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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWildfire Advisory Committee 2019-08-28 Minutes WILDFIRE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2019 AT 4:30 P.M. REGULAR MEETING SAN RAFAEL COMMUNITY CENTER, ROOM 4 618 B STREET, SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA MEETING MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT: Gary Phillips, Mayor Romeo Arrieta Robert Chatham Kevin Hagerty Paula Kamena Larry Luckham Stephen Mizroch Tom Obletz Gregory Poulos Rich Rusdorf Tom Unterman Thomas Vogl Brian Waterbury MEMBERS ABSENT: Maribeth Bushey, Councilmember; Tom Obletz; Gina Daly; Sandra Luna; Lauren Withey OTHERS PRESENT: Cristine Alilovich, Assistant City Manager Quinn Gardner, Emergency Manager Coordinator, Staff Liaison Chris Gray, Fire Chief Daniel Soto, Associate Management Analyst Jason Weber, Marin County Fire Chief 1. Open Time for Public Expression • Mayor Phillips welcomed and thanked the Wildfire Advisory Committee and members of the public in attendance. • Marin County Fire Department Chief Jason Weber provided a brief introduction regarding a proposal regarding a joint powers authority (JPA) relating to countywide wildfire prevention, as well as a tax measure or parcel tax. This proposal relates to a 2018-2019 Marin County Civil Grand Jury report that recommends these types of initiatives to improve wildfire prevention. Chief Weber also noted that the County of Marin will launch MarinWildfire.org on Thursday, August 29, 2019 to share more information. • Member Thomas Vogl asked for clarification regarding whether a proposed parcel tax would be collected at the local level or by the County of Marin. • Chief Weber clarified that the proposed parcel tax would be collected by the County of Marin. The tax measure did not pass, there would be no Wildfire JPA. • Mayor Phillips further clarified that there is a 60%-20%-20% proposed breakdown on the expenditure of revenues from the parcel tax. The first 60% would support the JPA Core mission and include vegetation management, evacuation, and public education. 20% would be focused on defensible space and home hardening inspections with the ability of local jurisdictions to operate in a Countywide staff poll or operate independently. With the last 20% being reserved for local use to complete related work, not completed as part of the coordinated efforts. • Assistant City Manager Cristine Alilovich noted that the JPA and parcel tax proposals are not a County of Marin-led initiative. Rather it is an initiative that includes all of the cities and towns, County of Marin, and fire protection agencies. This will include all stakeholders in Marin County. • Emergency Manager Quinn Gardner noted that this initiative will be discussed at the September 3, 2019 City Council meeting and that Chief Weber will be available for questions and comments. 2. Approval of Minutes from August 14, 2019 Meeting • Emergency Manager Quinn Gardner noted that she made only minor corrections to the minutes, including correcting the date to August 14, 2019. • Member Larry Luckham motioned to approve the minutes from the August 14, 2019 meeting. • Member Stephen Mizroch seconded. • Minutes were approved unanimously. 3. Matters before the Committee 3a. Continuation of Discussion from Last Meeting Regarding Item Number 32: Evacuation Plans. • Copies of the San Rafael Area Marin Mutual Threat Zone (MTZ) Plan maps were shared along with copies of example maps from a vendor specializing in visual communication. • Member Lisa Dal Gallo commented that the contrast of the maps made it difficult to view. • San Rafael Fire Department Chief commented that the contrast may be printer issue. • Member Kevin Hagerty commented on the complexity of the MTZ plans and asked if such a map would be distributed to community members. • Emergency Manager Quinn Gardner clarified that the detailed MTZ plans are used for tactical purposes (i.e., a tactical map) and will not be distributed to community members. Rather, a simplified, neighborhood-specific map would be distributed. Quinn sought feedback from committee on what they liked or would want changed on the neighborhood specific evacuation maps for public consumption. • Member Lisa Dal Gallo commented on the number of available “emergency contact” applications on her smartphone app store. • Member Lisa Dal Gallo inquired about using boats or ferries as part of an evacuation plan. Additional discussion focused on the need to coordinate with businesses that may have property viable for community refuge areas. • Members commented on the need to have alternative plans and suggested coordinated efforts with GPS providers such as Google Maps and Waze. • Member Romeo Arrieta commented on the complexity of the types of tactical maps to be used. • Member’s liked the QR code and ability to download multiple maps and access via the QR codes. • Chief Gray commented that there would be several iterations of the maps. Staff will seek input from neighborhood leaders on draft versions before final distribution. • The committee generally supported the idea of neighborhood specific maps that would easily be distributed and understood by residents. 3b. Introduction and Discussion of Items #15, #25, and #33 of 38-point San Rafael Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action Plan #15. Immediately seize ignition sources at encampments and remove encampments in open space as quickly as possible. • Member Gregory Poulos commented on case law regarding the holding and/or removal of property of homeless people. He expressed concerns about the burden of storing large amounts of property. • Mayor Phillips noted that the City of San Rafael has a process for holding and/or removing property of homeless people. • Assistant City Manager Cristine Alilovich commented that the City has two part-time Open Space Rangers. • Emergency Manager Quinn Gardner noted that the City may immediately remove ignition sources, subject to applicable laws and regulations. • Member Gregory Poulos inquired about the type of ignition sources that are recovered by City staff in open space. • Chief Chris Gray responded that ignition sources that are picked up are barbeques, fire pits, batteries, etc. • Member Robert Chatham inquired about the number of homeless individuals in and around San Rafael. • Emergency Manager Quinn Gardner responded that there is a homeless point-in-time count that counts homeless individuals in Marin County. • Tom Unterman commented that Open Space Ranger Jonathan Bean has done a great job in cleaning and maintaining San Rafael Hill. • The committee generally