DRAFT

Minutes for February 15, 2018

Beckwourth Fire District

Board Meeting called to order at 6:30 PM by George Bundy.

Roll Call: Board Members: George Bundy, Denisce Downs (absent), Donald Ball, M.D., Peggi Vernon & Dwight Ceresola. Chief: Greg McCaffrey Admin. Assistant: Fran Zeits Public: John Reynolds (Grizzly Ranch CSD).

The Pledge of Allegiance: Recited by all.

Approval of Minutes for the Board Meeting held on January 18, 2018. Donald motioned to approve Minutes for January 18, 2018 and Peggi seconded, all in favor. Motion passed.

Approval of the Account Receivables, Expenditures, Revenue and Balance Sheet for the month of January 2018. George motioned to approve the Account Receivables, Expenditures, Revenue and Balance Sheet for the month of January 2018 and Donald seconded, all in favor. Motion passed.

PUBLIC COMMENT: George Bundy asked John Reynolds (Grizzly Ranch CSD) if Grizzly Ranch HOA would like to set a joint meeting with Beckwourth Fire District to initiate a joint session to discuss construction preplans for new homes in Grizzly Ranch. John Reynolds stated he is not part of HOA or design review department but will pass on the request. Stated there are two (2) sight plans in progress. Both plans were approved by HOA and sent to the County. John Reynolds doubts that Greg McCaffrey had an opportunity to review the plans. George asked John Reynolds to ask HOA to write a request in writing to add this item to the agenda for March 15th to discuss the mechanics.

Consent Agenda Items: None

Secretary’s Report: Defer comments until UI and audit report are discussed.

Chief’s Report: Cal Fire 2017 Grant ($5,047.50) has been awarded, with no equipment denials. One item pending two (2) CO gas detectors. Greg applied for an additional $4,580.63 and was awarded $438.75 for additional boots, which have been ordered/received. Training: Class for emergency medical responders and recertification for EMTs and paramedics started January 15th and will end on March 6th. Class is full, great group of people and the class has been fun. Engine Updates: Need front tires for #9475, which is on the maintenance list for this fall. Still pending. Greg, informed the Board the replacement vehicle he was considering for replacing #9471 was sold. Lot of local interest in vehicle #9471. George suggested an agenda item for March 15th to discuss which vehicle (#9400 or 9471) should be replaced. #9476 needs a new clutch but haven’t connected with Cody McCollum. Station 1: Fran received a new computer. Received new laptop for the meeting room. Had a few issues with the new laptop. Hopefully, they have been resolved. Conferences: Annual Corning conference will be sometime this fall. Airport: Working with the County and Care Flight regarding the fueling areas, which are within the District. Inspected the Jet-A gas tank, which was converted from the existing AV gas tank, and the new installed AV gas tank. State Fire Marshall manual states a fusible link needs to be installed, which a door will collapse automatically when needed if fire is present. Neither tank has a fusible link, but both entities will cure. Rechecked the Care Flight fueling area and it passed all requirements. The airport installed a new fueling unit but did not call for an inspection. Inspected and there were many violations. Wrote a letter to Dony Sawchuk and Mike Sandchez giving a thirty (30) days, until March 1st, to correct the violations. California Fire code states if there’s a paid fire chief it is his responsibility to enforce. A state fire marshal needs to enforce when there’s a volunteer fire chief. Inspections are to improve safety. Annexation McCarty: Recently purchased property just outside of the Goodwin Ranch, and it falls into Sierra Valley Fire (ISO 10) District, but she is interested in annexing into the BFD because her home owner’s insurance premium would greatly be reduced from $1,800.00 to $650.00 per year. No updates from Ms. McCarty. Spoke to Vickie Anderson, chief, from Sierra Valley Fire and she is an agreement with de-annexation and annexation into the BFD. Property is five (5) miles from BFD and ten (10) miles from Sierra Valley Fire. Correspondence: Received a “thank you” card from Ventura County Fire Department for our support at the Thomas Fire. Received a package of multiple packets/tickets from Diseyland for our fire fighters. Expiration date is May 10th. Informed the Board the annual donkey basketball game will be held in Portola on March 9th.

Unemployment Options: Fran handed out a copy of the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 posted figures under account #51070 (unemployment). The figures showed what the District paid out in UI and the revenue received for UI thru strike team pay. Fran reiterated the District in under the County’s UI policy umbrella, which the County is self-insured and pays 100% to their employees for UI. If the District establish their own UI account thru EDD (Employment Development Department) State of CA the District would not be self-insured but would be under a typical employer payroll tax account, paid by the District. Scenario: District would pay 6.2% on the first $7,000.00 earned on each paid employee each year. That equates to $434.00 per employee each year. If the District paid eight (8) employees and each earn at least $7,000.00 a year the District would pay into the District EDD payroll tax account $3,472.00. If an employee(s) applies for UI and he/they is granted more than the $3,472.00 the federal government insures the difference. Although, at the end of each year the EDD recalculates the employer’s payroll tax percentage for an adjustment if needed. Fran will research the pros and cons in establishing an UI account with the EDD before a decision/vote taken. John Reynolds stated CSD has a company handling their payroll taxes and is not sure if UI is included.

