SPECIAL GOLD HILL TOWN MEETING

Minutes of the MARCH 2, 1016, SPECIAL Town Meeting

 Next Regular Town Meeting is Monday, April 11, 2016, 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center

 The meeting was called to order by Chair Peter Swift. Twelve people attended: Treasurer Martha Knapp, Vice Chair Bear Carlson, Member at Large Tony Vrba, Marcus Moench, Erich Gundlach, Julie Carpenter, Chair Peter Swift, Mike Chard from the Office of Emergency Management (mchard@nullbouldercounty.org), Secretary Gretchen Diefenderfer, Bobby Vrba, Pam Sherman, and Virginia Schultz.

Peter reported that we voted at the last Town Meeting on February 8^th to call this meeting to review the Boulder County Multi-Hazards Recovery Plan (BCMHRP see www.boulderoem.com/attachment/8631/) This meeting gives us the opportunity to review, discuss and help revise wording in a resolution to join the County plan and enfold the Gold Hill planning efforts into the BCMHRP protocols.  We are grateful to have Mike Chard of OEM (Office of Emergency Management) here to help explain the plan.

Mike reported that the last time the plan was revised was 2008 – this is a continuation of earlier efforts. The goal is to update the plan yearly and to stay connected countywide. This is a living document (535 pages), identifies 16 hazards in the County, and describes past occurrences. There are 12 communities included in the annexes and we are J. on p. 408, which Peter and Erich submitted. Included are sections titled Community Profile, Population, Economy, Hazard Summary, Asset Inventory, Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources, Growth and Development Trends, Mitigation Capabilities, and our goal of establishing our own SafeSite and Community Meeting Center for Emergency Planning, Meeting, Shelter, Medicine, Food, Clothing, Emergency Equipment Storage and Delivery, and Ham Radio Operations Base to serve us and the surrounding area. It will need updating.

FEMA approval is the next step on April 9. Without inclusion in the plan, we do not qualify for FEMA mitigation funds. The OEM plans yearly meetings to update and revise this BCMHRP document.

Erich added that our plan is to establish an ongoing interaction with OEM for mitigation planning and how we organize in a disaster, and to re-evaluate yearly as a community.

Mike said that the definition of mitigation is an investment in reinforcing a community’s ability to withstand and minimize the impacts of a disaster and to prevent one when possible. They estimate that $1 invested in mitigation saves $4 in recovery expenses. Fire is obviously our #1 identified high hazard. Flooding is #2, but a medium hazard – we need ongoing ditch and culvert clearing and possibly some work on the Gold Run channel through town and down Gold Run Road.   Mike suggested we contact Varda Blum, the Floodplain Program Manager at 720-564-2659. She can speak to us about how the County Plan affects us and its benefits to us. We can possibly get flood insurance through FEMA (flood.gov).

Bobby made a motion that the Town Meeting adopt the BCMHRP, pending FEMA approval, upon which time we will accept the plan. Erich seconded and it passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted, Gretchen Diefenderfer, Secretary, Gold Hill Town Meeting