MINUTES FOR THE MEETING

ASHLAND FOREST LANDS COMMISSION

December 12, 2006 – 5:30 PM

Community Development, 51 Winburn Way

MEMBERS PRESENT:         Richard Brock (Chair), Anthony Kerwin, Jim Lewis, Dan Maymar,

                                                 Joseph Vaile, Zach Williams      

Members Absent:                   Diane White

Staff Present:                           Chris Chambers, Marty Main, Keith Woodley, Nancy Slocum, Pieter Smeenk

Non-Voting Members Present:         Cate Hartzell

I.                   CALL TO ORDER: Chair Brock called the meeting to order at 5:50 PM in the Siskiyou Room..

II.                APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Williams/Vaile m/s to approve the minutes of November 14, 2006 correcting the capacity of the reservoir from 0.150 MG to 0.250 MG (under “New Business,” A., first paragraph)

III.             PUBLIC FORUM: None

IV.              ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: Noxious Vegetation Inventory Update was moved to the first item under “Old Business.”  

V.                 OLD BUSINESS

A.     Noxious Vegetation Inventory Update: Parks Department Update – Jeff McFarland and Anne Rich provided the Commission with a review of Parks Problematic Non-Native Plant Control Plan and reported on their efforts to control Scotch Broom, English Ivy, Vinca and Hypericum and Himalayan Blackberry. Preliminary information was provided in the packet. It was estimated that Scotch Broom on Parks land would take 10 to 50 years to eradicate.

Main asked how helpful was an inventory was to them. MacFarlane said an inventory helped them determine when noxious vegetation was spreading. MacFarlane had an inventory for Siskiyou Park, Lithia Park and Strawberry / Hald park, but needed to map them. Main suggested a comprehensive strategy though all ownerships to stop the spread of noxious vegetation. Chambers reiterated the need to keep Puncture vine urban.

“Pulling Together Initiative” Grant - Chambers said he was nearly finished writing the NFWF grant for $35,000 which requires a $35,000 match (including some city work done is 2006). If approved, $15,000 would be used for GIS mapping and $20,000 for on-the-ground treatments. Cost sharing with property owners would help make the grant money go further. Other grants may be available, but even if no grant money is received, the work would still need to be completed. Vaile noted that the lesson used from Parks experience is that after-treatment maintenance work was essential.

Chambers noted that the Commission would be asked to develop a strategic plan to prioritize implementation after the inventory mapping was complete.

B. AFRCAT / AFR Update – Woodley asked for final comments on his draft letter to Linda Duffy, Ashland Forest District Ranger. Brock talked to Duffy this past month. Under the HFRA she is considering the Community Alternative (AFRCA) yet Forest Service had a problem with roadless area and the Horn Gulch area (City of Talent Wildfire Urban Interface).

Brock was fine with the existing language if the Forest Service would be adding language regarding the City’s continued involvement in the upcoming Record of Decision. The City could then protest it if needed. Hartzell and Vaile wanted to soften the language of the letter. Woodley said the intent of the letter was not to sound harsh. Wording was deleted and a sentence added recognizing that AFRCA focused on Ashland’s interface only.

Hartzell wondered if the Forest Service abandoned the abiotic mode. Woodley said no, it was only that the model was not appropriate for the Ashland watershed.

Kerwin/ Williams m/s to have staff send the letter as edited. Motion passed unanimously.

It was noted that Linda Duffy would soon be supervising the Applegate and her support staff will increase. The Commission thought this was a positive change.

C. Review of “Post Treatment Monitoring on Lower Ownership” Report – Brock commended Main on a well done report that included monitoring, observations, questions and recommendations. He would like the Commission to discuss the recommendations.

Main clarified that the definition of “effective ground cover” included vegetative cover only and not coarse woody debris. Important observations included: understory vegetation response, tree mortality, seedling layer development and implementation.

Woodley reminded the Commission that they requested a report to make future land management decision.

The significant increase in hairy honeysuckle within moisture limited area raises questions about it as a competitor for moisture. Future moisture measurements would be taken.

Other observations included a 40% live crown. Main was looking for better crowns with an increase in radial growth and his data verified this. He had a goal to promote Ponderosa Pine. Vaile wondered if invasive species were a concern. Main did not see a big increase in noxious weeks although he saw some blackberry and hedgehog dogtail.

Vail agreed with the recommendation for continued maintenance. He asked about prescribed underburning. Main thought it possible perhaps in Spring 2007. Forest Service has some plans to so some crossover underburning into City ownership. He welcomed it.

            D. Winburn Management Plan – Tabled.

E.  MOU Revision – Tabled.

VI.               NEW BUSINESS  

A.     Commission Charter Review – Tabled.

B.     2007 Goal Setting – Tabled.

VII.           ADJOURN: 7:30 PM

Richard Brock, Chair

Respectfully Submitted, Nancy Slocum, Clerk