AFG Assistance to Firefighters Grant: Shirley Nelson-Grant Writer: The Board received a copy of the revised contract stating if Ms. Nelson does not meet the dead line date the BFD’s payment of $2,000.00 will be returned, which was a condition for Board’s approval (1-18-18). Greg and Fran had worked diligently with Ms. Nelson and the application has been submitted on before the deadline, but the results will not be available for at least six (6) months plus.

Robert Johnson Audit Report: From the last Board meeting (1-18-18) a concern was addressed. In the report it stated the management’s discussion and analysis report is optional and is not a requirement, so BFD’s management team had elected to omit the report. Fran will follow up with the auditor’s office regarding this statement that management elected to omit the report. Update: Fran emailed Robert Johnson and he stated he asked that question at his first audit (2011) with BFD and has carried the answer over on the audits that followed. Since the management’s discussion and analysis report is not required/mandatory for the State Controller’s Office the Board elected to motion an approval. Donald motioned to approve the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 audit report received from Robert Johnson as written and George seconded. Motion passed. Fran will send the report to the State Controller’s Office.

Battalion Chiefs’ Reports: None

Division Chief’s Report: None

Safety Officer’s Report: None

Directors’ Reports: George Bundy – None; Denisce Downs – Absent; Donald Ball – None; Peggi Vernon – None; Dwight Ceresola - None.

Old Business: NIMS Requirement IS100 and IS700: Denisce Downs (IS100 & IS700), Donald Ball (IS100 & IS700) and Peggi Vernon (IS700) and Dwight Ceresola (IS 100 & IS 700). Ethics Class Renewals: George Bundy, Peggi Vernon and Fran Zeits. Dwight Ceresola turned in his certificate. Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) Annual Statements: Peggi Vernon, Donald Ball & Greg McCaffrey. George Bundy, Denisce Downs, Dwight Ceresola & Fran Zeits turned in their Form 700.

New Business: Next Board Meeting on March 15, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. Closed public session at 7:27 p.m. and reconvene for closed session at 7:37 p.m.

Closed Session: Property – Station 2: 4076 Grizzly Rd: Property issue was rolled over at the Board Meeting held on January 18, 2018 for further information requested by Dwight regarding the zoning restrictions. Dwight Ceresola stated according to the Brown Act the only issue that can be discussed in closed session is the purchase sale price or exchange. Discussion of other issues regarding the property needs to be discussed in open session. Greg stated that Josh Nelson, attorney, directed the District to discuss real property matters in closed sessions to avoid public conflicts. Dwight Ceresola feels the District is in violation of the Brown Act and wanted it to be noted on the record. The Board agreed to close the close session (7:43) and reopen open session (7:43) to discuss the zoning and use of the property. Use: Snow, picnic area, drying hoses and trainings, which presently the District infringes on their property. Future zoning the County was unable to predict the zoning criteria 5/10 years in the future. The District will combine the new parcel with the existing parcel, so the District will have one water/sewer tax bill. Dwight Ceresola stated if the department uses the property for training the department needs to obtain a special use permit. It is usually a long drawn out process. Peggi stated the fire department already does training at Station 2. Dwight Ceresola indicated the existing parcel is designated as fire, but the new parcel isn’t. Donald Ball asked Greg for the current proposal from Grizzly Ranch. Closed open session (7:58) and open closed session (7:59). Proposal from Grizzly Ranch is to share the cost for conveying the property. Grizzly Ranch estimated $5,000.00. BFD’s share would be $2,500.00. Donald Ball motioned to accept Grizzly Ranch proposal conveying APN# 028-010-043-000 to Beckwourth Fire District with a cap of $3,000.00; and the District will consolidate parcel with the existing parcel; and with the understanding if BFD wants to build or develop the property will need to contact the County. Roll call vote was taken: Dwight Ceresola - No; Peggi Vernon – Yes; George Bundy – Yes; Donald Ball – Yes. Motion passed. Results of the closed session - no public was present.

Adjournment: Adjourned at 8:00 p. m.

I, FRAN ZEITS, SECRETARY OF THE BOARD, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING MINUTES OF SAID BOARD MEETING OF THE BECKWOURTH FIRE DISTRICT HELD ON February 15, 2018 ARE CORRECT AS RECORDED.

__ _____________________

Fran Zeits, Secretary of the Board

BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ APPROVAL SIGNATURES: Minutes for February 15, 2018.

George Bundy: ___________________________________Date: _______________

Denisce Downs: __________________________________Date: _______________

Donald Ball, M.D.: _________________________________Date: _______________

Peggi Vernon: ________________________________Date: _______________

Dwight Ceresola: ___________________________________Date: _________________