Agendas and Minutes

Conservation and Climate Outreach Committee (View All)

Regular Meeting

Agenda
Wednesday, February 28, 2007

    

Minutes

 

Conservation Commission

02/28/07

 

These Minutes will be reviewed by Conservation Commission at the March 21, 2007 Conservation Commission Meeting.

 


February 28, 2007

7:00 pm
Community Development Building

51 Winburn Way

Ashland


CALL TO ORDER

Chairperson Dave Chapman called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room at the Community Development Building.


ROLL CALL

Attendees:  Risa Buck, Lindsay Gerken, Kathryn Houser, Jim Hartman, Ross Finney, Melissa Schweisguth (arrived 5:50), and Stuart Corns (5:45) were present. Russ Chapman was not present

 

City Council Liaison: Dave Chapman

Staff Liaison: Dick Wanderscheid


WELCOME

City Councilor Chapman introduced himself, and explained he would be the new City Council Liaison and Chair for the Conservation Commission.


APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Ashland Sanitary corrected the minutes, submitted corrected statement and read into the minutes. 

 

“The event will include a wide spectrum of waste management issues including a landfill model to an onsite composing of much in between.  The hope is to create greater awareness and educating people about how they can be part of the solution by generating less garbage, reducing consumption and recycling more.”

She also clarified it would be the Commission members that would organize, figure out the schedule, and display content for the event.

 

 Commissioner Finney made a motion to approve the minutes of January 24, 2007 with the state corrections and Commissioner Houser the motion.

Voice vote: all Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

 

Commissioner Gerken corrected the word emitting under goals.

 

The minutes of the Conservation Commission Meeting of January 24, 2007 were approved with stated corrections.

 

PUBLIC FORUM

No one present at this time to speak. 

Huelz Gutcheon choose to speak at the end of the agenda, time permitting.

 

ASHLAND SANITARY & RECYCLING UPDATE:

Commissioner Buck reported for Ashland Sanitary inviting everyone to view the new information display located at the recycle center.  She stated Ashland Sanitary will put the compost class dates on their website and also down at the recycling center when those dates are determined.  Also, she reported they have sent in 7-8 boxes of toners to recycle which helps to fund the recycling of florescent bulbs.

 

Commissioner Buck announced Ashland Sanitary will add to curbside recycling, beginning on Earth Day, tubs, no lids. Commissioner Finney wondered what material this would be recycled into, and Commissioner Buck will research and get back to the Commission.

 

Commissioner Buck reported that Jackson County would apply for a grant with Rogue Water System for special events kits, for example the July 4th city event and then Ashland Sanitary would have access to these containers. They would be able to offer clear stream recycling containers at large events, and the hope is that schools or other organizations that hold events, could use them also.  This is still in the planning stages and she will keep the Commission informed.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Green Tag Update

Dick Wanderscheid updated the Commissions reporting the stats as follows:

 

Individual residential sales increased by 77%, in 2006 from 2005.

Business results:

2003 177 tags sold (started Quarter 3)

2004 562 tags sold

2005 966 tags sold

2006 2187 tags sold

2007 1698 so far sold

2008 1558 pre-sold contract sales

 

BEF (Bonneville Environmental Foundation) received about 27,000 from the sales in Ashland, and the City receives 1.00 per green tag sold in Ashland, which has funded the Wilderness Charter School project, and will fund more solar projects in the future.

 

Commissioner Finney remarked that this years Academy Award show purchased green tags to offset the energy used in the show, thereby announcing the show was now “Green.”

 

Woodstove Removal Ordinance Update

Dick Wanderscheid reported that next week at the City Council meeting, the councilors would consider an ordinance that would require removal of wood stoves upon sale of existing homes that was being driven by Federal standards.  The cities of Medford, Jackson County, Talent, and Jacksonville have already passed the ordinance.  Commissioner Buck wondered about the banning of open burning, and Mr. Wanderscheid remarked that topic was also on the City Council agenda.  The members also discussed portable chippers, green waste carts and auto wood pellet machine.  Mr. Wanderscheid will report back at the next meeting.

 

2007 Goals

The Commission members reviewed, discussed the draft goals and determined Commissioner Finney would re-write them with changes and present them to the Commission at the next meeting for adoption.

Dick Wanderscheid explained his desire to combine the efforts of different groups now meeting, the Cities for Climate Protection, long-term sustainability resolutions, and global warming into one working group.

The basic outline for Cities for Climate Protection is to verify the inventory, establish targets, implementation, measurement and revise.  He feels by the end of 2007, there would be established targets and all groups would would work well and fit within the parameters of Cities ofr Climate Protection.

 

Jim Hartman passed out minutes of the Global Warming meeting held on February 14th, 2007 and gave a brief update to the Commission.

 

JCRP Update

Jackson County Recycling Partnership

 

Dick Wanderscheid reported about a meeting that Commissioner Buck, Commission Chapman and himself attended.  The first step will be to establish agreements to formalize this organization and one of their current goals will be to get a $30,000 grant to study what is the best way to deal with hazardous waste. 

 

Earth Day Schedule

April 21, 2007.

The Commission decided to have a table separate from the Conservation Department, but located next to each other.  Mary will send out a sign-up schedule.  There is a website where anyone can receive information:

www.roguevalleyearthday.net

 

NEW BUSINESS

Compost classes

 

Dick Wanderscheid reported Claudia Law will no longer be able to conduct the classes but recommended Denny Morelli to take her place.  Tentative dates would be May 12, June 16, and July 21 of 2007. The Commission has in the past presented the instructor with a $100.00 gift certificate of his choice.

 

Commissioner Houser made a motion to continue supporting the Compost Classes. Commissioner Buck seconded the motion.

Voice vote: all Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

 

Science Works Global Warming Forum

 

Science works contacted Dick Wanderscheid regarding 3 global warming events and Dick will participate in the 3rd event in the early part of April.

 

The Commission discussed which members would be able to attend the March 12th Commission appreciation day at the Grove.

 

The Commission decided to change their next meeting to March 21st because of spring break.  The members discussed changing the monthly meetings to a different time zone and will discuss it on the next agenda.

 

The Commission decided to put on the next agenda what activity they would facilitate at Earth Day.

 

Commissioner Schweisguth brought forth a request for the Commission to support the event for National Climate Day in order for them to apply for a partial street closure in the plaza.  The event promotes an 80% reduction of carbons by 2050. The event is scheduled for April 14, 2007.  The Commissioners discussed the conflicts of other events on that day and decided they couldn’t support the street closure but did support the event.

 

Huelz Gutcheon passed out to the Commission a list of programs regarding renewable energy on CSpan that are shown for 10 weeks at a time. (Streaming Video)

 

Huelz also spoke about his goal of zero net energy buildings, and wondered if incentives could be given for “fat walls” in construction. He asked if the Commission would support a code amendment through an application for Ashland City only.  The application is due April 1, 2007.  Chairperson Chapman clarified the Commission would be asking the State to have a local code supersede the State code.

 

COMMISSION ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA

Previously mentioned.


ANNOUNCEMENTS


Next meeting date, March 21, 2007 7pm

Lithia Room, Community Development Center

 

ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,
Mary McClary, Administrative Assistant to

Electric/Telecommunications Department

 

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