ASHLAND CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
7 p.m. – January
28, 2009
Community Development Center
Chairperson Jackson
welcomed everyone, Welcome everyone
Pleasure to be with
the group
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was
called to order by Chairperson Jackson.
Attendees:
Risa Buck, Russ
Chapman, Stuart Corns, Ross Finney, Jim Hartman, Shelley Lotz, Jim McGinnis were
present.
Tracy
Harding and was not present and excused.
City
Council member and Chair: Kate Jackson
Staff
representative: Dick Wanderscheid
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Jackson
moved to approve the minutes for December 10, 2008.
Corrections to the
minutes:
Commissioner Hartman remarked
plastic bag and shrink wrap collection should be changed to Bottle Bill Expansion.
Commissioner Buck moved to approve the minutes of December
10, 2008 with the corrected heading change and Commissioner Finney seconded the
motion.
.Voice Vote: All Ayes.
The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
PUBLIC FORUM
No one present to speak.
ASHLAND SANITARY
& RECYCLING UPDATE
http://www.ashlandsanitary.com/
Commissioner Buck updated
the Commission for the month.
The recycling center
days of operation will change and be open Tuesday through Saturday and now closed Sunday and Monday.
The electronics
recycling has been impressive, with Ashland Sanitary providing recycling free
for all electronics. Beginning January 1, 2009, the state mandates
recycling of computers, monitors, TV’s and Ashland Sanitary is still offering free recycling of electronics up to seven times a day.
From
July 08 – Dec 08 there was 36.9 tons of material collected. For the same time period 325 pounds of ink jets, cartridges, itoners and cell phones were also collected. 2
tons of material was collected in three months for shrink wrap and plastic bags.
In
2007 the number of hits on the Ashland Web site was 16,920 and in 2008 the
number of hits reached 36,264.
The Boy Scout
Christmas tree pick up happened on January 10, and collected more than 1,400
trees.
We
have 4 worm bins left.
Hazardous
Waste Collection day will be May 1 & 2 in White City, check web site for
updated information.
Latex
Paint collection day will be at the Valley View Transfer Station on April 17
& 18 for residential.
Bottle
Mania will be Thursday, April 2 at SOU.
Mater Recyclers 2nd
training will begin in March and they are currently accepting applications. For more information you may contact Rianna
Signs at 776-7371.
Commissioner
Buck announced she would be out of town for the next meeting on February 25.
OLD BUSINESS
ClearMax Discussion
Commissioner Buck updated the
Commission regarding the ClearMax project.
She ordered 2 containers,
one is for Standing Stone Brewery and the second for the Parks Department. The Boy Scouts will be the first organization
collecting the materials and each container will be worth approximately $8-$9.
Commissioner Buck
asked the Commission if they would like to monetarily support this project by helping with the cost of the insert signage and thereby their name would be listed on the signs.
The Commission discussed supporting this
project and creating a physical presence in the community. Commissioner chapman would bring a mock up design to the next meeting and this item would be placed under old business.
Resolution for changes to Conservation
Commission Mr. Wanderscheid
reported to the Commission there was a sub-committee to the City Council that was looking into all the Committees and Commissions and
recommending changes.
Included in the
report were recommendations summarized below:
1) The
council liaison participate In Commission discussions, but not permitted to
vote because Commissions exist to advise Council and recommendations from
Commissions to counsil must be approved by a full counsil therefore allowing a
voting counsil liaison to vote twice.
2) Council
Liaison should not chair the meetings because they guide the discussion and
direction for the Commission and are primary liaison for staff and counsel. This
duel position would be in conflict.
3) The
Commissions should elect a chair and vice-chair each January.
4) Minutes
will be taken by staff.
5) Staff
will include a budget report at each meeting.
Mr. Wanderscheid
asked the Commission members if they wanted to change the ordinance so the
Commission is 9 appointed people and the Counsil Liaison just serves as a
Liaison.
The members discussed
different aspects of this issue including the Councilor’s role at the meetings,
their commitment to the Commission, leadership, and constant presence at all
meetings. The three options for change
would be:
1) Follow
the Council’s sub-committee recommendation and add a voting person.
