SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA ITEM #1
TOWN OF FAIRFAX
SPECIAL MEETING STAFF REPORT
March 1, 2023
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Michele Gardner, Town Clerk
SUBJECT: Interview and consider appointment of applicants to the Open Space Committee and the Community Emergency Preparation Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Interview applicant Christine Kelly for the Fairfax Open Space Committee for a four-year term and make appointment as appropriate.
2. Interview applicants Jody Timms and James Fair for the Fairfax Community Emergency Preparedness Committee each for a three-year term and make appointments as appropriate, with a determination as to which stakeholder category each will represent.
DISCUSSION
There is currently one vacancy on the Open Space Committee (“FOSC”), and one application, from Fairfax resident Christine Kelly, who has attended a FOSC meeting.
The Community Emergency Preparedness Committee (“CEPC”) was formed in 2021 by resolution of the Town Council (attached for background). The delay in standing up the committee is due to the lengthy process of first securing a coordinator. The group will be coordinated by Miranda Miller, Ross Valley Fire Department Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.
Pursuant to the resolution, the seven members of the committee shall represent specific stakeholders. When making appointments, the Council will need to state which stakeholder group the member will represent.
As indicated on their applications, Jody Timms is eligible for the four categories listed below.
Applicant James Fair is eligible for the Firewise and Community member-at-large categories. 1) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
2) Firewise
3) Neighborhood Response Group (NRG)
4) Community member-at-large (2)
ATTACHMENTS
A. Applications (redacted): Christine Kelly, Jody Timms, James Fair B. Resolution 21-11 Establishing a Community Emergency Preparedness Committee
1 RESOLUTION 21-11
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OFFAIRFAX
ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE WHEREAS the Town Council desires to form a Community Emergency Preparedness Committee (Committee) to support and help coordinate collaborative town-wide efforts to prepare residents to respond to emergencies of all kinds; and WHEREAS the Town Council will follow its standard practice of interviewing and appointing members to the Committee; consider the ratification of appointments from the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and Age Friendly Fairfax via the Parks and Recreation Commission; assign a Council representative; and request a liaison from the Ross Valley Fire Department; and
WHEREAS the general focus of the Committee would be on tangible, practical, costeffective actions regarding emergency preparedness that can be implemented at the local level, including but not limited to the following:
a. increase community awareness about the full spectrum of potential disasters and the need for emergency preparedness;
b. consolidate, develop, and distribute emergency preparedness information and educational materials;
c. facilitate communication and coordination between existing emergency preparedness programs;
d. develop, recommend, and implement new community outreach and education activities;
e. promote and develop volunteer opportunities to encourage community participation in local efforts, such as Firewise and Neighborhood Response Groups (NRG);
f. collaborate with other governmental agencies focused on emergency preparedness (via coordination of community presentations and regular preparedness updates from Town Council representatives, Town staff, and other local/regional emergency preparedness personnel).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax that the Fairfax Community Emergency Preparedness Committee shall be established as follows:
1. The Committee shall consist of one (1) liaison from the Fairfax Town Council, one (1) liaison from the Ross Valley Fire Department (RVFD), and (7) members appointed by the Town Council and representing the following Town stakeholders:
a. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
b. Firewise
2 c. Neighborhood Response Group (NRG)
d. The Fairfax Chamber of Commerce
e. Age Friendly Fairfax
f. Community members-at-large (2)
2. Each appointed member shall serve for a three-year term, with the initial terms staggered to avoid complete turnover in year three.
The foregoing Resolution was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax held in said Town on the 5th day of May 2021, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: ACKERMAN, COLER, CUTRANO, GODDARD, HELLMAN
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
/s/
________________________________
BRUCE ACKERMAN, Mayor
/s/
Attest: ________________________
Michele Gardner, Town Clerk