(This is taken from a Cal Fire press release.)

After a wet winter, warming temperatures are quickly drying out the abundant annual grass crop. The increasing fire danger posed by the high volume of dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region is prompting Cal Fire to suspend all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of Riverside County. This suspension took effect Friday, May 26, and bans all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris such as branches and leaves.

“We are asking that residents not be lulled into a false sense of security on the heels of an exceptionally wet winter,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “The abundant dead grass will only serve as a fuse to the heavier vegetation still suffering the lasting effects of 5 years of extreme drought.”

Also, the following restrictions went into effect last Friday and until further notice:

• Use of campfires is restricted to within established campfire facilities located in established campgrounds open to the public.

• Cooking fires with a valid permit are permissive when no alternate means of cooking is available and requires an on-site inspection prior to the issuance of a permit.

• Warming fires are permissive and require an on-site inspection prior to the issuance of a permit when weather conditions exist to justify the request.

“Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department encourages residents to be prepared for wildfires. Please comply with the implemented open burning suspension. They are put in place for you and for the safety of our firefighters,” said John R. Hawkins, Cal Fire/Riverside County fire chief.

Since Jan. 1, Cal Fire and firefighters across the state have already responded to nearly 800 wildfires. While outdoor burning of landscape debris by homeowners is no longer allowed, Cal Fire is asking residents to ensure that they are prepared for wildfires by maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of defensible space around every home and building on their property.

Here are some tips to help prepare homes and property:

• Clear all dead and or dying vegetation 100 feet from around all structures.

• Landscape with fire resistant/drought tolerant plants

• Find alternative ways to dispose of landscape debris like chipping or hauling it to a biomass energy or green waste facility

The department may issue restricted temporary burning permits if there is an essential reason due to public health and safety. Agriculture, land management, fire training and other industrial-type burning may proceed if a Cal Fire official inspects the burn site and issues a special permit.

The suspension of burn permits for residential landscape debris does not apply to campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property. Campfires may be permitted if the campfire is maintained in such a manner as to prevent its spread to the wildland. A campfire permit can be obtained at local fire stations or online at PreventWildfireCA.org.

For more information on how to create defensible space, as well as tips to prevent wildfires, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.

(This is taken from an HUSD press release.)

The Hemet Unified School District on Thursday, May 25, announced that the district and the Hemet Teachers Association reached a tentative agreement for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years.

Both parties mutually agreed to enter into mediation on Monday, March 29, regarding Article 9 Salary and Article 8 Benefits. The tentative agreement includes language modification in several articles, as well as an increase to salary.

The tentative agreement states that all certificated salary schedules will be adjusted to reflect a 1.5-percent increase, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2017, for the 2016-17 school year; a 0.5-percent increase effective July 1, 2017; and another 1.5-percent increase will be applied on Jan. 1, 2018, for the 2017-18 school year.

The entire contract is now closed and all tentative agreements reached by the negotiation teams will be incorporated into the new contract pending ratification of HTA members and approval by the Governing Board of Education.

In addition to the increases in salary schedule, HUSD also agreed to provide an annual stipend of $750 to school psychologists who are Nationally Board Certified; an annual stipend of $3,000 to the agricultural service provider; and increase retiree health and welfare benefits from $3,500 to $4,500.

HTA President William Valenzuela said, “There were many incremental improvements made on several issues that will serve our students and educators better in the future. This deal advances our great public schools and the lives of the professionals who make them so. We will never stop fighting to ensure our schools are filled with the quality, caring individuals that our community has become known for.”

“I want to thank the negotiation teams for their diligent efforts in reaching a resolution,” said HUSD Superintendent Christi Barrett. “We are thankful that the relationship between the District and HTA has remained strong throughout the negotiations process. This resolution will allow us to remain focused on the most important work of the district, our students’ success.”

By Kris Kirschbaum

Contributor

Idyllwild Fire Protection District held its regular commission meeting on Tuesday, May 23, a meeting that lasted three-and-a-half hours. Vice President Larry Donahoo was excused from the meeting, but all other commissioners were present.

Fire Chief Patrick Reitz moved agenda items to accommodate Liz Loomis, a communications expert recently relocated to Palm Springs from Snohomish, Washington. Loomis made a proposal to the board for improved communication services between IFPD and its constituents. The proposal included multiple communication approaches, including mailed items to residents, use of social media, news releases and public outreach.

The proposal focused on future ballot measures, primarily how to pass Measure W in the future. Loomis’ fees were roughly $40,000 for the first year with a proposed timeline of 18 months.

The board did not approve her proposal. While she confirmed suggestions made by the board regarding communication with the public, there was not money in the budget to meet her fees. The finance committee and Reitz will review the preliminary budget to determine if items can be cut to pay for the communication services before the final budget is presented in June.

One possible budget item that could be scrapped is the external EMS coordinator position. Those funds would help fund costs of a communication expert. The ultimate goal of improved communication with constituents is to pass Measure W. Money received from Measure W would justify expenses on communication services proposed by Loomis.

Measure W also played a role in the annual Unit Fee/Parcel Fee which remains the same for 2017-18 at $65.

But the first hour of the meeting was a closed session to confer with legal counsel regarding existing litigation in James Reyes vs. IFPD regarding public employee discipline/dismissal/release. Only commissioners, Chief Patrick Reitz and the attorney were present.

Once the regular meeting began, the attorney informed the public that there was no reportable action resulting from the closed session.

Reitz reported that notices for property abatement had been sent, and he anticipates that second inspections will be 100 percent completed by Thursday, June 1.

Changes in personnel in recent weeks included retirement of Capt. Jack Peckham and sudden resignation of Eddie Apodaca. Two captains in training are expected to take the captain’s test soon.

Regarding community involvement, the chief reported that the May blood drive had a lower turnout than usual, but that the number of attendees at the Spaghetti Dinner exceeded their expectations.

Battalion Chief Mark Lamont presented the April 2017 fire, medical and incident statistics. The stats showed using the rescue squad instead of the fire engine in the last month resulted in faster response times and more cost-efficient use of equipment. Medical responses accounted for the majority of calls. Roughly 84 percent of calls in April alone were requests for emergency medical services, and the yearly running total from July 2016 showed that more than 75 percent of the calls for assistance were EMS calls.

Lamont also reported that on June 1, the Idyllwild Career Firefighters Association will issue Red Cards to those who finished wildland fire training.

Paul Riggi of the Idyllwild Volunteer Fire Company reported on the success of the Spaghetti Dinner. Next events included the volunteer barbecue at Idyllwild School on May 30, and an awards ceremony the same day at the school to honor Michael Sabo with an academic achievement award.

Treasurer Jerry Buchanan presented the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2017-18. The total budget calls for about a $100,000 increase, which is a 4-percent increase over last year’s total budget of just over $2 million. Large percentage increases in expected revenues are projected to come from two sources: supplemental property taxes for previous years, and double the amount of financial donations. Largest increases in expenditures are for captains’ overtime pay (mutual aid) with more than a 700-percent increase (from $2,500 to $20,300) from last year, and a 3,400-percent increase (from $100 to $3,500) for publications and legal notices.

Other large increases in expenditures are listed as bank fees (550-percent increase from $200 to $1,300) and miscellaneous district expenses (2,000-percent increase from $100 to $2,100 ). Ambulance service rates will increase 4 percent for all ambulance services rendered in 2017-18. The preliminary budget was approved with a final budget for next year expected in June. The balance sheets and budget are available for review.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 27.