Sutter Basin Fire District Minutes 7/6/2023

Opening

The regular meeting of the Sutter Basin Fire Protection District was called to order at 8:05 a.m. on Tuesday, July 6, 2023 at the Robbins Fire Department by Mark Richter.

Present

Mark Richter, Samuel Martin, Marty Creel, Kim Richter, Joan Stephens, Mike Bush, and Mona Sakurada were in attendance.

Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved. Motion by Samuel Martin. Second by Mark Richter, and unanimously approved.

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the June 6, 2023, meeting was approved. Motion by Samuel Martin. Second by Mark Richter, and unanimously approved.

Fire Chief Report

Robbins Fire Chief, Marty Creel, spoke to firefighter training, and communication updates.  Upcoming firefighter training opportunities will include two homes in the SBFPD area that have been donated to use as a structure firefighter training.  The structures will be burned by the end of July, and the homes have met all requirements and permits.  Air Quality has approved the firefighter structure fire burn training.   In addition, all Robbins Volunteer Firefighters will have the opportunity to complete their Firefighter I Training this year. When completed, the firefighter will be eligible for the Firefighter Academy and Firefighter I status.

Fire Chief Creel spoke to the need to schedule community yard burns in the spring of 2024 due to the amount of grass and fuel in several abandoned lots. In addition, Fire Chief Creel spoke to communication updates.  He shared that the radio mounts are installed in all engines, but firefighters are still waiting for the radios to be delivered.

Old Business

Status of Volunteers was provided by Fire Chief Creel.  The status of volunteers has remained static at thirteen firefighters.

Hiring of a Paid Firefighter was reviewed.  Currently, Jacob Rodriquez is still willing to do paid firefighter duties while he is also working full time for Cal Fire.

SBFPD Tax Measure, that was presented by SCI, was discussed.  The SCI Tax Measure Proposal has a cost of $4,782 for the initial process, and approximately $50,000 for the entire process.  To complete the Tax Measure process, there are three specific tasks.  Task #1 is the preliminary messaging to determine the chances of approval by the community at a cost of $4,782.  Task #2 is to prepare the engineering report at a cost of $24,172 and the election process at a cost of $11,345 by SCI. Task #3 is the creation of resolutions and outreach at a cost of $4,490, and the tabulation of community votes and administration for a cost of $5,756. Additional discussion was on Proposition 172, a Taxpayer initiative for public safety and fire protection that may bring additional revenues to SBFPD.

Parking Lot Repairs for the Robbins Community Hall’s parking lot have begun with the major holes being filled by Robbins School employees, Rich Jenkins and Daylene Cearley.  Their efforts are the initial steps in the repair process of the joint parking lot repair project. 

New Business

2023-2024 Budget was discussed by the Commissioners. Discussion focused on upcoming budget needs, specifically SCI Tax Measure (professional services), equipment, and salaries.  Fire Chief Creel and Kim Richter were asked to create a budget proposal to bring before the Commissioners at the August 1^st SBFPD meeting.

Correspondence was from Sutter County Office of Elections.  Both Commissioners Mark Richter and Samuel Martin will need to complete paperwork at the Sutter County Office of Elections between July 17^th and August 11^th to be considered for reelection for Commissioner in the November 2023 election.

Approval of monthly bills was discussed. At present there is a balance of $398,194.56 in the Sutter County Treasury, and $20.003.82 in the First Northern Bank account.  All bills were approved, a claim for $ 9,106.94 to restore the First Northern Bank account was approved and signed. In addition, all invoices and timecards were reviewed, and payable checks were signed by the Commissioners.

Agenda for Next Meeting

The 2023-2024 Proposed Fiscal Budget and SCI Tax Measure will be reviewed and discussed at the next Commissioners’ meeting.

Closed Session

There was no closed session.

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 9:14 a.m. by Mark Richter. Motion by Samuel Martin. Second by Mark Richter, and unanimously approved.

Minutes submitted by:	Kimberly Richter
Approved by:	Mark Richter