FUTA STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

Winslow Airtanker Base; Winslow, AZ

November 9, 2004

**ATTENDING:**

-   Donna Hummel (BLM, NM)

-   Leon Ben, Jr. (BIA, Western Region)

-   Hal Luedtke (BIA, SW Region)

-   Nancy Moore (Training Specialist, FUTA)

-   Ed Smith (TNC)

-   Bequi Livingston (FUTA)

-   Emily Irwin (FUTA)

**[AGENDA:]{.underline}**

Agenda for meeting was reviewed. One duplication noted, "Briefing on
PFTC's Steering Committee Meeting" (handout).

**[Review of August 11 Notes:]{.underline}**

1.  **Building Security**- Revised deadline for Columbia Building SOP is
    January 31, 2005.

2.  **Communication Plan** -- Minimal work has been done on the
    Communication Plan. Status -- Pending.

3.  **TNC -- Agreement**. Status of the Agreement is pending. The
    Agreement is currently being reviewed. Language about position and
    associated funding may need to be removed based on initial FY 05
    budget to get the agreement through fiscal. Look at two agreements;
    one for day-to-day operations one for possible staff position.
    Operational Agreement may need to address transportation, red cards,
    sharing equipment, etc. Look at FY06 budgets for consideration of
    this position, joint support (FS, BLM).

> **[Action Items:]{.mark}** Jerome approach FS, FAM Director regarding
> possibilities for this position. Donna will update Karen Michaud.
> Emily will contact Paul Seamon regarding the contents of operational
> agreement.

4.  **Fire Training**. Development of white paper is still pending.
    Staff will review IA participation from FY 2004 for possible funding
    percentages.

> **[Action Items:]{.mark}** Nancy will develop IA participation
> numbers. Emily will draft white paper possibly for January SW Area
> Board Meeting.

5.  **Fire Use Workshop.** Status is pending. Difficult to coordinate
    before spring 2005 session. General discussion on possible target
    audiences which may include; tribal members, elected officials,
    agency administrators, and local communities. Workshop content may
    include risk and fire ecology -- tradeoffs (WFSA, and Stage III).

> **[Action Item:]{.mark}** Emily will find previously developed white
> paper -- status.

6.  **National Fuels Group; Strategic Plan:** Minimal work has been done
    to develop the Academy's strategic plan.

> **[Action Item:]{.mark}** Ed Smith, Hal, and Emily will draft a
> strategic plan for review at the next steering committee meeting.
> Emily will send out PFTC's Strategic Plan to working group. Working
> group will meet in Albuquerque February 18, 2005.

7.  **Fall 2004 Session.** Bequi Livingston, JW McCoy, and Todd Wood
    will take the lead to complete Regional Staff Walks (Upper Frijoles
    and Dude Fire). FS plans to detail Todd and JW for 30 days to
    complete staff walks after the national workshop in January.

> **[Action Item:]{.mark}** Integrate Upper Frijoles Staff Walk into
> spring 2005 curriculum.

**[Budget]{.underline}**

**BIA -- National Office**: Hal indicated the National Office is willing
to sign the current Interagency Agreement. Short discussions regarding
having the BIA sign the current agreement or a separate one.

**[Action Item:]{.mark}** Jerome follows up with Hal and National Office
to finalize agreement status.

**Budget**: Emily requested members review fiscal plan for FY 05 and
have comments back to Jerome by January 14, 2005. BLM requested a
meeting early in 2005 to discuss fiscal plan. BIA approves draft FY05
budget.

**[Action Item:]{.mark}** Jerome, Karen, and Emily set up meeting in
January.

**IPAC receipts**: BIA and BIA need receipts for all expenditures
(communications and building upgrades) in FY 04.

**[Action Item:]{.mark}** Jerome will provide receipts by January 15,
2005.

**[TNC]{.underline}**

Ed Smith, TNC, provided and overview of some of the projects the TNC is
currently working on including statewide assessments. He is interested
in assisting the Academy in future curriculum development.

**[Fall 2004 Session]{.underline}**

**FUTA** **Closeout Interview Overview 11/18/2004 (see handout).** Good
session, good courses, good students. The issue regarding base 8 funding
for field coordinators was brought up. If the Academy could cover base-8
salary it would assist in field coordinator recruitment. Individual
evaluations for students and field coordinators were completed through
peer review and documentation. This documentation is being forwarded to
home unit.

Discussion regarding splitting the session was revisited. Consensus of
the steering committee was to evaluate the possibility of have a 4-week
burn session twice a year and a 4-week class session twice a year. This
analysis will be addressed in the Strategic Plan.

Staff proposed to move TDGS to orientation day, based on the cadre's
input. Steering committee recommends we look at alternatives due to
overtime costs and try to avoid having students travel Saturday with a
full day workshop on Sunday.

There was a general discussion to move Academy orientation to Monday to
increase steering committee participation (have S234 and/or TDGS first
week instead of RX310). This will be addressed in Strategic Plan.

Steering committee believes the primary Academy staff should attend "ice
breaker", "graduation dinner", and other Academy related functions.

Academy staff is seeking alternative housing options for students
(apartments).

**[PFTC]{.underline}**

Leon Ben attended the meeting in Gulfport, Mississippi. Multiple agency
meetings were occurring at the same hotel PFTC hosted their meeting.
PFTC is still working with the GAC to have their charter signed. PFTC is
currently working on finalizing their Strategic Plan. PFTC has developed
emergency protocols that will be included in their orientation
workshops.

**Staffing:** Bess Dickson will be developing a business operations
guide through a task order. The Center is flying a NPS Center Operations
position in mid December GS 9/11. The Center is looking at 3 detailers
for the upcoming session.

PFTC developed a marketing video and a CD to market the Line Officers
Workshop. David Koch --requested field coordinators be briefed on
sensitivity issues and cultural issues.

Discussion on IFPM what is PFTC role?

**Line Officer's Workshop**

Emily provided a short overview of FMFLO Workshop held in Flagstaff in
September. IA participation was good. Need to increase IA cadre.

**[BIA Tri-Regional Meeting]{.underline}**

Meeting March 15-17, 2005 in Prescott. FUTA will host a booth and speak
at the meeting on the program.

**Next meeting:** Southern Ute Agency. 1000 April 27, 2005. Hal will
coordinate rooms.