GOLD RIDGE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
4500 Hessel Road, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Sta. 1 – Headquarters 707-823-1084 Fax 707-829-1175
Sta. 2 - Fire Prevention 707-823-5401 Fax 707-829-7304
Dan George
Fire Chief
4 February, 2015
The regular meeting of the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District was held at Station One. The meeting was
called to order at 7:02 p.m., and Chairman Al Fiori led the pledge to the flag.
Directors in attendance:
Ronald Balzer
Domenic Carinalli
Steve Petrucci
Robert Gloeckner
Charles Lachman
Al Fiori
Oath of Office --- Chairman Al Fiori administered the Oath of Office to Director Domenic Carinalli.
Letter of Resignation – Chairman Al Fiori read the letter of resignation submitted by Director Patrick Farrell.
Public Input – Pat Farrell said the fire district is an important part of his life and thanked the directors.
Minutes of the December 2014 meeting were reviewed. Discussion was held. Director Steve Petrucci made a
motion to approve the December minutes. The motion was seconded by Director Robert Gloeckner, and
passed unanimously.
Correspondence – Fire Chief Dan George will be driving to the Fire Districts’ Association meeting at the Schell
Vista Fire Station on January 22nd. Mark Bramfitt the Executive Officer of Sonoma LAFCO will be the speaker.
Let Dan know if you would like to go.
Approval of the December Revenues and Expenses
Ruth Newman reported on the Bank Accounts Register Report and Petty Cash Fund. Discussion was held.
Director Charles Lachman made a motion to approve the revenues and expenses listed in the Bank Accounts
Register Report. The motion was seconded by Director Domenic Carinalli, and passed unanimously.
Expense Report #14-15-07 was reviewed. Discussion was held. The directors would like to know how much we
are paying per gallon for gas. Director Bob Gloeckner suggests filling the propane tank at Station #3 in the
summer. Director Robert Gloeckner made a motion to pay expenses #66 through #76 totaling $92,252.57. The
motion was seconded by Director Ronald Balzer, and passed unanimously.
Operations Report
Equipment Maintenance – Fire Chief Dan George reported that Dave Froman anticipates that the new Chevy
Silverado, B81 will be done by this weekend. Then we will schedule the Chevy Tahoe. Discussion held.
Building Maintenance – Fire Chief Dan George reported that he gave Brett Irons the go-ahead to order low
flow toilets for the Station #1 bathroom remodel. Discussion held.
Personnel – Battalion Chief Adam Schipper said that he potentially has four new interns coming on. Discussion
held.
Financial Report – Ruth Newman reviewed the Budget/Expense Report and gave a report on Strike Team
revenues received and still due. She also gave a report on the Property Tax Revenues received from the
County at the end of December and a report on the total due on all Notes Payable at December 31, 2014. Our
auditor, Edward Burns, CPA met with Dan and Ruth at the Hessel Fire Station on December 18th.
Chief Dan George reported that Occidental Fire bought the old pickup #8141 for $10,500. Discussion held.
Training – Battalion Chief Darrin DeCarli has finalized the 2015 training schedule. He will put out the schedule
monthly. Engineer Steis secured the Walker houses to prevent unauthorized entry. Training continues on the
old Walker House. The explorers went there on December 14th for a daytime drill and had a very positive
experience going through simulated structural firefighting evolutions. Discussion held.
Fire Marshal’s Report – Fire Chief Dan George reported that the newer engineers participated in inspections
with Dan Patalano in mid December so they would understand how to fill out the inspection reports and what
our expectations are during the inspections. All crews should be starting this month on visiting the sites they
have been assigned. Hazard reduction inspections are slowly coming in. Calls continue to come in with
residents confused on why they have to pay the “fee” to Bay Area Air Quality. Discussion held.
Firefighters Associations – On Thursday, February 5th we will have a Retirement Party for Pat Farrell at the
Hessel Fire Station, (6 p.m. Cocktails, 7 pm Dinner). Sign-up sheets are posted at the fire stations. Discussion
held.
The George & Marie Koenig Memorial Polenta & Stew Dinner is Saturday, February 28th at the Hessel Fire
Station. No host Social at 5:00 pm and Dinner at 6:00 pm.
Explorer Post – Fire Chief Dan George reported that they are chugging along. They are doing good and their
membership is more than 20.
Old Business
A.
UPDATE OF THE SONOMA COUNTY FIRE SERVICES AD-HOC COMMITTEE: Chief Dan George reported
that he and Ernie Loveless met with the Sheriff Steve Freitas. The Sheriffs’ Department has been getting
$38M a year from the Prop 172 money received by Sonoma County. He is willing to talk but does not want
to lose any money. We don’t care where the money comes from but we would like to be made whole with
ERAF. It would be a good faith effort that would cost $1.8M per year for the special districts. From 1993 to
January 2014, Gold Ridge Fire has paid more than $1.3M into ERAF. Each year, the Board of Supervisors
decides the amount going into ERAF.
(By approving Proposition 172 at the November 1993 statewide special election, California voters
established a permanent statewide half-cent sales tax for support of local public safety activities.
Proposition 172 was placed on the ballot by the Legislature and the Governor to partially replace the
$2.6 billion in property taxes shifted from local special districts to local school districts as part of the 199394 state budget agreement. This had the effect, not of giving more money to schools, but of funding a higher
percentage of school budgets from local rather than state dollars.)
The Sonoma County TOT (Hotel) Tax took in $10M last year. 75% is discretionary. The Board of
Supervisors gave some money to Bodega Bay and Cloverdale Fire Districts. There is talk of the County
picking up dispatch fees through TOT. Our dispatch fees are $32,616 for 2014/15.
The Ad-Hoc Committee put in a request for data from districts but they are not getting a good response.
Discussion held.
B. UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED SALE/PURCHASE OF THE RENTAL ADJACENT TO STATION #2: Owner, Robert
Scott is meeting with his CPA. The property is 1.85 acres. Chief Dan George reported that he spoke with
Phelps, Land Surveyor. It could cost $1200 for locating the two front markers. It was last surveyed in 1974.
Director Steve Petrucci said that Dick Wagner found those pegs. Director Domenic Carinalli said that they
had a good discussion at their meeting. But, the ball is in his court. Discussion held.
New Business
A. ELECTION OF BOARD OFFICERS FOR 2015: Director Bob Gloeckner nominated Director Al Fiori for
Chairman of the Board in 2015. The nomination was seconded by Director Domenic Carinalli and passed
unanimously.
Director Lachman nominated Director Robert Gloeckner for Secretary/Clerk of the Board in 2015. The
nomination was seconded by Director Steve Petrucci and passed unanimously.
B. FILL VACANT DIRECTOR POSITION: Discussion held. The board will appoint someone to fill the position
vacated by Director Pat Farrell who has moved out of the district. Ruth will prepare a Public Notice that
the position is open and any interested person should submit a letter of interest to the Gold Ridge Fire
Protection District Board of Directors, 4500 Hessel Road, Sebastopol, 95472 prior to 3:00 pm on January
30th 2015. The Public Notice will be posted in three places in the fire district and put on our website.
Discussion held. The board would like to meet before the regular start time of the board meeting and
asked if it could be a closed session. Fire Chief Dan George said that he will check with the attorney.
Adjournment: There being no further business, Director Bob Gloeckner made a motion to adjourn
the meeting at 7:57 p.m. The motion was seconded by Director Steve Petrucci and passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
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Ronald Balzer, Director
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Steve Petrucci, Director
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Robert Gloeckner, Director
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Domenic Carinalli, Director
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Charles Lachman, Director
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Alfred Fiori, Director