Firewise Council of Southwest Colorado
Bi-Monthly Meeting
September 25, 2007

Next Meeting: November 27,2007, 4:30 p.m., La Plata Electric Board Room

Present:
Ambassadors: (*) = Also indicates Firewise Council Members
Jack Cannon, Enchanted Forest (*); Jigger Staby, Shenandoah (*); Chris George &  Linda Baerther, Wilderness Lake HOA;  John Van Schiak & Les Kole, Deer Valley Estates;  Amy McClintock, near Turtle Lake;  Joy Mathis, Trip Creek  (*); Bob Manning,  Rafter J; Mike Mastos, La Plata Vista Estates; Archie Hanson, Indian Camp Ranch with a guest from Kearnon Creek; Erika Chopich, Shenandoah;  Cherry Miloe & Anne Schrier, Forest Lakes;  Robert Maple, Durango West 1; Philip Walters, El Stream Ranch; JT Coyne, Vista de Oro (*);   Other Firewise Council Members: Benny Cordova, La Plata Electric (*), Mike Kane, Fire Ready, Inc.  (*);  and Marsha Porter-Norton (*).     Partners: JD Burke, Upper Pine FPD; Karola Hanks, Durango Fire and Rescue Authority; Randy Lewis, USFS/BLM; & Susan Bryson, SJMA.  Guests: Carrie Newman, Forest Lakes, Marie Maple, Durango West 1 and Bryan Peterson, Bear Smart Durango.

Bear Smart
Susan Bryson and Bryan Peterson kicked off the meeting by presenting information on Bear Smart Durango. Bears visiting developed areas and getting into homes and trash is a real problem. This program is doing education and enforcement to keep residents aware of how their actions can harm bears (e.g. leaving trash out for them to access). One strategy they are using is a neighborhood ambassador program and so Bryan felt it was a good fit to determine if any partnerships could be developed with the Firewise Ambassadors.

Firewise Ambassadors were given the opportunity to distribute Bear Smart literature (e.g. at events or in new homeowners’ packets) if they choose.   The action step is that anyone wishing to distribute door hangers either now or in 2008 should email Marsha with a number needed.  Since most Ambassadors live in the county or in other counties, a suggestion was made that Bear Smart Durango might develop a regional or county-wide program because issues come into play such as private companies’ dumpster and trash pick up policies.    Bryan’s number is: 749-4262; email: bp@frontier.net; Web site: www.bearsmartdurango.org. 

July Meeting Notes
The July meeting notes were approved. It was announced that Mesa Verde National Park and the Fort Lewis Mesa Fire Department have signed on as Firewise Council Partners since the last meeting.

Formation of Committees
In an effort to set 2008 goals and reach them, the Firewise Council Committees were reviewed along with sample projects and activities.  A sign up sheet was distributed.  Anyone who wished to signed up for one of five committees:  Community Education; “On the Ground” Mitigation; Policy; Executive; & Ambassador Committee.   Late in the meeting, a new Committee was formed: Sustainability.  The November meeting will be dedicated to the Committees meetings to determine goals and projects for 2008. It was emphasized that each Committee should select projects that are do-able and realistic.

Ambassador Report
A report was given about the Ambassador Program by Marsha, the coordinator. Then, Ambassadors shared updates. The program highlights include:  recruitment has gone really well this year with 56 Ambassadors active at some point in 2007. The new brochure is being distributed and a request was made to inform Marsha of any ideal locations (e.g. coffee shops, libraries, etc.).  A grant to the CSFS was written for $25,000 that would expand the program in Montezuma and Archuleta Counties; pay for six in-services in 2008; helping with program operations; and create a mini-grant fund that Ambassadors could access for education and for technical assistance to get a CWPP written. We’ll hear on this grant in late Spring of 2008.   

Ambassadors shared updates:    Durango West 1 is planning a community mobilization day on 10/13, Bob Maple reported, and events will include a visit from the fire department, their metro district helping with removal of slash/debris material, and, disbursement of literature. They have a team of five ambassadors. Phillip reported that his HOA has agreed, after many years of education, to assess an annual fee that will go into a fund used for actual mitigation of neighborhood-wide prioritized projects.    Chris and Linda reported a very successful community meeting with Kent Grant, CSFS, Mike Kane, Fire Ready Inc., and JD Burke, Upper Pine who were speakers. They are including some lone home owners near their HOA (who are not part of a formal HOA) and a smaller HOA next door. Action steps have resulted from this community gathering.   Cherry Miloe suggested that we link with the American Red Cross and said that she can serve as a liaison.

Ambassador Program Sustainability
It was explained that at first, the Ambassador program was operated via in-kind donations from SJMA and Firewise Council members.  Last year, a Title III federal grant of $20,000 was given to the program by La Plata County Government.  This grant ends 9/30/07.   It is clear, Marsha relayed, that the Ambassador Program can benefit from some level of funding and a bare minimum would be about $16,000 year.   Accordingly, sustainability is an issue.  Jigger gave a report on a meeting she organized with an SJMA volunteer board member, Kathleen May.  Many great ideas came out of it namely a Program Sponsorship initiative and ideas on grant writing.   These ideas are going to be aggressively explored and implemented over the next six months. Many suggestions were given for fundraising such as approaching fire departments; exploring federal grants (e.g. FEMA); and going to places such as banks, Wal*Mart and the train.   HOAs are certainly encouraged to consider giving but it is certainly not an expectation.   If an HOA wishes to donate, the money is appreciated and shows buy-in to the concept of firewise prevention.

La Plata County Building Department and the Firewise Council
The building department approached the Firewise Council in August about taking on the task of doing inspections to implement the new (stricter) land use code in the area of defensible space.   The Firewise Council members met and decided this was not our role.   However, a proposal was given back to the department which presented the concept of the Council doing up-front education with development applicants in hopes of helping them pass their inspection.    Experts would be hired by the Council and this role would not be included in the Ambassadors’ duties.   The Council’s role in this endeavor would be strictly educational.    Butch Knowlton has informed the Council that this idea, and the funding needed, has made it through a first round of budget decisions and a final decision should be forthcoming in two weeks. The Council Members will keep everyone apprised of this potential project.  

Other and Announcements