Firewise - Southwest Colorado Council
Monthly Meeting Outcomes
March 21, 2006

 

 

Attendees: Marsha Porter-Norton, Leanna Jaworsky, Kim Roth, Bob Koenig, Mike Kane, Nicole Smith, Laurie Robison, Dave Abercrombie, Pam Wilson, Ben Cordova, Karola Hanks, Harry Bruell, Ron Tyner

I. Kim Roth and Leanna Jaworsky from Acordia Insurance attended the meeting to give us the ‘insurance perspective’ on fire mitigation and its relationship to insurance.

• They related that what we are recommending as guidelines for defensible space and mitigation work on our website and in our brochures is what insurance companies are looking for as well.

• Insurance companies are not willing to help offset costs of mitigation.

• For new policies, if an inspection finds wildfire risks such as shake shingling, debris under porches, obvious hazard trees etc., the homes will be ineligible for a particular (lower) rate. In addition, if a claim is filed or if at renewal time, an inspector is sent and finds wildfire risks mentioned above, the policy may be cancelled.

• If there was a certification given by a specialist, then underwriters would accept that for a particular rate.

• Three companies—Hartford, State Farm and Farmers—within the next 30-90 days, are implementing a new program for high risk homes. This is coming out of the CA experience and is a scoring program based on slope, road access and fuel source. The better the score, the better the premium.

• This new program could encourage people to mitigate—incentive as it impacts the pocket book; also relates to fire council’s biggest challenge of motivating people to mitigate

• Kim and Leanna are members of the National Association of Insurance Woman and asked if the Council could make a presentation to their group. . . of course!

• Nicole will send a thank you note to Kim and Leanna for presenting to the group.

II. Update on Fire Month

• Inserts are ready for distribution—Two more boxes showed up in my office!! We have many that may be distributed—we no longer need to conserve! A great idea for Ambassadors to hand out to their neighbors during fire month!!!! If anybody needs inserts, please call Nicole 385-1210.

• The full calendar of events/outreach for April can be found on www.southwestcoloradofires.org

• Home Depot/Fire Information Booth is scheduled for Saturday, April 22 from 10am to 2/3pm. The Mobile Command Center will be there along with Ben Cordova, Dave Abercrombie, Laurie Robison and Smokey Bear. Ben will call Bruce Anderson of Four Corners Broadcasting to see if they might remote broadcast from the booth.

• There will be an Open House at Fire Station 8 (Spring Road) in Rafter J scheduled for April 29 from 10am to 2pm. Firefighters and mitigation companies will be there for local residents to obtain information and ask questions. DFRA would like to see Fire Council representation—Nicole will call Rafter J ambassador Maureen Keilty to put her in touch with Dave Abercrombie about possibly participating.

• Archuleta County’s revised CWPP is in final draft—hooray! They would like to ‘unveil’ it during April. If anyone has ideas for how this might be done, please contact Laurie Robison.

• April 27 at Station 5 in Forest Lakes there will be an event organized by Beth Jones and others. 7pm. Please see the full schedule of events on www.southwestcoloradofires.org for more information.

III. Other Items:

• Bob brought to the council a great idea of having magnets produced with our logo and emergency/fire-related phone numbers on it. Perhaps this could be done in time for distribution during fire month. Bob will get quotes; DFRA will fund $530 of the cost. Nicole will send Bob the Fire Council logo.

• Laurie has 10 boxes of the 5-part brochure series—let’s distribute them!! Nicole will look in the notebook/ask Kristie to find out where the brochure holders were placed.

• Bob spoke with Tom Gorton, the developer of Edgemont Highlands. He will have an ambassador appointed—Bob will connect with him and report back to council.

IV. Implementation of Strategic Plan

• How do we implement the strategic plan given that we are all here on a mostly volunteer basis?

• We would like to raise $12-13,000 to contract a staff person

• How do we fund this?—Perhaps through a membership program

• Members would include businesses, non-profits, HOAs, Fire Departments, Agencies—would have to be different levels

• What are the benefits to members, what would motivate homeowners to join?

• With the idea of memberships=formalities including needing a set of bylaws, annual meetings, etc. brings up the ideas of voting members, who can vote etc. . .

• Lots of food for thought. . . discussion to continue at our next meeting. . .

Next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 18; 5:30 Center of SW Studies at FLC—Room to be announced. (Lisa Floyd-Hanna’s talk to follow at 7pm)