agreed that this was an area of concern that needed additional resources to effectively address, while recognizing the issue was complicated. Staff clarified that the local portion of funds from the JPA could be used to expand efforts to reduce ignitions from homeless encampment. #25. Reduce fire risk and keep visitors using short-term rentals safe. • Emergency Manager Quinn Gardner commented that a small fire recently started on or adjacent to a short-term rental. She shared an update from City staff regarding considering pursuing noticing requirements in short-term-rentals regarding fire safety. • Member Lisa Dal Gallo commented that a neighbor who has a short-term rental repeatedly lit a fire inside a dead tree stump and that the neighbor did so because of a lack of education. She emphasized the need for education. • Member Thomas Vogl inquired about the criteria for a short-term rental vs. a rental united. • Gregory Poulos disagreed with requiring vegetation management plans (VMPs) for short term rentals due to the cost and burden of completing the plan. • Chief Gray commented that the VMP’s intent is that if education doesn’t work, the buffer around the home will. • Member Romeo Arrieta commented on noticing requirements for hotels (similar to requirements for short-term rentals). • Member Lisa Dal Gallo commented on the concept of an ordinance requiring annual inspections of short-term-rentals to ensure compliance with vegetation management and wildfire safety laws. Members discussed potentially banning fire pits and other ignition sources from short term rentals. • Member Robert Chatham inquired about the criteria for short-term-rentals. • Emergency Manager clarified that short-term-rentals are rentals of units or bedrooms for 30 days or less. The group was also interested in what could be done to educate and protect longer term renters and rental units. • Gregory Poulos commented on inspections of properties in the wildland urban interface (WUI) and inquired about fees for property owners to have a short-term-rental. • The group generally agreed that education for short term rentals was an important step to reduce potential ignitions and protect visitors. This included suggestions of posted signage in the units, as well as working with the technology platforms to have a digital risk and rule acknowledgement. The group favored requiring short-term rentals to have fee based annual vegetation inspections rather than requiring VMPs. The group pointed out the need to account for various language in outreach, education, and posting requirements. #33. Assure safe and resilient critical infrastructure. • Gregory Poulos inquired about activities that the City is engaging in with PG&E. • Chief Gray commented that PG&E representatives attended a City Council meeting and provided an update on their expanded wildfire prevention efforts, and that this topic could be covered at a future Wildfire Advisory Committee. Chief Gray also noted that activities are being coordinated between PG&E and the City to address priority areas. The City is focusing on defensible space in areas that are adjacent to structures. All other areas, including areas under power lines, are areas that the City would like to address—and that it is an ongoing effort. • Quinn clarified that much of PG&E efforts are focused on preventing trees from falling into their power lines and not as much on what the power lines could fall into. The group expressed concern about the extent of those efforts. • Member Lisa Dal Gallo commented that she believes that the Marin Municipal Water District should also be involved in wildfire prevention discussions. • Gregory Poulos commented that he is concerned about the obligations placed on homeowners to keep their properties safe vs. the City’s obligations to remove vegetation on City property adjacent to and under power lines. Gregory Poulos believes that the City should lead by example. • Member Robert Chatham commented on two sets of power lines that are adjacent to Andy’s Local Market that are adjacent to or over City property. • The group was generally concerned about vegetation maintenance under existing power lines. They support coordinated efforts with utility providers and believed more public efforts to remove vegetation under powerlines and on public property would increase public trust. Staff shared that expanding these efforts would be possible with additional tax revenue dedicated to wildfire prevention. 3c. Discussion of Next Steps and Items to Revisit • Mayor Phillips commented on discussions with Mill Valley Councilmember Stephanie Moulton-Peters come and speak to the Wildfire Advisory Committee about the City of Mill Valley’s experience with adopting and implementing wildfire prevention ordinances. • Member Thomas Vogl requested that City staff follow up with inviting PG&E representatives to attend the next Wildfire Advisory Committee meeting. • Gregory Poulos commented on creating a Top 10 list of items from the Wildfire Prevention and Protection Advisory Committee. • Gregory Poulos recommended that the Wildfire Advisory Committee see redline changes of the Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action Plan, if changes are to be made. • Member Larry Luckham concurs with Gregory Poulos that a redline changes document be distributed to the Wildfire Advisory Committee for review before any changes are considered by the City Council. • Mayor Gary Phillips noted that some elements of the WPPAP require the City Council to approve an ordinance, which would require a public hearing and City Council approval— and the text of the ordinance may not necessitate a change to the text of the WPPAP. • Emergency Manager Quinn Gardner noted that City staff prepare a summary document of comments and requested changes to the WPPAP. • Gregory Poulos recommends that the summary document be discussed two meetings from now. • Member Kevin Hagerty commented on a potential scenario when Wildfire Advisory Committee members do not agree on proposed changes to the WPPAP. • Mayor Gary Phillips commented that the group’s recommendations would be considered. • Emergency Manager Quinn Gardner noted that FireSafe Marin will be hosting a “Living with Fire” seminar on September 11, 2019 from 7 to 9 PM at the San Rafael Community Center auditorium. She also reminded the group that the City Council meeting on September 3rd would include a presentation about countywide wildfire prevention efforts and possible tax measure. The next meeting is scheduled for September 19, 2019 at 4:30 PM at B street Community Center. At least one more meeting will be scheduled. The meeting adjourned at 6:11 PM.