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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWildfire Advisory Committee 2019-10-17 Minutes WILDFIRE ADVISORY COMMITTEE October 17, 2019 AT 4:30 P.M. REGULAR MEETING SAN RAFAEL COMMUNITY CENTER, ROOM 5 618 B STREET, SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA MEETING MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT: Maribeth Bushey, Councilmember Romeo Arrieta Robert Chatham Gina Daly Kevin Hagerty Paula Kamena Larry Luckham Sandra Luna Tom Obletz Tom Unterman Thomas Vogl Brian Waterbury MEMBERS ABSENT: Gary Phillips, Mayor; Stephen Mizroch; Lauren Withey OTHERS PRESENT: Quinn Gardner, Emergency Manager Coordinator, Staff Liaison Chris Gray, Fire Chief David Catalinotto, Fire Department Members of the Public: Katie MIller and Pat Randolph 1. Open Time for Public Expression • Councilmember Bushey welcomed and thanked the Wildfire Advisory Committee and members of the public in attendance. • Katie Miller had concerns about item number 3 and wanted to address the group at that time. 2. Approval of Minutes from August 14, 2019 Meeting • Emergency Manager Quinn Gardner noted that she made minor spelling corrections to the minutes, and clarified that “landscape requirements” in the discussion about item 3. Tom Vogl suggested updating the notes relating to Mill Valley to clarify that the Mill Valley regulations were voluntary. With the changes the minutes were approved unanimously. 3. Matters before the Committee 3a. Review and discussion of updates to the action plan • Quinn provided an overview of the changes and format of the plan. The committee was generally pleased with the updates and the summary comment for each item stating the significant changes. • The conversation started with one of the most significant changes, which was adjusting the emphasis on VMPs to inspections. The inspections would be free unless part of the process for requesting an exemption. An estimate of $50-$100 for an exemption request inspection was suggested. These updates directly impacted items 22 and 23 • Item 1 discussion started with Quinn clarifying the Fire Department’s intention is to present an ordinance to make this a citywide standard, with the recognition that this could get some pushback. Even if ordinance is citywide, city staff will need to prioritize certain geographic areas. Robert suggested that costs to businesses be identified as a concerns, not just residents. The group was generally in agreement of the changes. • Item 2 discussion was supported by the group with the clarification that some vegetation standards would apply citywide while others may only apply to certain areas, such as parking boxes. • While the group through item 3 was improved they suggested significant rewording to help better frame the intention. The item has been updated to incorporate these changes and in generally written to demonstrate what can exist, rather than what may need removed. Quinn also clarified that voluntary compliance did not mean the standards would not be law, but that staff would favor working with homeowners to get them to comply via incentives rather than enforcement action such as fines. The revised language to this item will be provided to the group for additional feedback. • The group reviewed the additional items and changes and was supportive of the other changes. • The group continued to emphasis the need for support to low income residents, public education and outreach, and strategies that positively inform. • Quinn clarified that while the plan did not specifically mention the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, staff consider that effort aligned with the plan and intent of item 38. 3b. Next Steps • The group had a few questions about generators and Quinn suggest Don Jeppsen attend the next meeting to help answer them and inform the committee of related efforts. • At the next meeting the committee will re-review item 3.