Agendas and Minutes

Conservation and Climate Outreach Committee (View All)

Conservation Meeting 03/21/2007

Agenda
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Minutes

 
Conservation Commission
 
These Minutes were approved by Conservation Commission at the April 25, 2007 Conservation Commission Meeting.
 

March 21, 2007
7:00 pm
Community Development Building
51 Winburn Way
Ashland
 
CALL TO ORDER
Vice-Chairperson Chapman called the meeting to order at 7:05p.m. in the Siskiyou Room at the Community Development Building.
 
ROLL CALL
Attendees: Risa Buck, Russ Chapman, Stuart Corns (7:15), Lindsay Gerken, Jim Hartman, Ross Finney, Melissa Schweisguth (arrived 7:35). Kathryn Houser was not present
 
City Council Liaison: Dave Chapman, arrived 8:20
Staff Liaison: Dick Wanderscheid
 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Buck corrected the meeting time from 7pm to 5pm on February 28, 2007. Commissioner Buck clarified from the prior minutes- under Ashland Sanitary Update section- the grant was a DEQ grant with Rogue Waste Disposal not Rogue Water System. Also, she corrected that Ashland Sanitary would not have access to the containers, but rather they would be able to loan out the containers to the public.
 
Huelz Gutcheon would like to change the wording of “fat wall” to extra thick walls, under the section of New Business, last paragraph.
 
Commissioner Buck corrected the spelling of composting, and Commissioner Gerken corrected spelling for Cities for Climate Protection.
 
Commissioner Finney made a motion to approve the minutes of February 28, 2007 with the stated corrections and Commissioner Buck seconded the motion.
 
Voice vote: all Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
 
PUBLIC FORUM
Huelz Gutcheon reported on C-Span’s report for Global Warming and utility rising costs.   He remarked about the Governor’s plan to reduce emissions 25% by 2025, that it would be less reduction than the 2% growth per year of the population. Commissioner Hartman remarked that a 2% population growth a year would be doubling the population in 35 years.
 
Huelz talked about saving heat by utilizing “thick walls”.
 
 
ASHLAND SANITARY & RECYCLING UPDATE:
 
Commissioner Buck reported the Compost Class dates would be May 12, June 16th and July 21, 2007 and also posted on their web site. She reported the Commercial Compost Program has grown from 2 businesses to 11.
Ashland Sanitary has started to receive funds back from recycling toners and ink cartridges, which goes to fund the recycling of fluorescent bulbs. Commissioner Chapman pointed out that the fluorescent light recycling program was a direct result of the Conservation Commission’s efforts to help the community participate in recycling programs.
Commissioner Buck reported Ashland Sanitary has been receiving requests from local businesses to help them reduce their amount of generated garbage.
Robbin Pearce will update the Commission at the next meeting regarding Green Businesses and the qualifications. Commissioner Buck offered to refer names and interested parties to Robbin.
 
 
OLD BUSINESS
A.     Adoption of Revised 2007 Goals
Chairperson Chapman thanked Commissioner Finney who compiled the draft goals for the Commission. The Commissioners discussed different aspects of the draft goals.
 
Commissioner Hartman made a motion to adopt the draft goals number 1-7, seconded by Commissioner Corns.
 
Voice vote: all Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
Commissioner Hartman made a motion to adopt an 8th goal “Work with other commissions to establish long-term shared streamlined strategies and goals for sustainable development.” The motion was seconded by Commissioner Buck.
 
Voice vote: all Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
B.     Woodstove Removal Ordinance Update
Dick Wanderscheid reported the City Council passed a first reading for an ordinance for removal of wood stoves when the homes were sold
 
C.    Open Burning Ordinance Update
DEQ asked the City to ban all open burning, and our Fire Dept. supported the ban except for fire hazardous reduction cases. The ordinance passed first reading, but will be reviewed again later this week.
 
D.    Earth Day schedule/activity
The Commissioners passed around and sign up sheet for their table at the Earth Day event and discussed what activity they would present for the day.
 
E.     Discussion on Commission meeting time
The Commissioners discussed changing the meeting time to begin at 5 or 6pm. It was decided to change the meetings to run from 6-8 pm.
 
The Commissioners brought back the topic of open burning, to allow Councilor Chapman to explain his amendment to the ordinance.   He explained open burning was only necessary for specific reasons and he would like the ordinance to be designed to ensure minimizing the negative effects of public health, but allowed when determined by the Fire Department necessary.
 
Commissioner Finney made a motion to support Councilor Chapman’s proposal to minimize Open Burning in the City of Ashland. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hartman.
 
Voice vote: The motion passed with an Aye vote from Commission Corns, Gerken, Hartman, Finney and Schweisguth.
Commissioner Buck and Chapman abstained from voting.
 
 
NEW BUSINESS
A.     Compost Classes and Bins purchase
Dick Wanderscheid reported to the Commission there were only 9 compost bins left, and they will need at least 60 to accommodate two classes, with an associated cost of approx. $924.00. Also, last year all three classes were attended by approximately 25 people each.
 
Commissioner Buck made a motion to purchase 60 compost bins at the best rate possible, seconded by Councilor Finney.
 
Voice vote: all Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
 
B.     Rainwater Collection- Risa Buck
Commissioner Buck reported that Robbin Pearce from the Ashland Conservation Department will report at the next meeting regarding rainwater collection.
 
C.    Science Works Global Warming Forum, May 10, 2007, 7pm.
Dick Wanderscheid reminded the Commission about this forum, included will be Jeff Golden and himself on the panel regarding carbon footprints.
 
SUBCOMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS
Commissioner Hartman reported about the Global Warming Subcommittee and their number one goal was to support green tags. He is purchasing green tags to offset his car emissions and wondered if the Commission would help support the purchase of stickers for other cars that offset their emissions with the purchase of green tags? They were in the beginning stages of this idea, and the Commissioners favored the idea.
 
Commissioner Buck spoke to the Commission about supporting electric vehicles and asking the City to support these vehicles. Dick Wanderscheid thought the City was looking into purchasing some of the vehicles, and referred her to Paula Brown in Public Works.
 
The Commission discussed different possibilities to allow every person to take steps toward conservation efforts and reducing global warming.
 
 COMMISION ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Commissioner Chapman reported that North Mountain Park would be holding a worm class in June and asked if the Conservation Commission would still support subsidizing the coupons that would give a person 8-10 dollars off a bin.
Commissioner Schweisguth reported about the Climate Change Event on April 14, 2007, from 12-2pm and the Commission discussed hosting a table.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioner Buck remarked about the “trash-in” show at Earth Day, and communicating to the public, or organizations, schools about this part of the event.
 
Commissioner Gerken announced she would not be able to renew her appointment to the Commission after April 30, 2007. The Commission thanked her for her service and wished her well.
 
Dick Wanderscheid asked the Commission to think about sub-committees to support the new goals adopted by the Commission.
 
Next meeting date, April 25, 2007 6pm
Community Development Center
 
 
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 9:05 pm.
 
 
Respectfully submitted,
Mary McClary, Administrative Assistant to
Electric/Telecommunications Department
 

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