The Beckwourth Peak Fire Protection District board convened Feb. 5 for a meeting that spanned over four hours, covering Brown Act training, policy approvals, financial updates and a strategic planning proposal for the district’s future. BPFPD was formed in November 2023, after Measures E & F were approved by voters, consolidating Beckwourth Fire Protection District, Sierra Valley Fire Protection District, Gold Mountain Community Services District and the City of Portola to form a new district.
Brown Act training and closed session review
The meeting began with a Brown Act training session led by Josh Nelson from BBK Law. When asked why the training was conducted, Nelson said BPFPD Fire Chief Jack Rosevear asked him to do it “because it’s good to have a refresher.”
Following the training, the board entered a closed session to evaluate Rosevear’s performance at the seven-month mark. After reconvening, board director Cary Curtis expressed satisfaction with Rosevear’s leadership: “We look forward to a long-term relationship with Chief Rosevear.” His next evaluation will be at his one-year mark in July 2025.
Strategic planning proposal approved
The board approved a strategic planning proposal for the district, presented by Sierra Valley Fire Department Chief Duncan Cameron and Rosevear. Originally introduced by retired Novato Fire Chief Forrest Craig at the Jan. 8 board meeting, the proposal outlines an action plan for improving district operations. From 2000-2008, Craig led strategic planning sessions for the California fire chief’s fire prevention officers. He is donating his expertise and services to BPFPD at no cost.
“This strategic planning proposal incorporates recognized best practices for public service organizations,” the proposal stated. Curtis added, “I’m really excited because it covers who we are and how we deliver service to our constituents. It lays out a plan in a living document that checks the boxes.” Rosevear emphasized community involvement, saying, “It’s going to be a community effort… I think we will be proud of what we get out of it.”
Public comments and chief’s report
During the chief’s report, Rosevear was asked why six emergency callouts, each marked by distinct tones used to alert specific teams, were sent to search and rescue teams before the BPFPD was notified of the emergency. Rosevear referred the question to the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office. Cameron responded: “We get the tone and we go,” he said, adding that first responders deploy from multiple locations, including Delleker and the south side of the fire district. The department also uses a mobile app for response tracking and internal messaging.
Rosevear reported progress in BPFPD’s partnership with Cal Fire for dispatch services.
Policy approvals and public records discussion
As a new organization, the BPFPD is in the midst of defining its policies and procedures. One big policy change included changing regular meetings to a bi-monthly schedule starting April 2. Meetings will now be held at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of February, April, June, August, October, and December
The board tabled a Public Records Request Policy 2425, which proposed requiring a standard form for public records requests. Rosevear admitted he had only learned that day that BPFPD uses CivAssist for records management and was unfamiliar with the software, despite the district paying nearly $100 per month for the service. A prior response from BPFPD to a public records request stated, “In the future, in order to expedite your requests, please contact us at the station’s email… I don’t receive notifications from this tool.” Curtis assured the public that she would investigate the concerns raised.
The board also tabled its social media policy due to unresolved questions.
Treasurer’s report and financial outlook
Fire district treasurer Rich McLaughlin presented the district’s financial update, reporting that BPFPD has a net positive balance of $186,635 after six months. “It’s a nice place to be,” McLaughlin said. He noted that January’s first county payment came in about $50,000 over budget. Combined with reimbursements to wildfire responders, the district is in a strong financial position, he said.
When asked whether federal budget uncertainties could affect BPFPD’s funding, McLaughlin responded, “We base our budget on taxes and parcels.” He expressed concern about declining property values potentially impacting tax revenue but reassured the board, “We’re very solid on our three-year plan.”
In response to a question about high gas receipts, Rosevear explained that some gas and diesel bills were overdue, leading to an accumulation of expenses. “Once you pay one bill, you have another one right behind it,” he said.
Water tender purchase approved
The board approved the purchase of a water tender for $150,000, which Cameron described as “crucial to communities like ours.” While board members expressed concerns over purchasing a high-mileage vehicle with worn struts, Rosevear argued that an older, well-maintained vehicle was preferable to one with low miles and potential maintenance issues due to infrequent use.
