50¢
ESTABLISHED
An Independent Weekly Newspaper Serving the Backcountry Communities of Julian, Cuyamaca, Santa Ysabel, Shelter Valley, Mt. Laguna, Ranchita, Sunshine Summit, Warner Springs and Wynola. For the Community, by the Community.
1985
(46¢ + tax included)
Periodical • Wednesday
Time Sensitive Material
August 23, 2017
Volume 33 — Issue 03
Julian, CA.
ISSN 1937-8416
Fire Board Chair Answers With History And Options
by Jack Shelver
Recently, letters to the Editor and statements made at Fire District Board meetings have questioned the issues facing the Fire District Board with respect to discussions between the Board and the County of San Diego/CalFire. There has been much misinformation floating around in letters to the editor and on Face book regarding this issue. Editor Mike Hart published a very factual and unbiased article after the Community meeting held at the Fire Station on July 27th. I would like to outline the basic factors under consideration. HISTORY Four years ago the County came to the JCFPD Board and offered to provide fire service to Julian if the Board would vote to dissolve the District and become part of County Service Area 135 which is the fire protection entity for much of the unincorporated area of the County. The Board vote on the proposal was two for and two against with one seat vacant so the motion failed and no action was taken. Two years ago the Board placed a measure on the ballot to increase the Fire Benefit Fee by nearly $150 a year in order to attempt to provide the level of service that the County had offered. That measure failed by 21 percentage points. A resounding defeat. Subsequent to that election defeat, the County offered to provide Julian with a professionally staffed CalFire Paramedic fire engine at no cost to the community. That would give us 24/7/365 fire and paramedic service similar to what the County provides in Pine Valley, Shelter Valley, Boulevard, Intermountain, the former Rural Fire Protection District and other communities in the unincorporated area of the County. The Board accepted the offer and entered a two year contract for that service. The County assumed that at the end of the two years (December 31, 2017) the Fire Board would initiate actions to dissolve the District and become a part of CSA 135. That was clearly not the intent of our Fire Board. A few months ago the Board and Chief Marinelli were approached by representatives of the County Fire Authority proposing that we follow through on the perceived action that at the conclusion of the paramedic engine contract we would consider dissolution. They made a presentation at the July Board meeting outlining the "benefits" to the community if we voted to dissolve. We decided to set a public evening meeting so they could make their presentation to a larger section of the community. That meeting was held on July 27th and nearly one hundred people attended. WHERE ARE WE NOW? If we are to consider dissolution, we must first negotiate the conditions of dissolution that would be presented to the Local Agency Formation Commission. LAFCO is a state agency with a board made up of San Diego area elected officials and citizens which has the authority to approve the creation of districts and the dissolution of districts as well as changes in City and District boundaries. WHAT HAS THE COUNTY OFFERED TO INITIATE NEGOTIATIONS TO DISSOLVE THE DISTRICT? • They will staff the Julian Fire Station with a paramedic fire engine with firefighters and an engine trained and equipped for fighting structural fires. • They will insure that the CalFire stations in Julian and Cuyamaca will be staffed year around. That is a decision that is made between the County and CalFire annually. CalFire does not have the resources to staff all of their stations year around so the County pays them to keep nearly all of their stations open year around rather than some of them for nine months a year. • They will maintain the current County owned water tender in Julian. • They will welcome the retention of the Julian Volunteer Firefighters. They must be able to meet state mandated physical, medical, and training requirements. The JCFD does not require the volunteers to meet those requirements. • They will provide 911 dispatching, Fire Marshal and Fire Prevention Services as well as fleet maintenance and training services. • They are committed and have received positive guidance from the Insurance Services Office (ISO), a rating agency that grades all fire agencies on their fire protection ability (on a scale of 1 to 10 with the lower the better), that within the central Julian area - within five miles of the fire station - fire rating will be reduced from a 5 to a 3 and the outer areas from an 8 to a 3X . (3X is not as good a 3 but better than an 8) The impact of that change would make it easier to obtain fire insurance, less likely to have fire insurance cancelled, and a possible slight reduction in homeowner's insurance rates. • They will continue automatic aid with neighboring jurisdictions. This means that if the Julian fire or emergency medical assets are committed to a call or needs assistance, resources from a neighboring jurisdiction will be automatically dispatched. Absent the auto aid contract, if we need assistance we have to make a specific request which can delay the response. • The County will consider eliminating the current $50.00 benefit fee for Fire District operations. • The County will consider paying off the outstanding balance of the loan acquired to build the new fire station - approximately $1,500,000. That would eliminate the $50 annual benefit fee that now raises the money to make the loan payments. WHAT WILL THE HAPPEN IF THE JCFPD BOARD REJECTS THE COUNTY OFFER AND ELECTS TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT? • The County will take back the paramedic fire engine that has been assigned to Julian. • The County will take back the water tanker that has been on loan to JCFPD. • The County will discontinue the $78,000 subsidy that JCFPD has been receiving for several years. • The County will discontinue Plan Check and Fire Marshal services that have been provided to JCFPD at no cost. JCFPD will have to hire additional staff or contract with someone else to provide those services. • The County will discontinue providing 911 dispatch services at no cost to the District. JCFPD would then have to contract with CalFire or one of the other dispatch services in the County at a potential additional cost to the District of $25,000 a year. • The community will not have the benefit of a lower ISO rating. continued on page 5
