PNWCG STEERING COMMITTEE
November 20, 2002
MEETING MINUTES
Attendees:
Bob Anderson – Spokane Fire District #9
Earl Cordes – Jefferson County Fire/OR Fire Service
Pam Ensley – USF&W
Mark Forbes – WA NPS
Barbara Kennedy – SORO
Bill Lafferty – OR ODF
Nancy Orr – State Fire Marshall’s Office
Laurie Perrett – USFS
Leo Sidebotham – BLM
Skip Simmons – WA DNR
Cory Winnie – BIA
Bonnie Wood – SORO

Strategic Plan 2002 – (handout)
There were a number of action items on the plan that needed to be discussed to
see if they needed to be tasked out or if the group can work on some of them.
Starting on page 10, which is Safety in all Fire Activities in the Pacific NW. The
action items in the FAST Report will serve as action items for the Strategic Plan.
December Agenda Item: Develop a series of action items to determine which
ones are local.
Action Item: PNWCG will task it to the Business Management and Operations
WT. Skip is to give them a heads up. The group would like to see a mid term
report March 1st, with a final due on May 1st. Laurie, Bill and Earl will meet to go
over this section to sort out which items should be tasked to the Business and
Operations WTs, and identify what recommendations need to move up to the
National office.
The second topic discussed was: 3.0 National Fire Plan Implementation. Bonnie
recommended that some work be done on Goal 3. She recommended giving 3.12
to the NFP Regulatory Team and Bonnie will do some research on 3.14. Bonnie
will task the National Fire Plan Strategy Team with Goal 3.2 with support from
PNWCG to bring geographic liaisons into it at some point. Bonnie proposed
having the National Fire Plan Regulatory Team work on 4.1 to identify issues.
Need to update and edit 4.3 and touch base with the agencies to make sure they
understand it. Bonnie proposed for 4.41, that if sub geographic areas are
responsible for a report, it will give them a tool to talk from. She will work on it.
Bonnie will task 4.42 to the National Fire Plan Strategy Team.
The third topic was: 5.0 Coordinate Wildland Fire and Contract Resources. Bob
asked if the group thought 5.311 was still valid. The group decided to remove the
tactic, but keep the strategy and change 5.311 to 5.312.
The group needs to take action on 7.12. The wording on 7.112 will change
“trying” to “develop”. Pam thought that they had all of the data needed to take
action.
December Agenda Item: 7.l2
Action Item: Pam, Leo and Mark will work on it to get information together.
The final topic was: 9.0 Effective Communication and Organization. Need to add
new goal of 10.0 with a tactic of 10.1 to review and update the charter. The group
needs to review the charter and possibly make changes to identify how they can
fund a clerical and information type position.
Action Item: PNWCG to develop a draft at the January meeting to finalize in
February. The working teams may have some input.

Post 2002 Fire Season Workshops – Barbara Kennedy (handout)
On October 31st, there was a meeting to talk about workshops. On November 1st,
Barbara and Ken Snell attended a meeting to discuss a potential two-day
workshop. The main focus would be the three areas that had the largest fires in
2002 and what kind of questions were raised in order to do research on them.
They wanted to come up with researchable ideas. The intent is to get the end
users involved. A December 5th meeting is scheduled to add some more players,
such as Natural Resource people. The workshops will be sponsored by OSU,
(Oregon State University) at OSU University on March 18th and 19th. They
requested help in determining keynote speakers and how to involve audience
participation. Another goal is to come up with issues and priorities. Barbara and
Ken were not completely on board because it was not clear what the outcome
would be. Ken said that he would be willing to represent PNWCG. There is
money already set aside to finance the workshops. Jamie Barbour from PNW is
setting up the meeting on December 5th from 1:00pm-4:00pm. Barbara wanted to
know if PNWCG had interest in participating in a core group and does PNWCG
want Ken to represent them. The group agreed to participate and Laurie will get a
list of suggested speakers and invitees to Ken.

2002 Operating Plan
The plan was passed around and signed by all members.

NW MAC and GMAC Meeting Results – Laurie Perrett and Bill Lafferty
(handout)
Bill was impressed with peers and National MAC people, but there is a lot to
manage. There are some struggles of how to staff up. There was a pretty good
commitment from National MAC to work on their pieces, specifically 14-day
rotation. Laurie said that about 60 State and Federal people from all around the
country attended, to try to figure out where we need to go and she felt that the
Geographic MACs were listened to. The Rocky Mtn. Group met for 75 days face
to face and really became clear on what was MAC work and what was specific to
their group, as well as what National MAC had the authority to take action on and
what they didn’t. They realize that they need to take a look at what they do have
the authority to do. They plan to do another meeting in the spring.

Note taker for 2003
Christie Durkin, WA Department of Natural Resources, agreed to stay on as note
taker until February.

OFIC Response to Letter, RE: FACA – Bob Anderson
Mike Dykzeul sent PNWCG a letter in response to the letter that Bob sent out
letting Mike know that the PNWCG would no longer be able to allow him to
attend the monthly meetings as a guest. Mike’s letter requested that the PNWCG
rethink its decision. It was decided that Bob would send Mike a short letter to
inform Mike that they will stick by the original decision. Barbara will make sure
that Bob’s response is sent to Mike’s cc list.

Awards – Pam Ensley
Pam suggested that PNWCG recognize certain individuals overall organization, to
be presented at the National Fire Plan meeting in January. Bonnie said that they
are working on some awards through the BLM and Forest Service, which were
submitted under BLM to go National. Laurie noted that the awards would help to
make a difference and build morale back up. Some suggestions of recognition
were: Rowan Gould, Deputy Regional Director (Pam), Stan Speaks, NW
Regional Director (Cory), Pat McElroy, WA State Forester (Skip), and Mike will
get with Ken to come up with a suggestion. Pam also suggested that the
Contracting Task Force under PNWCG, also be recognized at the National Fire
Plan Awards. Pam and Bill will work on it.

NW MAC Critique
Pam suggested listing all of the actions in a log instead of in a written form. Skip
noted that there is a need to make a clear line between MAC and PNWCG.
December Agenda Item: Discuss Key Issues
Action Item: Skip is to synthesize issues and get them back to Barbara for
December meeting

Contracting Meeting on November 21st
The Contracting Working Team was not happy with the decision of not giving the
task to them, because PNWCG wanted to have other groups involved. The two
people that were originally selected to work on it are not available so it might
have to be given to the Contracting Working Team. The ODF mailbox has 66
messages, some of which that were a pat on the back.

New Home for PNWCG – Leo Sidebotham
Leo is checking into using the empty building next door to the Coordination
Center in Portland, Oregon as a permanent meeting place for the PNWCG. He is
working with Forest Service Procurement on it and looking at the lease and the
structure itself. He is working on putting in a monthly bid as well as figuring
some additional costs. Tables and chairs have already been located. The lease
would have to be for 5 years with two 2-year extensions. The group supported
this decision.

DNR Meeting With Vice Chair and Stakeholders – Skip Simmons
DNR met with the Vice Chair and Stakeholders to discuss the 03-05 Budget. A
topic of discussion was what would happen if the Legislature does not fund the
fire suppression budget. They also discussed strategies for controlling costs.