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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-03-2020 Public Safety Task Force Meeting NotesSaratoga Public Safety Task Force Minutes - Page 1 of 4 MINUTES AUGUST 3, 2020 WILDFIRE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE REGULAR MEETING Chair Chuck Page called the virtual Wildfire Public Safety Task Force meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and explained how the virtual meeting would be conducted. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Chair Chuck Page, Vice Chair Paul Hansen, Members Bill Cooper, Lu, Venkatachar ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS Glenda Aune spoke about the Brush Abatement Program and encouraged the Task Force to encourage compliance. Dave House spoke about his efforts to create a Firewise Community. AGENDA ITEMS: 1. Public Safety Task Force Minutes Recommended Action: Review and approve the draft minutes from the June 1, 2020 meeting. HANSEN/LU MOVED TO APPROVE THE DRAFT MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 1, 2020 MEETING. MOTION PASSED. AYES: COOPER, HANSEN, LU, PAGE, VENKATACHAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 2. Wildfire Preparedness and Prevention Outreach Update Recommended Action: Receive an update on City communications related to fire preparedness and prevention, including collaborative City/County Fire efforts. Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager, shared an update on City communications related to fire preparedness and prevention. Chair Chuck Page invited public comment on the item. The following people requested to speak. Saratoga Public Safety Task Force Minutes - Page 2 of 4 Glenda Aune requested additional City communication on resources available to help property owners establish defensible space, such as the names of contractors that perform this type of work. Dave House spoke about fire preparedness efforts he has implemented on his property. Chair Chuck Page proposed that the City do a direct mailing to properties in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) to communicate changes to the tree regulations, resources available through the FireSafe Council, and other wildfire preparedness efforts. 3. Arrowhead Fire Mitigation Demonstration Recommended Action: Receive an update on the Arrowhead fire mitigation effort and demonstration. Vice Chair Paul Hansen shared a presentation on the Arrowhead fire mitigation efforts and a recent demonstration performed. Chair Chuck Page invited public comment on the item. The following people requested to speak: Glenda Aune raised questions about the source of water used for water canons in the Arrowhead neighborhood. Dave House spoke about similar efforts that he has initiated. Darrell Miller spoke about roof-based sprinkler systems. 4. Proposed Legislation Recommended Action: Consider proposed State wildfire preparedness and prevention laws, including recommended City Council positions on the bills. Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager, introduced the item. Chair Chuck Page shared information about AB 2167 and SB 292. Chair Chuck Page invited public comment on the item. The following people requested to speak: Saratoga Public Safety Task Force Minutes - Page 3 of 4 Darrell Miller raised questions about SB 431, AB 2167, and SB 292. COOPER/HANSEN MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT AB 2167, SB 292, AB 2178, AB 3256, AND SB 431. MOTION PASSED. AYES: COOPER, HANSEN, LU, PAGE, VENKATACHAR. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. 5. City Council Final Report Recommended Action: Begin development of a final report out to the City Council to be presented to the City Council before the Task Force sunset in November 2020. Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager, presented the staff report. Vice Chair Paul Hansen requested that the continuation of the Task Force be the first recommendation shown under the section, Reflections & Future Recommendations. Chair Chuck Page suggested that the report include a section titled Ongoing Communications under the section, Reflections & Future Recommendations, that includes the Fire Safety Postcard. The first postcard could include available resources, recommendations to create defensible space or harden their home, and Firewise Communities. Chair Chuck Page also reiterated his opinion that the City should protect the identity of individuals who file code compliance complaints. He added that he does not think that the City should accept anonymous complaints. Vice Chair Hansen agreed. The Task Force asked staff to include language in the next draft of the report that would include a draft recommended change to the City’s Code Compliance policy to protect the identities of individuals who file code compliance complaints. Darrell Miller agreed with the recommended change to protect the identities of individuals who file code compliance complaints. He also proposed proactive enforcement of hazardous fuel requirements. The Task Force asked staff to add proactive enforcement of hazardous fuel requirements as one of the future recommendations for Council consideration. Saratoga Public Safety Task Force Minutes - Page 4 of 4 6. Review Work Plan Recommended Action: Review the adopted Task Force Work Plan. The Task Force reviewed the work plan. 7. Future Agenda Items Recommended Action: Consider agenda items for upcoming meetings. The next and last regular Task Force meeting is scheduled for October 5, 2020. The Task Force requested the Final Report on the October 5 agenda. ADJOURNMENT HANSEN/COOPER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:11 P.M. MOTION PASSED. AYES: COOPER, HANSEN, LU, PAGE. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: VENKATACHAR. Minutes respectfully submitted: Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager City of Saratoga