www.JulianNews.com
Bus Schedule Changes For Elementary/Jr High Julian Union School District August 18, 2017 Elementary and Junior High Parents and Students, As most of you already know, the Julian Union High School District is providing their own bus transportation. To lessen confusion we did not change our bus schedule for the beginning of the school year. However, beginning next week, Monday, August 21, we will be modifying our bus routes. We will be combining three routes down to two. Most stops remain the same, but times may change a bit. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and please call if you have any questions. Thank you, Brian Duffy Superintendent Julian Union School District
Fall Sports Schedules Cross Country
Friday, September 8 Citrus league Meet #1 (Ramona Community Park) Friday, September 15 Woodbridge Cross Country Classic Friday, September 22 South Bay Invitational Friday, September 29 Coach Downey XC Classic (Formerly Saints Invite) Thursday, October 5 Citrus League Meet #2 (Ramona Community Park) Saturday, October 7 36th Annual Running Center Southern Cal Invitational Friday, October 20 70th Annual Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational Friday, October 27 Citrus League Meet #3 (Lake Morena) Friday, November 3 Citrus League Finals (Lake Morena) Saturday, November 18 San Diego CIF Cross Country Championships Saturday, November 25 CIF State Championship
Volleyball
Johnny Miller Joins Team At Warner Springs Ranch Golf Club
Golfing Legend to Add Signature Design Touch to Golf Course Warner Springs Ranch Resort (WSRR) recently signed on golfing legend Johnny Miller to add his name and signature touch to the Warner Springs Ranch Golf Club. Miller, alongside his Johnny Miller Design Group, will provide expert knowledge on the redesign of select components, complementing the heritage and history of Warner Springs Ranch Resort. “After our first visit to the resort, my sons and I were intrigued by the opportunity to be part of this amazing property’s legacy,” said Miller. “We hope to host champion level events here once the updates are complete.” Miller has signed an ongoing deal to continue the improvements to the Warner Springs Ranch Golf Club and maintain its status as a championship golf course. The Johnny Miller Design Group is a tight-knit and family-centered enterprise, with sons Johnny Miller, Jr. and Andy Miller working together on various high-profile design projects. The Warner Springs Ranch Golf Club was reopened in November 2015 and includes an 18-hole golf course, golf clubhouse and restaurant, the Warner Springs Golf Grill. Miller’s improvements to the golf course will begin immediately and visitors will start seeing enhancements later this year. The partnership could also
(L-R): Johnny Miller, Jr., Bill McWethy, Johnny Miller, Fred Grand and Andy Miller. Photo credit: Credit Carrisito Captures Rowlynda Moretti Photography. lead to the future creation of nine iconic golf club to the next level additional holes. of excellence. Armed with his trademark Miller was first introduced to insight on all things golf, Miller’s the resort and its owners by experience as a champion Byron Casper of Byron Casper player and cherished announcer Golf, who works very closely will serve as an asset to the with WSRR. Byron continues development of the golf club. Miller the legacy of his father, the late was inducted to the World Golf acclaimed golfer Billy Casper, Hall of Fame in 1998, supported as the connection between the by his 25 PGA Tour wins and a two families is one that began 28-year tenure as “America’s well before Miller became the most respected television golf legendary golfer that he is analyst.” As the lead analyst for known as today. After one of his NBC Sports, the golfer-turned- “fireside” talks in San Francisco, broadcaster remains at the Billy fatefully reassured Johnny forefront of the industry with Miller’s mother to continue multiple Emmy nominations for encouraging her son to become “Outstanding Sports Personality/ a professional golfer. Sports Event Analyst.” In joining Additional California golf the WSSR team, Miller will apply courses designed by Miller his knowledge from courses include Maderas Golf Club in continued on page 8 across the world, elevating the
Thursday, August 17 4:00 @ Borrego Springs Tuesday, August 29 4:00 Home - Borrego Springs Thursday, August 31 4:00 @ Mountain Empire Tuesday, September 19 TBA Home vs Ocean View Christian Tuesday, September 19 4:00 Home vs Mountain Empire Tuesday, September 26 TBA @ Escondido Adventist Tuesday, October 3 4:00 Home vs San Pasqual Academy Tuesday, October 10 4:00 Home vs Warner Thursday, October 12 4:00 Home vs Escondido Adventist Tuesday, October 17 TBA @ St. Joseph Academy Thursday, October 19 TBA @ San Pasqual Academy Tuesday, October 24 5:00 @ Ocean View Christian Thursday, October 26 TBA @ Warner
Football
Friday, September 1 3:30 Home vs NOLI Indian School Saturday, September 9 6:00 Home vs Calvary Chapel (Downey) Friday, September 15 3:30 Home vs Desert Christian Academy Friday, September 22 3:30 Home vs Warner Friday, October 6 3:00 Homecoming vs St. Joseph Academy Friday, October 13 3:00 @ Ocean View Christian Friday, October 20 7:00 Home vs Borrego Friday, October 20 3:00 @ San Pasqual Academy Friday, November 3 6:00 @ West Shores
21st Annual Julian Grape Stomp - Saturday, September 2nd Menghini Winery - Tickets Available NOW www.visitjulian.com