CITY COUNCIL: Special City Council Meeting Minutes July 15, 2008

MINUTES
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
July 15, 2008

I. CALL TO ORDER
The special meeting of the City Council of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, was held on the above date at the stated hour of 4:33 p.m. Mayor McCloud called the meeting to order.

II. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Council Members Hazdovac, Rose, Sharp, Talmage & McCloud
STAFF PRESENT: Rich Guillen, City Administrator
Heidi Burch, City Clerk
George Rawson, Public Safety Director
Andrew Miller, Fire Chief
Mike Branson, City Forester

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Members of the audience joined the Mayor and Council Members in the Pledge of Allegiance.

IV. ORDERS OF COUNCIL
A. Receive report and provide policy direction regarding a City-wide fire prevention plan.

Public Safety Director George Rawson and Chief Andrew Miller outlined the current ordinances and policies addressing fire issues.

City Forester Mike Branson presented a staff report on fire abatement in Mission Trail Nature Preserve and Pescadero Canyon.

Chiefs Rawson and Miller addressed Council questions about spark arrestors and fires on the beach.

City Administrator Guillen said staff will return to Council at its next meeting on August 5th with recommendations on how to improve the visibility and clarity of the information contained on the signs posted along the beachfront with regard to having fires at the beach. In the meantime, temporary signs may be placed at strategic locations providing key information and highlighting that this area is experiencing a period of high fire danger.

City Forester Mike Branson said he will provide Council with the existing set of written beach fire rules that his office frequently provides to the public.

V. ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED SESSION
Mayor McCloud declared the Special Meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. and Council
convened to Closed Session.

VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN OPEN SESSION (IF ANY)
There were no announcements from Closed Session.

VII. ADJOURNMENT
Council adjourned its Closed Session at 6:37 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

___________________________
Heidi Burch, City Clerk

ATTEST:

____________________________
SUE McCLOUD, MAYOR