Cori can still be reached at:
(805) 927-6225
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The March 9 special meeting of the CCHD was a bit of a let down for the nearly 60 people who attended. I hope at least that many show up at Tuesday’s meeting (Rabobank, 6:30pm). It should be a bit more interesting and less redundant, since the Board might take action. If Cambria wants to see a change back to having the equipment on the Fire Engine, we need to put on the pressure and show up at the meeting. I recommend carpooling if you can. There were no spaces in the bank parking lot and I had to park across the street (horror!)
If you missed the meeting on the 9th, you didn’t miss much except a bit of a tantrum. It started with an overview of the services the CCHD provides, after which we were all treated to a thirty minute excerpt of last month’s CCSD meeting (most of which was included on this site in a previous post. I’m not sure what the Healthcare District Board’s intention was in playing the video, but in my opinion the result couldn’t have been what they were looking for, unless they were just trying to get themselves all revved up to start “I know you are, but what am I?”
Director Clift does have some strong opinions about the CCHD removing the Advanced Life Support from the Fire Engine. He is of the opinion that this is a turf war, not about ensuring Cambrians have the very best emergency care possible. Two of the five CCHD Board members spent the last hour of the meeting providing evidence Clift was on the right track. Personal attacks on Director Clift and a sense of a tightening grip on “their” district did nothing to reassure those in attendance that their safety was being put first.
In the end, when the meeting was over, no action was taken and the status of the situation seemed unchanged. That was, after all, a meeting to “discuss” the issue. Tuesday’s meeting will have the CCHD having discussion and (probably) taking some action. So have a good early dinner (maybe the Cambria Pines Lodge’s Early Bird Special) and don’t make any plans for afterward – at least not before 10 or 11pm. Bring your common sense and remember: the politics of fear can’t win over reason and an educated constituancy.
I’ll see you there!
More valuable than a gallon of gas? Say YES! with a small donation today.“In my opinion, this is government at its worst.” Greg Sanders, President CCSD
The facts are these:
in 2006, the CCSD and CCHD entered into an agreement whereby the portable ALS equipment was available to be on the Fire Truck for use by the qualified paramedics who arrived at a scene, to aid in the life-saving activity.
The faster emergency personnel arrive on the scene, the better your chances of survival and complete recovery. Chief Miller ventured a guess that about 75% of the time, (and probably more) the fire department arrives first.
The ambulance arrives anywhere from 1 to 5 or more minutes later. Those minutes could mean all the difference.
Currently, every firefighter is also a certified EMT trained and certified to use the ALS equipment. In fact, nearly every one also works part time at the Heathcare District. When they arrive on the ambulance, they are allowed to perform any needed treatment, including the ALS. If that same person arrives on the fire truck, even if they arrive first, can not render aid.
One big hint that this issue is important was this: An ALS that would stay on the fire truck would cost $20,000. District policy allows expenditures up to $25,000 without Board approval. There are regular expenditures that just barely meet the criteria of under $25,000. So why did this come to the Board? Because they could buy the equipment, but the CCHD must authorize its use, something it doesn’t seem willing to do.
If you’ve got 20 minutes, watch this part of the February meeting. If you don’t have 20, fast forward and watch the last 5 minute (start at 15:00) for a summary of Muril’s position.
More valuable than a gallon of gas? Say YES! with a small donation today.It probably sounds a bit worrisome to many of you, but last week’s CCSD meeting was actually quite interesting. The new members of the board are stepping up to the plate and addressing the issues they raised during their campaigns and our new fire chief is making his mark, too (no pun intended.)And although the meeting ended with a bit of a fizzle (committee assignments), Director Clift had the audience of a dozen or so “regular folks” (and some firemen) nearly standing and cheering (or at least crying “Amen!”) As soon as a get a moment to do the edits required, I will post the relevant sections of the meeting for your enjoyment. Until then, here’s a bit of a teaser for you.
