BRCA Board Minutes - June 24, 2018

The Bardy tank will need to be replaced. There is enough insurance to cover the cost of replacement.

Meter reader volunteers:: Suzanne and Jason, Les DeLaBriandais, Ann Wendecker, Suni Levi & Theo Vermont.

Water use and rates: Over half the costs are fixed costs - insurance, maintenance, testing, etc.

it’s important for everyone to pay their bill even if they aren’t here to keep our water company solvent so they will have water when they return.

Sheriff's suggestions:

• Gate at entrance of community
• Video camera/wildlife camera
  • ZModo - sells cameras that are motion activated, will send photos to your cell phone
• Periodic patrol (random presence) of either paid security company, or neighbors
  • First Security Services
  • Create our own rotation of neighbors driving around, keeping eye on things
• Advance home security systems
• Use chain across driveway
• No Trespassing Sign

Construction/speed/safety

• Signs to remind people to slow down
• Concern of overabundance of signs/cameras/security - wanting to maintain neighborhood we used to have
• Construction rules
• Traffic/speeding - Helen spoke with CHP and was told we will be contacted
  • Kathie notes that there has been discussion about reducing speed on Bennett Valley Rd

Les and Helen Sedwick will create a list of construction rules

Helen will ask CHP if we can place speed limit detection signs

Pete Parkinson: how can we reduce fire hazards in Annadel?

• Nothing is going to happen quickly on the part of the State Park
• Fuel load is much less than it previously was - greater concern is living trees and brush
• Park is concerned about non-native plants being tracked in
• Neighborhood Captain’s Meeting on vegetation management -
  • Piles of tinder dry brush along Bennett Valley Rd; County is aware and planning on doing more tree trimming and then will clean these up - issue of nesting birds
  • Was letter to editor in Press Democrat today
  • Hazard reduction/weed abatement on private property - no government resources for this; need to find a way to contact property owners not living on Ridge for how we can help clean up their property
  • Importance of defensible space
  • Suggested we create a Fire Safe Counsel - could allow us access to grants for fuel reduction and management
  • Road repair - County is waiting d/t ongoing damage with construction
• Over excavation - contact Pete Parkinson if you have any questions
• Sonoma Resource Conservation District - rep will come to talk with us to give us recommendations from a professional forester

Sirens vs Nixle

• Concern with sirens/nixle and reliance on power
• Consider old school siren/alert system

Carol: West Shore Company - they have a demo truck that can bring up a siren to test; They are currently putting up sirens in Middletown and Calistoga; appears that we would only need a construction permit; siren is powered by solar w/ AC battery backup; operated by code protected box with “big red button”; Could be remote controlled as well but this would have to be by sheriff; will run for 10 min before battery runs out; will need to be tested; covers 1 mile radius; Cost $30,000, includes installation and training;

Pete raises question about liability where siren is placed

Kathie - Siren Sentry - another company who could send rep out

• Their engineers spent some time studying our neighborhood on google Earth and created a preliminary site plan for our area. Their initial proposal runs $35,000 for two omnidirectional sirens, with manual push buttons, the $900 batteries, and installation. * Their customer service is excellent.
• Their batteries provides 30 minutes of run time.
• It is an omni-directional, non-rotating siren and therefore does not require lubrication or scheduled maintenance.
• They provide a 5-year warranty and free lifetime tech support.

Carol: Created “common sense list” of what to do in a fire emergency

• Much agreement that we should move forward with getting a siren
• Carol will continue to move forward with researching options
• If each property owner could pay $300, we could pay for the siren; since 1 mile radius, we could also ask near by neighbors as well
• Carol will send out emergency “common sense list”

How to deal with neighbors who haven’t reduced fuel load

• There is county law - however there is no funding and no enforcement
• Neighbors contacting neighbors, get board member involved - if after a couple rounds of notification, then consider getting fire dept involved; if still not cleaned up consider why (if don’t have money, BRCA could loan them money {need permission, need waiver of liability}); if property owner non-responsive ??
• Possibility of pooling resources for property owners needing assistance

Kevin will place water truck on the ridge - several people will have access to the keys.

He also bought a chipper and will help chip all of the wood along our roads.

• Carol will create list of properties that still need to be cleaned up
• Send out email, put fire chief’s words into this email, asking neighbors to do their part - then board will start on outreach program on one-to-one basis to see how we can help