Attending: Laura Miller, Les Adams, Marsha Harris, Helen Marston, Dean Richardson, Todd Peplin, Glenna Larsen, Jim Larsen, Mike Supkis. The board thanked Dave Frank for reserving the River Meadows clubhouse for our Board meeting.
Defensible Space Reimbursement Program: 64 applicants have been reimbursed, 44 applications are pending and 15 openings remain.
Low-income Defensible Space Program: 11 projects have been completed, 3 projects are pending, 3 applicants did not respond and 17 openings remain. Two properties did not require work. A program is needed to provide defensible space maintenance for low-income homeowners.
Deschutes County Fall Firewise Community Grants: River Forest Acres received $1000 for a chipping project in 2024 after applying for a $3600 grant. Sweat equity project grants will be available in Spring 2024.
ODF Small Forestland Grants: Applications for $10,000 – $300,000 grants with 25% match are due Nov. 3 for work completed in 2025. The grant announcement was mailed to 31 property owners with 9 – 468 acres.
NRCS Landscape Restoration Grants: Todd Peplin with Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District wants to partner with UDRC for a fuels reduction grant for large properties surrounding the Vandevert Acres subdivisions. Funds would support the UDRC Reimbursement Program for lots in Vandevert Acres. Ponderosa Pines subdivision could combine several 10 acre lots for the grant application.
Homeowners insurance: Insurance policy renewals for mobile homes are being denied and transferred to the high risk state insurance pool.
The West is Burning event: UDRC partnered with Discover Your Forest to present the screening and agency panel discussion. 120 people attended the event. Time was limited for public discussion.
Project Wildfire Neighborhood Coalition: The PWNC was formed in partnership with Deschutes County Project Wildfire to share information among Firewise communities. The PWNC meets at 2:00 pm on the third Wednesday of the month at the Deschutes County Roads Department on 27th street. Representatives from all county Firewise communities are invited to attend.
UDRC funding: Donations are needed to continue funding operations. Donations from HOAs have declined in recent years. More funds are needed to sustain the Reimbursement Program at the current level.
Board actions: The Board elected Marsha Harris as Secretary replacing Carol Brennan who resigned and moved to Redmond. The Board nominated Les Adams as a signer for bank transactions replacing Carol Brennan.