2) Keep
councilor as a member, but they can not serve chair.
3) Keep
councilor as member, they may serve as chair, with a new vote each January
for a new chair.
Council
Liaison Jackson explained the sub-committee reasoning
behind their
recommendations:
They
wanted the Commissions to operate independently to not be
overly influenced. The
Council is using
them as an advisory body and
one councilor should not be a big part of that
advisory body.
The
members discussed the council’s representation within the
Commission.
Commissioner
Hartman moved that the Council Liaison not automatically become the Chair of
this Commission, but they would be a voting member of the Commission and could
be elected to the Chair like all the other members. Commissioner Chapman seconded the motion.
No further
discussion.
Individual Poll vote:
Russ
Chapman-Yes
Ross
Finney-Yes
Risa
Buck-Yes
Jim
Hartman-Yes
Stuart
Corns-Yes
Shelley
Lotz- Yes
Kate
Jackson-No
Jim
McGinnis-No
Motion Passed.
Name
Change for Commission
Commissioner McGinnis
wanted to clarify, this area was not necessary about changing the Commission’s
name, but revisiting the Charter.
The members reviewed
the Charter as written and Commissioner McGinnis would like to spend some time
reviewing the Charter and make sure it is in alignment with the Commission.
Commissioner Finney
suggested a retreat instead of taking time from the monthly meetings to revisit
our charter and decide on annual goals.
1) Review
Charter
2) How
Commission applies to the Charter
3) Commission
goals for 2009
Commission decided to meet for retreat
on Saturday March 7, 2009 fro 10-4pm.
Commission
Display
The Commissioners
wanted to update the display for presentation at Earth Day and discussed
different topics for
the display. Also the Commissioners
talked about updating the brochures.
Sub-Committee
Reports
Green Business Committe
This
sub-committee met today prior to Conservation Commission meeting. The team has recpgmozed 7 green businesses and in the process with 8 additional for total of 15 businesses that will be recognized for 2008.
Beginning March the Team will begin with 6
new businesses. Reported about the
Natural Step process. Commissioner Lotz would like to join this sub-committee.
July 4th Committee/2008 Event-
The event was successful last year and there
seems to be enough interest to plan for another event.
Plastic
Bag/Non-Petroleum Dinnerware Committee-
Commissioner Chapman read the following advertisement he
would like to put into print:
The City of Ashland’s
conservation commission would like to thank the Ashland businesses who, without
a legal mandate, stepped up and developed an approach to limit or eliminated
the use of carry out bags. A grateful
community appreciates your efforts.
The Commission decided to bring it back
for the next agenda with art work and/or a proof.
Education Committee-
Already reported
Cities for Climate Protection Committee-
Commissioner McGinnis
reported the sub-committee is going to look at greenhouse baseline information.
NEW
BUSINESS
Budget
Review-
Already reported.
Compost
Classes/Incentives for bins.
Commissioner Buck
wanted to discuss the situation arising with the cost of compost bins,
suggesting citizens compensating for part of the purchases. This item will be put on the next agenda
under old business.
COMMISSION
ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA
Commissioner McGinnis and Councilor Jackson attended a
meeting for International Cities for Climate Change and Commissioner McGinnis
asked to be reimbursed for the gas and entry fee.
Commissioner Finney made a motion to compensate Commissioner
McGinnis for his conference fee and gas costs to attend the conference. Also he stated we allow 10 minutes under the
subcommittee for a report associated with the conference.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hartman.
Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Commissioner Corns
reported to the Commission about the SOU sustainability initiative. Serious effects are being made within the
University structure to assess the amount of energy and water they consume and
how they can reduce the consumption.
SOU is hoping to gear
some new projects toward energy management with some of the appropriated
Legislature money. As a project manager
he helps to recycle and sustain as much of the materials replaced as possible
within our community.
Commissioner Buck
remarked about Standing Stone Brewery has an educational display about reduce,
reuse, recycle, renew.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Next
Meeting- February 25, 2009
ADJOURNMENT –
9:06
pm.