FireWise
Council Meeting Outcomes
December 16, 2003
Next meeting: 1/20/04, 5:30 p.m. at La Plata Electric
(Note: A decision was made to move the meeting time up ½
hour).
Present: Jim Garafolo, Lisa Hutton,
Joy Mathis, Chas Charmichael, Dave Ambercrombie, Dan Ochocki,
Laurie Robison, Pam Wilson, Jenny Newcomer, Nicole Smith, Ben
Cordova, Carolyn Hunter, Kristie Borchers, and Marsha Porter-Norton.
New Members
Jim Garafolo was welcomed as a new member from the Florida Mesa
Planning Group. Dr. Julie Korb is interested and will attend in
January. Ben followed up with the Tribe, several utility companies
and the Homebuilders -- and there is interest among all of them.
It was decided that the Council will continue to recruit from
missing sectors.
Firewise Designation
The Firewise designation was researched. Everyone received an
email after the last meeting outlining the steps. No decision
was made but concern was expressed that it is unrealistic to get
“La Plata County” designated because that is too wide
of a geographic area. If the designation could be useful to the
Council and to Firewise Southwest Colorado, then, perhaps the
goal is to get a subdivision designated. Also, the Council should
educate HOAs about how they can get this designation (they can
go to www.firewise.org to find out).
DanO said there are more stringent designations
put out both by the CSFS and Tree City, USA. These are designations
and standards to keep in mind.
Carolyn mentioned that she had just read the CSFS
booklet on Firewise building materials and standards. Everyone
agreed this should be widely advertised and distributed to homebuilders,
architects, realtors, appraisers, etc. Carolyn said it is specific,
visual and “excellent.”
Appraiser Involvement
It was reported that several appraisers were contacted about being
on the Council. None were recruited but we have several names
of those who may do a .30 minute educational presentation. Everyone
agreed this would be useful. DanO raised the fact that research
has been done and if one has @140 trees per acre on his/her property,
that is considered by foresters to be good forest health and good
aesthetics. Getting this information out to realtors and appraisers
is important.
Election of Officers
Kristie Borchers was elected to the office of President. The duties
were outlined as: being the main contact; leading the meetings;
being the name on key publicity; checking the email site and getting
back to folks; and checking in with the Committees. It was decided
that elections will be held in December of each year.
The “President Elect” position was changed to “Vice
President” and the duties are: lead meetings when the President
is away; and any duties assigned by the President to help. No
VP was elected. This will be done in January.
The Secretary/Treasurer was elected and it is Nicole
Smith. The duties are taking minutes at the meetings; getting
the meeting notices out; placing PSAs; and keeping and reporting
the funds including reporting on any grants. It was decided that
in one year, a decision will be made as to whether to keep the
Secretary/Treasurer as one position or to split it. It was also
decided that all three officers should be on the bank’s
signature card and two signatures are required on checks.
Community Partner Status
The “membership guidelines and operating agreements”
passed at the last meeting were amended to say that community
partners can vote and hold office.
Firewood Clearinghouse
A meeting will occur with Gary Jennings of San Juan RC&D in
mid-January to determine how Firewise might link with the firewood
clearinghouse at:
www.fourcornersag.com
Chas wrote a disclaimer about the beetle issue that
will be presented to Mr. Jennings to put on the site if he chooses
to. The “on the ground projects” team will meeting
with Gary and bring information back. It could be that there just
is not a need for free firewood.
Brochures
Two more are planned and will come out soon, Kristie reported.
They will eventually be on-line.
Other Education Projects
The Council went through a list of all education ideas that have
surfaced to date that Kristie has compiled. The following decisions
were made:
• The education committee will do tasks during April’s
Wildfire Prevention and Education Month but also, education needs
to happen throughout the year.
• We will put any type of partnership with Southwest Youth
Corps on hold for now.
• Jim will contact Ward Holmes and see if he would be willing
to do a monthly radio segment on various aspects of wildfire.
• The Council will send a letter to the Herald requesting
that they once again do a wildfire insert.
• The Education Committee will further prioritize the list
and develop a work plan for ’04 and bring to the Council.
• We need to make sure everyone on the Council knows all
the educational materials that are out there. Please bring any
to the next meeting.
• Dave stated that La Plata County now has a reverse 911
system. Education needs to happen that this is the case.
• A letter will be written to all area appraisers informing
them of Firewise and directing them to information that could
be useful to them (like the CSFS materials and brochures).
• The Firewise Council now has a web site “home”
at:
www.southwestcoloradofires.org
At some point, the Council may want to register an URL that directs
folks right to
the Firewise portion of this web site.
April Wildfire Prevention and Education
Month – 2004
This is a regional event being planned through San Juan Mountains
Association, Fort Lewis’ Office of Community Services, Colorado
State Forest Services, fire departments and counties, and the
San Juan Public Lands Center. The current schedule of events for
La Plata County includes: a release of a video about how to actually
do fire mitigation on one’s property; a speaker series on
topics such as legal tools for HOA’s, beetles, animals and
wildfire, insurance issues, etc.; tours will happen on Saturdays;
contractors will be involved; and Pam is writing a story for LPEA’s
Country Life Magazine. The Council decided that Firewise should
be visible during this month. The Home and Ranch Show could be
a place that a booth is set up with everyone – fire departments,
SJPLC, CSFS, Firewise, etc. Sort of a one stop shopping model.
More details will emerge in January and February about wildfire
month and Firewise’s role.
Policy
The Council had a long discussion. It was decided that Firewise
could play a role of doing a neutral forum on fire mitigation
policies. It seems that the issue has become contentious and polarized.
A neutral facilitator could be recruited to help get all the parties
around a table and dialogue. That person should not be from this
county. Dave encouraged the Council not to shy away from the policy
issues. There was also discussion that since Firewise is so new,
the Council should think through very carefully how to get involved
in policy matters. The working group the Commissioners appointed
has not come to consensus on what should be done. The Homebuilders
have many concerns. It was decided that a face/to/face meeting
with the Homebuilders may be an action step to take so they know
who Firewise is…this meeting would be for educational purposes
only.
Visibility
There was discussion about the need for Firewise to “get
more visible.” Once projects are getting done, this visibility
will occur. Also, there is a need to do an article in the papers
about the Council and to do PSA before meetings.
Next meeting: 1/20/04, 5:30 p.m. at La Plata Electric
(Note: A decision was made to move the meeting time up ½
hour).
