Agendas and Minutes

Conservation and Climate Outreach Committee (View All)

Conservation Commission Monthly Meeting 01/25/12

Agenda
Wednesday, January 25, 2012

 

CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES

5:30pm-7:30pm –January 25, 2012 07, 2011
Community Development Building--- To be approved at the February 22, 2012 Commission Meeting
 
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Hartman called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm.
 
Attendees:
 Risa Buck, Sheri Cellini, Stuart Corns, Jim Hartman, Jim McGinnis, David Runkel and Mark Weir were present. Thomas Beam and Cat Gould were absent.
 
City Council Liaison: Carol Voisin, absent
Staff Representative: Adam Hanks, and Mary McClary
SOU Representative: Shaun Franks (SOU Stainability Student Director)
 
 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairperson Hartman asked for approval of the minutes for December 07, 2011.
           
Commissioner Buck made a motion to approve the minutes as stated and Commissioner McGinnis seconded the motion.
Voice Vote: All Ayes.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
               
PRESENTATIONS
Mabrie Ormes presented information to the Commission in support of rain barrels. She explained to the Commission how she became involved this past year in a program called Shifting Patterns that connects scientists and artists to team together and address the issues of global warming in the Rogue Valley.  She decided to focus her attention on the predictions around water, specifically rain barrel programs.  She highlighted results of programs implemented with other cities.  Russ Chapman suggested she have a booth at Earth Day to further the public’s awareness.  The Commission thanked her for the presentation.
 
Fred Gant and Lynn Blanche spoke to the Commission about a program they are trying to revive called Green Drinks. They explained how the program functioned prior and their basic need was to find a venue to host the gatherings.  The Commission offered ideas of different places they might be able to utilize for venues and thanked them for the information.
 
PUBLIC FORUM
Shaun/SOU, The Student Sustainability Director, was in attendance and would also contribute to the SOU quarterly report.
 
Russ Chapman spoke to the Commission about supporting Earth Day, April 21, 2012.  The Conservation Commission and the Conservation Division has supported Earth Day for the past 11 years.
 
Commissioner Cellini made a motion to support the Earth Day Event in the amount of $800.00.  Commissioner Corns seconded the motion.
Voice Vote: All Ayes.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
Chairperson Hartman reviewed the timeline of the items on the agenda.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Next meeting February 22, 2012
 
Commissioner Buck announced Eco’s Winter Film Series on February 1 will show Garbage: the Revolution Starts at Home.  In addition she brought a magazine issue from UC Davis about a zero net energy community that UC Davis has sponsored.  She would like the Commission to hold a discussion on this topic in the future.
 
Ashland Hardware will recycle batteries and CFLs for free.
 
 
 
 
 
NEW BUSINESS
Item C moved to Item A
  1. Conservation Awards
Commissioner Runkel talked about what typed of awards would be given to the winners.  The Commission decided to discuss the type of award at their next meeting. 
 
Commissioner Cellini made a motion to approve Commission Runkel’s press release for the Conservation Awards.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner McGinnis.
Voice Vote: All Ayes.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
The Commissioner asked for this item to be placed on the next meeting’s agenda.
 
Item D moved to Item B
  1. Compost Classes 2012
Commissioner Buck reported the attendance for the classes from prior years:
            2007—96
            2008—108
            2009—49
            2010—42         
            2011—40
She believed the classes had been well advertised and believes it’s an important class to continue fulfilling some of the Commission’s goals to connect, educate and communicate conservation.  Commissioner Runkel remarked smaller classes would be more beneficial to the participants.  Chairperson Hartman suggested a video on the web site to demonstrate the composting process.  Commissioner Cellini suggested the Commission inform the public at the Earth Day Event.
 
Commissioner Runkel made a motion to allocate $150.00 for the gift certificate for the teacher of the Compost Classes.  Commissioner Cellini seconded the motion.
Voice Vote: All Ayes.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
The Commissioner asked for this item to be placed on the next meeting’s agenda.
 
 
  1. Review of Assignments from November 19, 2011
        Sustainable Plan
Commissioner McGinnis went over the brochure to submit to the Council with the corrected changes from the last meeting.  The Commission discussed what type of document would be submitted to the City Council and in what content. 
 
Leed Silver Certification
Commissioner Weir read from the Ashland City Council Goal was to: Adopt land use codes, building codes, green building standards, and fee structures that create strong incentives for development that is energy, water, and land efficient and supports a multi-modal transportation system.  He stated to obtain this goal; the Ashland Conservation Commission recommends that the city require a minimum LEED Silver Certification for all new City buildings and retrofits.
 
Commissioner Weir read his letter the Commission would support and be presented to the Council.
The members made some simple changes to the letter that Commissioner Weir would adjust.
 
Commissioner Cellini read a letter outlining how the Commission would like to implement the anti-idling ordinance that already exists in the City.  She highlighted the main goals as: educate and enforce anti-idling ordinance 2828 for city vehicles, tracking fuel efficiency for city vehicles, hire a grant writer, and implement a fine for the ordinance.
 
 
Adam Hanks helped the Commission understand a format to submit to Council.  He offered to write a communication to Council highlighting the three main issues the Commission would like to present: sustainability/conservation plan for the city adoption, Leed standard buildings, and conservation within fleet management including the enforcement of the city’s idling policy.
 
Commissioner Runkel moved the Commission give the Council a background sheet of paper that talks about these three things: Sustainability planning, Leed program and enforcement of the idle policy.
 
The Commission discussed further how to present information to the City Council.
Commissioner Runkel retracted the motion.
 
  1. Report for Council based on reviews
 
Commissioner Cellini made a motion to put together on a one page summary with bullet points the 6 items from Commissioner McGinnis 2012 sustainable items, bullets from commissioner Weir’s information on Leed Silver Certification and bullets for the anti-idling policy for the February 11, 2012 Council retreat.
            Commissioner Runkel seconded the motion.
Voice Vote: All Ayes.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
Commissioner McGinnis made a motion to include back-up material to the proposed communication to the Council.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Runkel.
Voice Vote: All Ayes.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
 
OLD BUSINESS
Set aside
 
QUARTERLY LIAISON REPORT
Set aside (December meeting: Southern Oregon University)
 
 
ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Hartman adjourned the meeting at 8:20 pm.
 
 
Respectfully submitted by:
Mary McClary
Administrative Assistant for Electric, Telecommunication
and the Conservation Department.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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).
 


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