Minutes

Greater Laguna Beach Fire Safe Council

March 16, 2002

I. Introductions/Welcome was extended by David Horne, Chair, who provided a brief overview of the Council’s purpose and activities to date.  Mark Baker of the Laguna Beach Fire Department commented on the significance of citizens’ involvement in this process.

II. Update on the Red Flag Project

·Pat Cooper, Chair of the project, noted that she and the committee had met with several citizens from the Silverado Canyon area who have a similar project, but unique needs specific to their area.  Her group is ready to start the organizing process which will include training, and patrol runs.  A meeting is set with the Fire Chief of Laguna Beach at City Hall on March 19, 2002 at 1:30 p.m. to go over initial procedures.

·David Horne noted that he has contacted SCEdison, and that they will allow access to back roads if volunteers are trained and approved.  Important skills include familiarity with the region, map-reading skills, etc.  It has been suggested that volunteers all have cell phones.

·Questions by the audience focused on recruitment (which will begin when the process is clear; that volunteers will get information (usually –4 days in advance) concerning weather/wind alerts;  The Santa Ana winds and humidity are the primary predictors of a fire alert condition; a procedure, regarding giving notice of a Red Flag Warning, Watch, and Alert will forwarded to the Council by Dan Drake of the Orange County Fire Authority.

·John Campbell asked about planting procedures near homes as an issue of importance to getting insurance, and wondered if the Council had discussed this.  David Horne told him it would be included as a major issue in our next state grant.

·Suggestions for implementing the Red Flag Project included having businesses along the Canyon display red flags during fire alert days; implementing a press campaign and contacting Verizon for support with its automated system.

III. Non-Profit status is underway and David is putting the application together.  He anticipates that it will be ready by the next meeting.  He is using available text as the basis for the by-laws with modifications specific to our situation.

IV. Insurance for Directors is in process.  It was also discussed that some type of coverage might be needed to cover volunteers for the Red Flag Alert project and/or they might be asked to sign some type of waivers.  It was mentioned that the State Fire Safe Council was looking into this.

V. Grant application – David reviewed the current application that he is preparing to submit in March.  The State will advise of its decision within 45 days, and the grant will cover an 18 month period, with several payments made during the grant timetable.

·The grant asked for funding for user-friendly, practical projects related to planting, and is to be written in Spanish as well as English.

·The guide is designed for use by homeowners as well as gardeners, nurseries, and will be specific to our coastal area. 

·Funding will also be used to pay for focus groups in English and in Spanish.

·Wayne Peterson, after reviewing some of the literature that is currently available, noted that information is missing in most publication about drip systems, maintenance issues, and warnings about potential hazards with specific plants, i.e., palm trees.

·It was suggested that the Water District might be asked to disseminate information on watering systems as well as a list of drought-resistant plants.

·Other ideas included having speakers and/or experts from our group speak to special homeowners associations; have the Fire Department include special references to fire safety precautions or refer to our web site; put stickers/logs on plants that we have identified as fire resistant – “Point of Purchase” ideas.

VI. The Strategic Plan –Carole reviewed the major goals and suggested activities that had been identified at the last session.  She will work with David and the committee to continue refining the plan, and clarifying priorities, timelines, who will be responsible for each project, budget considerations and progress on the plan.

Activities in Progress:

·Red Flag Alert Project

·Lists of plants/guidelines which will be used in the brochure

·Grant is being prepared to submit by late March

Activities to Consider

·Set up a table at the Saturday Farmers Market

·Get information on similar State-wide efforts to see how we might fit in

·Participate in the next State-wide meetings or sponsor a conference here in this are

·Participate in Fire Safety Activities at schools here in Laguna in October

·Re-examine the “chipper” program to determine if it is feasible to consider having one available here –or negotiate with Waste Management who does the Xmas tree project.

·Consider sponsoring a Green Waste project –it was noted that it is very labor intensive to move material, and it is easier to have one collection site.

·Do we need to write a new mission statement?

·Check the State Fire Safety web to find a check list for homeowners to use with their own properties

·Contact our local cable access stations to get David Horne on for an interview

VII.  Next Steps: 

·Complete the Red Flag Project process

·Begin working on the brochure when grant funding is approved – June/July 2002

·Develop and work on communication plan-target homeowners groups and association, look to the Neighborhood Watch as a possible model

·Develop a program to have our Council perceived as the “neutral” voice for advice about building fire-resistant dwellings and landscaping.

NEXT MEETING – Thursday, April 11, 2002 at 4 p.m. at Emerald Bay Community Center.