REGULAR MEETING OF

DIRECTORS OF BELMONT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ONE TWIN PINES LANE

SPECIAL MEETING

CLOSED SESSION

A.              Conference with Labor Negotiator, Greg Scoles, under Government Code Section 54957.6: Belmont Firefighters IAFF Local 2400 and Fire Management Unit (FMU)

REGULAR MEETING

Attended by: Directors Wozniak, Feierbach, Warden, Fire Chief Fry, City Manager Scoles, Human Resources Director Dino. Directors Lieberman and Braunstein were absent, and City Clerk Cook was excused from attending.

ADJOURNMENT at this time being 7:25 P.M.

Terri Cook

District Secretary

Meeting not recorded.

REGULAR MEETING

CALL TO ORDER 7:30 P.M. 

(Note: Belmont Fire Protection District meeting held concurrent with the City Council Meeting.)

ROLL CALL

Directors Present: Wozniak, Feierbach, Warden

Directors Absent: Braunstein, Lieberman

Staff Present: District Manager Scoles, Fire Chief Fry, City Attorney Rennie, Chief Building Official Nolfi, District Secretary Cook

REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION

District Manager Scoles stated that direction was given but no action taken during the Closed Session held earlier.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Approval of Resolution 2012-020 of the Board of Directors of the Belmont Fire Protection District Authorizing Workers’ Compensation Insurance Coverage for Non-Statutory Volunteers

ACTION: On a Motion by Director Feierbach seconded by Director Wozniak, the Consent Agenda was unanimously approved by a show of hands (3-0, Lieberman, Braunstein absent).

PUBLIC HEARING

Continued Public Hearing to Consider an Ordinance of the Belmont Fire Protection District Designating Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and Establishing the Wildland-Urban Interface Areas Within the City of Belmont (continued from September 11, 2012)

Fire Chief Fry explained that California Fire has recommended that all cities review and update their maps related to fire hazard severity zones. He clarified the definition of defensible space, and explained that there is no clear-cut requirement for a specific radius. He noted that updating the map could provide for grant opportunities for brush clearing. He stated that the seller of property will be required to disclose a very high fire zone designation. He noted that insurance companies should evaluate risk versus hazard to determine rates.

In response to Director Feierbach, Fire Chief Fry explained that the boundary extension for the very high fire hazard severity zone extends to Alameda de las Pulgas to provide for a case-by-case evaluation for future construction.

Director Feierbach expressed concerns regarding the extension of the boundary to Alameda de las Pulgas.

Board President Warden opened the Public Hearing.

Adele Della Santina, Belmont resident, concurred with the need to use fire retardant materials in new construction. She noted that some insurance companies will not insure homes in the very high severity zone designation, or will charge high premiums. She expressed concern that Cal Fire could impose a surcharge on those homes.

City Attorney Rennie explained that the surcharge does not apply to homes in Belmont and is only applicable to homes in the jurisdiction of Cal Fire. He clarified that the purpose of updating the map is to provide consistency with the State Fire Code. In response to Board President Warden, he confirmed that the City Council could impose the standards without updating the map.

ACTION: On a motion by Director Feierbach, seconded by Director Wozniak, the Public Hearing was unanimously closed by a show of hands (3-0, Braunstein, Lieberman absent).

Director Feierbach stated that she cannot support the ordinance as it is too restrictive.

Director Wozniak expressed a desire for more information and suggested using the Building Code to accomplish the goal of this ordinance.

Board President Warden stated that he also cannot support the ordinance, and concurred with using the Building Code. He stated that he does not trust that the insurance companies will not raise rates.

ADJOURNMENT at this time being 9:38 P.M.

Terri Cook

District Secretary

Meeting audio-recorded and videotaped.

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