Agendas and Minutes

Conservation and Climate Outreach Committee (View All)

Conservation Commission Monthly Meeting 09/26/2012

Agenda
Wednesday, September 26, 2012

 

CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES

6:00pm-8:00pm –September 26, 2012
Community Development Building
51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR  97520
--- To be approved at the October 24, 2012 Commission Meeting.
 
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Beam called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
Attendees:
Thomas Beam, Roxane Beigel-Coryell, Risa Buck, Jim Hartman, Marni Koopman, Jim McGinnis, David Runkel and Mark Weir.
 Cat Gould was not present.
 
City Council Liaison: Carol Voisin
Staff Representative: Lee Tuneberg, Adam Hanks, and Mary McClary.
 
 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairperson Beam asked for approval of the minutes for August 22, 2012.
 
Commissioner Buck moved to approve the minutes as adjusted for August 22, 2012, seconded by Commissioner Beigel-Coryell.
Voice Vote: All Ayes.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
Commissioner Weir moved to approve the sub-committee minutes for water and sustainability, seconded by Commissioner Buck.
Voice Vote: All Ayes.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
                                                                                                                                                                                       
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next Conservation Commission meeting would be held October 24, 2012. 
 
Upcoming sub-committee meetings for September:
Sustainability sub-committee will meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at the Siskiyou Room, Community
Development Building.
 
Water sub-committee will meet from 6-7pm at the Ashland Library, the 2nd Monday of the month.
 
Ashland Green Solar Home Tour will be October 13, 2012. Registration may be completed at the Parks Department web site.
 
 
PUBLIC FORUM
Commissioner Buck invited the Commission members to participate in the Plastic Round-Up on October 19th and 20th.  This year the event will be held at two different locations, the Ashland Armory on East Main, and The Jackson County Expo in Central Point.
 
Commissioner McGinnis reported on the Rogue Valley Action Coalition Group for Climate Change was held at the Medford Library on September 25th.  There were 80 participants that brain stormed about taking action as a group.  They would like to bridge involvement between governments, Commissioners and citizens politically and other ways within the governmental systems.  The next meeting is scheduled for October 30, 2012.
 
Chairperson Beam reported about working with Commissioner Buck and the Ashland Chamber of Commerce to help learn about the Cycle Oregon event when they stopped over in Ashland.  Cycle Oregon hired a private consultant that planned the travel arrangements for over 2,000 participants with a goal of zero waste, which included recycling, refill water stations, solar trailers, solar water for cleaning, and generated less noise and better air quality issues within the tent city.  Commissioner Beigel-Coryell reported they used a large amount of vehicles and the disturbed the freshly seeded field, but was to be expected with that many participants.
 
 
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Master Calendar Review 2012-13
                Commissioner McGinnis asked to have the sub-committee meetings listed on the calendar review.
               
Commissioner Weir mentioned Mark Holden, the new Electric Director would attend the next meeting.
                He also asked staff to list the name of presenters for the different topics.
 
Counselor Voisin asked that Julie Smitherman, conservation staff , attend the next meeting present and give her presentation she did for the Council about the new web site.  Adam Hanks will inquire when she can attend.  Chairperson Beam remarked they could delete the Road Diet and fit Julie in that spot.
 
Commissioner Weir would like the City Administrator to come and meet the Commission whenever it fits his schedule and Chairperson Beam also mentioned he would like to invite the Mayor to one of the meetings.
 
NEW BUSINESS
2012 Commission Retreat Planning
                December 1, 2012, Saturday from 9am to 2pm at the Parks Department, with the Siskiyou Room as a back-up.  The
Commission decided to ask a facilitator to be present and keep them on track to accomplish as much as possible.
Chairperson Beam will put together a brief outline.  The Commission discussed topics and a basic structure for their
re-treat.
 
Commissioner McGinnis made a motion to set aside 300 for a facilitator for the retreat, seconded by Commissioner
Weir.
Voice Vote: All Ayes.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
 
Staff Liaison Report-- Solar Program Update & Report
                Larry Giardina presented a power point presentation: Ashland Solar Program.
 
Water Sub-committee Objectives/Task & Report
                Set aside to next meeting.
 
2012 Compost Class Summary Report
Commissioner Buck reported the classes had a total of 46 people, a few less than last year.  She thanked all the Commissioners that attended and their support for the classes.  He suggested next year, they offer three (3) introductory classes and one (1) advanced class.  They will add the item to the March 2013 calendar, along with the expected expenditure.  Commissioner Weir suggested we partner with North Mountain Park to consolidate for a more advanced composting and recycling class.  Counselor Voisin wondered if businesses would become more aware of composting options through the program.  Larry Giardina stated the Master Recyclers does a lot of commercial out reach.
 
OLD BUSINESS
City Operational Sustainability Plan Sub-committee Report
Commissioner McGinnis presented an OPERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY PLAN document for the approval of the Commission.  The plan includes background information, goals, the plan framework, the plan format, benchmarks, samples, proposed actions, timelines and requirements.  The members reviewed the document, made suggestions for the sub-committee to bring back at the next meeting for approval.
               
Commissioner Weir suggested:
  1. Remove the section where the Commission recommends the operational plan be developed without a specific framework and add we recommend ICELI
  2. State the cost in man hours and consultants, a ball park figure
  3. Staff member to oversees project and include in document recommended by city
  4. July, 2013 seemed to quick, might want to schedule out further
  5. Next step component
 
Commissioner Koopman agreed the framework should be specified.
 
Commissioner McGinnis motioned the Commission adopt this recommendation, including Commissioner Weir’s
 suggestions, for presentation to the City Council in November, 2012.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Weir.
Voice Vote: All Ayes.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
QUARTERLY LIAISON REPORTS
SOU
Set aside to next meeting.
 
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
Councilor Voisin reported the council will be making a decision soon about the hospital merger.  She expressed a concern about dealing with goals at the retreat, emphasizing to involve staff, and utilizing staff to write council communications for presentations to the city council. 
 
OTHER BUSINESS FROM COMMISSIONERS NOT ON AGENDA
None stated.
 
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:02.
 
 
 
 
 
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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