Agendas and Minutes

Conservation and Climate Outreach Committee (View All)

Conservaton Commission Monthly Meeting 04/28/2010

Agenda
Wednesday, April 28, 2010

 
ASHLANDCONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
6 p.m. – April 28, 2010
CommunityDevelopment Center

CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Finney called the meeting to order at 6:06 pm.
 Attendees: Risa Buck, Larry Blake, Russ Chapman, Stuart Corns, Ross Finney, Shelley 
                   Lotz, Jim McGinnis and David Runkel were present.
 
                   Jim Hartman and Sheri Cellini were not present.

City Council Liaison: Carol Voison
Staff Representative: Larry Giardina

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairperson Finney asked for approval of the minutes for March 31, 2010.
Commissioner Chapman corrected the structure of the announcements to make clear it is just the latex paint event that Recology will no longer offer.

Discount Day –correction is $4.00 per yard not per load.

 
Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
PUBLIC FORUM
Robbin Pearce, water conservation analyst for the City of Ashland, proposed to the Commission they support a pilot program for the Clay Creek Subdivision. This pilot program will purchase a controller that will be able to run irrigation based on the weather. She asked the Commission for $1,000 to be able to go forward with this project. Once the pilot project is completed and data collected, the project will become part of her ongoing conservation programs. She will report back to the Commission with results when it is completed.
 
Chairperson McGinnis made a motion to support this project with a contribution of $1,000. Commissioner Runkel amended the motion to add that money be dedicated that the study shows the impact/analysis. Commissioner Chapman seconded the motion.
 
Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Next Meeting- May 26, 2010.

Commissioner Buck announced Recology will have a latex collection day of April 30, and May 1.
The household hazardous collection day is May 7, and May 8. Plastic Round-Up Day is scheduled for
October 8th and 9th at the armory. More information will become available as we get closer to the event.

Staples brought samples of Bio-Degradable ball point pens to the City of Ashland that they now offer, and Mary McClary brought them for the Commission to review.

May 15th, Discount Day, $4.00 per yard at the Transfer Station.

Compost classes are scheduled for June 19, July 17, August 21, and September 18.
Time: 10 -12 noon
               Location: Recycle Center
               Title of Class: Urban Composting Class

OLD BUSINESS
    A. Election of Chair and Vice- Chair
    Chairperson Finney expressed the new ordinance included a statement that officers
    can only serve for two years consecutively. Serving as a Vice-Chair and Chair, he will
    not be able to continue as an officer this year. There was also discussion as having a
    vice-chair serve as a chair the next year as a general standard. There still needs to be
    a formal election process of electing officers.
 
    Chairperson opened up the floor for nominations.

    Commissioner Chapman clarified with Councilperson Voisin, the Council’s perspective in
    regards to the position of Vice-Chair. Discussion followed about the importance of this
    position.

   Commissioner Lotz nominated Commissioner McGinnis for the Chair position.
   Commission Chapman seconded that nomination.
   Commissioner Buck nominated Commission Chapman who respectfully declined.

   Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
    Chairperson McGinnis presided over the meeting from this point forward.

    Commissioner Finney nominated Commissioner Chapman for Vice-Chair and 
    Commissioner Corns seconded that nomination.
   Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
B. Compost Classes
    Compost classes are scheduled for:
     June 19--Commissioner Chapman will attend and support this class.
     July 17—Commissioner Lotz will attend and support this class.
     August 21—Tentatively Dan Cunningham will attend and support this class
     September 18—Chairperson McGinnis will attend and support this class.
               Time: 10 -12 noon
               Location: Recycle Center
               Title of Class: Urban Composting Class
 
Commissioner Buck made a motion to purchase a $150.00 gift certificate from the Grange Coop for Dennis Morely and his facilitation of these four workshops to be given to him at the final class in September. Commissioner Lotz seconded the motion.

Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
C. Earth Day Report
 
Earth Day was very successful, tons of children participated with a lot of activates for them. The Commission gave away Douglas fir samplings at the event and Commissioner Corns expressed the desire to also hand out directions/information regarding the samplings. Other discussions included updating the Commission’s display board to more reflect the Conservation Commission and not so much of what the City of Ashland’s Conservation Department accomplishes.

Commissioner Buck commented around 3,000 people attended the event and the zero waste went really well this year, better than any other year. Vendors also supported this year with less garbage. There was only 8 gallons of trash generated this year, including trash that was brought in from citizens and left even though it was advertised as a zero event.

There was discussion about pursuing having a presence at the farmer’s market in Ashland.
 
D. Sub-Committies
    1. Sustainability Strategic/Climate Change
Commissioner Lotz talked about other projects we were doing as a Commission like the Storm Water Drain project. She had other ideas for future projects that included the commission fund a Community Eatable Garden, and have an annual education workshop for free on sustainability and green building.

Chairperson McGinnis read the new proposal which the Commission would write a letter to the Mayor outlying this proposal.   The commission discussed the proposal and decided to support a request to the Mayor.   The letter reads as follows:

May 26, 2010

Dear Mayor Stromberg,

At the Conservation Commission meeting of April 28, the Commission voted unanimously to urge you to appoint an ad hoc committee to review and recommend a process for the development of a sustainability plan for the City.
 
The Proposal:

Establish an Ad Hoc Committee (8-11) people of select city commission representatives, community representatives and a city liaison person to meet up to six times over a three month period prior to the January 2011 City Council goal setting session.

The Committee’s purpose is to develop recommended planning processes, methods and tools (e.g. Natural Step, or other methods) for the City of Ashland to utilize for implementing a Sustainability* Plan with the understanding that city budgets and personnel are very limited and that Ashland citizens may have a role in developing such a plan.

The Conservation Commission recommends representation from the following groups/citizens:
                        Conservation Commission
                        Planning Commission
                        Transportation Commission
                        Forest Lands Commission
                        Parks Commission
                        SOU
                        Ashland School District
                        City Liaison
                        Citizenry
                        OSF
                        Ashland Community Hospital

The meetings will be facilitated and recorded by a Conservation Commission representative team member and/or a volunteer facilitator.

Thank you for your consideration,
Jim McGinnis,
Chair, Ashland Conservation Commission

* Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, including protecting the environment, developing a healthy economy, and ensuring social equality.
 
Commissioner Finney made a motion to submit the proposal to the Mayor including a definition of sustainability. Commissioner Lotz seconded the motion.
 
Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

2.  Green Building
Commissioner Lotz presented ideas for offering a free class on green building and sustainability. Commissioner Lotz offered to take the lead with these projects.   Larry Giardina reported there have been increased participation in the City’s Earth Advantage program and the Croman property has included some language for some sort of certification.                    

3. Local Energy Production
   No report.

4. Water Quality and Storm Runoff
Commissioner Buck reported they completed the pilot project on Oak Street for the Storm Drain Stencil on April 17. The team of 4, Risa Buck, Russ Chapman, Pam Lott and Robbin Pearce were
successful in completing the street faster than anticipated. 40 people signed up at the Earth Day booth to participate in the project, when it goes city wide.


Quarterly Liaison Reports (SOU, Ashland School District, Conservation Department & Recology)
Conservation Division-- Larry Giardina

Larry presented information about the background of the Division, staff and their functions/duties, funding sources, and the programs that they operate. All programs and information is on the Ashland Web site. He will continue his presentation at the next meeting.

COMMISSION ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA
Commissioner Buck reported she would be attending training in SF for zero waste.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson McGinnis adjourned meeting.
8:00 pm.



 

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