Agendas and Minutes

Conservation and Climate Outreach Committee (View All)

Conservation Commission Monthly Meeting 04/22/09

Agenda
Wednesday, April 22, 2009

 
ASHLAND CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
7 p.m. – April 22, 2009
CommunityDevelopment Center

Chairperson Jackson welcomed everyone.

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, and Jim McGinnis were present.

City Council Liaison and Chair: Kate Jackson
Staff representative: Dick Wanderscheid

City Council decided that the Council Liaison member would no longer be Chair or a voting member of the Conservation Commission, although there would still be 9 voting members.

Fist order of Business was to elect a new Chair and Vice-Chair.

Commissioner Chapman moved that Commissioner Finney become the new Chair, seconded by Commissioner Buck.
 
Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Commissioner Lotz moved that Commissioner McGinnis become the new Vice-Chair, seconded by Commissioner Hartman.
 
The members discussed seniority members taking the leadership roles and checked with each member to allow them the responsibility.
 
Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Dick Wanderscheid announced David Runkel was appointed to the Commission by the City Council at the last Council meeting and there is another vacancy to appoint.

PUBLIC FORUM
Marilyn Briggs/Ashland spoke to the Commission how the Ashland Sanitary film viewed at the film festival made a huge impression/impact with her.   She has two ideas which she was hoping the Commission would support:
      1) 100% cardboard and paper locally in the same fashion as
        the glass
     2) Plastics, turning plastics into crude oil; glass container for
         food and beverage products instead of plastic containers.
She hoped for letters of support to the State level from the Commission.

Commissioner Buck spoke regarding some of the business activities that Allen Jongsma (Agri-Plas) supports in the
community, plastic recycling and the plastic roundup. The State of Oregon has generated some interest in supporting these activities with some stimulus funds. One of his projects takes plastics and melts it into crude oil, and if Mr. Jongsma receives stimulus funds for a project, he would put 5 units across the State. Medford would be one of those sites.

The Commission can write letters and ask Council to endorse them.

NEW STAFF MEMBER
Dan Cunningham, Conservation Analyst, introduced himself to the Commission and presented them with his employment background. The members introduced themselves to Dan.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairperson Finney asked for approval of the minutes for February 25 and March 07, 2009.

Correction to the February 25, 2009 minutes:
            Commissioner Chapman corrected the tonnages/pounds
             under the Ashland Sanitary report.
            “January E-waste recycling was 23,072 pounds.”

Commissioner Chapman moved to approve the minutes as amended of February 25, 2009 and Commissioner Corns seconded the motion.
 
Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Commissioner Buck was not present at the February 25th meeting, and did not vote.
 
Correction to the March 07, 2009 minutes:

Commissioner Finney had three items he wanted to make sure were included in the minutes.
1) Discussion that the Commission would like to have more
    interaction and direct communication with the City Council.
   There was a general feeling that years ago the communication
   was closer to the Council.
2) Concept- In looking at past goals from 2008 and discussing goals for 2009, the perception for 2008 seemed the goals were more action orientated and the 2009 goals that are action orientated and policy orientated.
3) Adding sustainability and global climate change, as concepts to focus our Charter around.

Councilor Jackson reported that during their Council Goal Setting, she proposed to rename this Commission to include sustainability and the Council felt it would be too confusing because of other Commissions, but decided to review the functionality of all City Commissions and Committees.

Commissioner Buck moved to approve the minutes as amended of March 07, 2009 and Commissioner Lotz seconded the motion.
 
Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
NEW BUSINESS
Item C
Earth Day Booth Staffing
            Commissioner Corns will cover set-up 10:00 -1:00
            Commission McGinnis will cover from 1:00 - 2:00
            Commissioner Finney will cover from 2:00 – 4:30

The members discussed necessary planning for the event.

Commissioner Hartman explained about a “Green Roof” project the students will be involved with at Ashland High School.

ASHLAND SANITARY & RECYCLING UPDATE

Commissioner Buck updated the Commission for the month.

The Recycling Center days of operation will be open Tuesday through Saturday and now closed Sunday and Monday.

Electronic recycling for the month of February netted 6.5 tons and for the month of March netted 10 tons.

The worm bins are all sold, Conservation Commission owes $60.00 for reimbursement.

Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be May 1 & 2 at Rogue Waste site, 8001 Table Rock Rd., White City, 8am – 4pm.

Latex Paint collection day will be at the Valley View Transfer Station on April 17 & 18 brought in a total of 225 cars and 10.8 tons of paint.

Discount Day at the Transfer Station will be May 16th. Leaves, Brush, Grass and Lumber will be $4.00 per load.

The Bottlemania Event brainstorming ideas will be posted on websites in the future.

Master Recyclers 2nd training that began in March is going well.

Eight (8) compost bins will be raffled off during the 09 compost classes which are scheduled for:
June 20, July 18, August 15, and September 19th.
We need Commissioners to support the classes and sign up as assistants again this year, worked really well last year.

ClearMax-Discussion about Commission sponsoring printing insert costs.

Earth Day is April 25, this Saturday at Science Works.

AOR Conference is June 11-14 in Redmond (Eagle Crest Resort). Commissioner Buck will be facilitating a section on Rural recycling.

OLD BUSINESS
Sub-committee Reports
  Green Business---Robbin Pearce submitted report to chairperson, who left it behind.
   July 4th—Commissioner McGinnis would like to propose the Commission not participate in the event this year. He will not be available due to other commitments.
           
Plastic Bag---Ashland Sanitary placed an ad in the Sneak Preview generally thanking businesses and the public for supporting alternative options to plastics. The sub committee was very impressed with the power of education has had on the community.
           
Education Committee—The display board has been completed.
           
Cities for Climate Protection Committee—Commissioner McGinnis believes we should continue this subcommittee next year and support this important issue.
 
NEW BUSINESS
Item D Adoption of 2009 Goals:

  1. Significant Commission Involvement in the Sustainability/Strategic Plan proposed for development by the City.
  1. Support and help the development of a Major Green Building Initiative for the City.
  1. Encourage increased amounts of Local Energy Production from Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency.
  1. Help improve Water Quality and Storm Runoff & also encourage efficiency in water usage by pursuing at a minimum the use of Grey Water and Water Catchments.
  1. Significant Commission involvement by supporting and helping with climate change initiatives within the City.
Commissioner Buck moved to Adopt 2009 Goals as stated, Commissioner Corns seconded the motion.
 
Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
COMMISSION ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA
Commissioner Chapman proposed to change the time of the Commission meetings from 6-8pm, instead of the current time 7-9pm.

Commissioner Chapman moved to change the time of the Commission meetings from 6-8pm, seconded by
Commissioner Hartman.
 
Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Commissioner Lotz reminded everyone about the contest she is sponsoring for the Oregon Green Expo.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Next Meeting- May 27, 2009
NEW TIME 6-8PM

ADJOURNMENT
9:05 pm.



In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Community Development office at 541-488-5305 (TTY phone number is 1-800-735-2900). Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title1).
 

Online City Services

Pay Your Utility Bill
 
Connect to
Ashland Fiber Network
Request Conservation
Evaluation
Proposals, Bids
& Notifications
Request Building
Inspection
Building Permit
Applications
Apply for Other
Permits & Licenses
Register for
Recreation Programs

©2024 City of Ashland, OR | Site Handcrafted in Ashland, Oregon by Project A

Quicklinks

Connect

Share

twitter facebook Email Share
back to top