Fire Chief Mark Miller gave a brief but significant report about the Defensible Space Ordinance that’s been a thorn in the side for many Cambrians. In a nutshell: After meeting with the stakeholders – Fire Safe Focus group, Forest Committee, Cal Fire, and local weed abatement contractors The CCSD and Fire Department have decided to take the position that we do not want to pursue adopting our own ordinance. They will continue to enforce the regulations that are outlined in Public Resource Code 4291. They are cooperating with Cal Fire to do the inspections on both vacant property and improved parcels and are hoping to open up the communication to avoid a lot of the angst we saw last year and have greater success with lot clearing. According to Chief Miller, Cal Fire has authority over improved parcels and CCSD enforces ordinance that covers the vacant parcels. In the Chief’s opinion, pursuing the ordinance led to the jusisdictional lines being muddled. Since they will no longer be pursuing the ordinance, the jurisdictional issues have been put to rest.
Director MacKinnon asked that there be discussion on the expenditures report, which led to a discussion about the way the reports are currently done, what the current software can and can’t do, what information might be helpful and useful and a consensus on the part of the board that the current reporting system needs to be revamped or tossed in favor of something else. The Finance Committee (MacKinnon and Clift) will be looking into the possible alternatives. (Note to President Sanders: many of the ongoing expenditures for “regular” vendors – those who seem to be listed every month- can be tracked cumulatively at the Cambria workspace of EditGrid.com Fiscal years 06-07, 07-08 and 08-09 are all available, but none includes all the vendors, since I typed the information in manually.)
Regular business began with the comprehensive audit of the District’s books. For the CPA and numeraphiliacs in the crowd, it was likely a riveting hour of unbridled fun. Me, I tend to get a headache trying to understand more than one page at a time. I can easily grasp the concepts, but get glassy-eyed as all the abstract detail and jargon start a tea-party in my grey matter. Talk of depreciation, assets and wanting to have more gloom and doom in the auditor’s report to make sure Cambrians understand that the district may look flush, but that is not a full picture of what the situation is for the district.
The really good bits of the meeting were during the discussion of spending $20,000 on emergency equipment to put on the fire trucks. I really wouldn’t do it justice to just describe what happened – you should really see the video. The issue is one the district has been dealing with for over 5 years – cooperation and agreements with the Healthcare District surrounding emergency services. The upshot? Even with 4 ambulances at our beck and call and all CCSD firefighters certified as EMTs, and CCSD Fire, Cal Fire and the Ambulance go out to every call, only the EMTs and paramendics of the ambulance service can provide treatment. And according to the Fire Chief’s guesstimate, the CCSD fire crew arrives on the scene first about 75% of the time (though that was only based on his sense of it, not any actual numbers.) Much, much more to come on that topic, including the discussion about the Ambulance and emergency services for Cambria.
More valuable than a gallon of gas? Say YES! with a small donation today.According to a downloadable announcement on the CCSD website, October 15 is the registration deadline for anyone interested in being a part of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
CERT volunteers are trained through a program sponsored by Cambria Fire Department, Cambria Health Care District, SLO County Fire Chiefs Assoc. & SLO County Sheriffs Advisory Council and San Luis Ambulance.
The 20 hour program is “hands on” and is designed ensure individuals are better prepared in the event of a major disaster. According to the flyer: In the CERT training class you will learn about how and when to turn off your Utilities; Firefighting skills; Medical skills; Hazardous Materials & Terrorism awareness; light Search
and Rescue techniques; and most importantly, you’ll learn SELF RELIANCE.
Why is this necessary? “In the event of a large-scale disaster, the normal Emergency Response Agencies that serve you will be overwhelmed and they might not be able to assist you for up to 72 hours (it’s simply, a supply and demand issue).
The course is made up of five evening classes (mostly mondays), each covering different topics and beginning at 6 pm; Mon.-Oct. 20, Wed.-Oct, 22, Mon.-Oct. 27, Mon.-Oct. 29 & Mon.-Nov. 3. The first class session on Oct. 20th will be at the Cambria Fire Department.
If you are interested in participating, call 927-6140 or go by the Fire Department at 2850 Burton. (Tell them you heard about it on AboutCambria.com!) Registration is required and there is a $40 materials fee that provides you with a student manual and a “CERT bag” that includes a helmet, gloves, vest, goggles, etc.
Deadline to register and pay the fee is October 15, 2008.
