
Wednesday,November 18",2020 11:OOAM to 1:OOPM Zoom
2. Discussion of what we want the volunteers to do(I-hourhome assessments, curbside
assessments).
3. Charisse wants to get volunteers through OLLI.
4. Chris suggests that volunteers will not be able to get to work until they take 2-day NFPA course
B. Volunteers (fire fighters)
1. Chris recommends tabling volunteer fire fighter program, due to difficultness maintaining basic
staffing at fire department.
C. Consumer product testing(mulch, deck boards, fencing, fire retardant)
1. Stephen provides a quick overview of what he has been working on
2. Charisse suggests concern about toxic chemicals
IX. REPORTS AS TIME ALLOWS
A. Forest Lands Commission Report
1. Meets second Tuesday of every month
2. Cill offers to add Charisse to mailing list
3. Cill—Marty M provided update about tree health in the watershed
4. Trail use being discussed
B. Tree Commission
1. Nothing to report
C. Chamber Wildfire Task Force (Katie)
1. Nothing else to report
X. NEXT MEETING
A. Wednesday,December 16',2020 Zoom
XI. ADJOURN