Agendas and Minutes

Conservation and Climate Outreach Committee (View All)

Conservation Commission Monthly Meeting 10/24/12

Agenda
Wednesday, October 24, 2012

 

CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES

6:00pm-8:00pm –October 24, 2012
Community Development Building
51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR  97520
--- To be approved at the November 28, 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, Cat Gould, Marni Koopman, Jim McGinnis, David Runkel and Mark Weir.
 
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 September 26, 2012.
 
Commissioner Buck moved to approve the minutes as stated of September 26, 2012, seconded by Commissioner Weir.
Voice Vote: All Ayes.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
                                                                                                                                                                                      
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next Conservation Commission meeting would be held November 28, 2012.  Commissioner Runkel will be absent
for the November meeting.
 
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.
 
Chairperson Beam announced there would be a brief presentation to the City Council on November 6th regarding the Commission’s Sustainable Framework Plan.  He invited all the Commissioners to attend if possible.
 
WELCOME/ INTRODUCTION
                Introduction of Mark Holden, Director of AFN, IT & Electric Utility
Mark introduced himself to the Commission and gave them a brief background of his work history and how it relates to his current director positions. He talked about some of his personal and professional highlights.  The Commissioners asked him several questions including concerns about Tier 2 power charges, conservation efforts, sustainable frameworks, and the generation of revenue.  The members thanked Mr. Holden for taking the time to come and meet with the Commission.
 
PUBLIC FORUM
Chairperson Beam and Counselor Voisin acknowledged Commissioner Buck’s immense work on the Plastic Round-Up Event, indicating the overall success.  Commissioner Buck gave some thanks to the Master Recyclers, Chairperson Beam and city staff employee, Larry Giardina, for their contribution for the event.  A total of 654 cars came to the event in Ashland only, making it the highest participation to date. 
 
Commissioner Weir would like the Plastic Round up Event to the Master Calendar two months prior to the event for the Commission to review. 
 
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
  2012-13 Commission Master Calendar Review
Commissioner McGinnis announced the Sustainable sub-committee meetings would be scheduled according to the results of the Council meeting on November 6th.
 
2012 Commission Retreat Planning
The retreat will be scheduled for Saturday, December 1st at the Parks and Recreation office in Lithia Park beginning at 9am.  The Commission hopes to retain a facilitator who would then optimize their time spent.  Chairperson Beam went over a brief outline of the retreat.  They tentatively review:
  • calendar review of prior year
  • charter and commission goals
  • short term goals
  • 3, 5, 10 yr look forward
  • projects
  • budget review
  • budget appropriations
  • break-out groups
 
NEW BUSINESS
Water Sub-committee Objectives/Task/Update
Commissioner Weir reported on the meeting on the 7th discussing topics of water conservation that they felt the Commission could get involved with, for example,  water cap and trade systems applied to businesses in Ashland.  They talked about existing and new videos, placing them on the web site and also the creation of new signage providing a community education component that supports the Commission goals. 
Projects suggested were: Adopt a Drain Program
                                           Tracking Water Conservation Efforts (annual city report card)
                                            Rebate for people installing Grey water systems
                                                            More signage around Environmental Resources
 
Counselor Voisin needed to leave for City Public Forum 7:10pm.
 
OLD BUSINESS
City Operational Sustainability Plan Sub-Committee Status Update
Commissioner McGinnis remarked about the up-coming city council meeting where the framework sustainability plan would be presented at the next meeting. He thanked Adam for all his work in putting the outline/plan together.  The members discussed how the plan elements coincide with the council goals.  They anticipated the Council results and talked about what next steps would occur.  Lee talked about future projects and resources available to implement more work required to move forward.  Commissioner Beigel-Coryell suggested the possibility of utilizing SOU’s Capstone Project to help with the Commission’s project.
 
The Commissioners sincerely thanked Commissioner McGinnis, Adam Hanks and all the members for consistently pursuing this project and were very pleased with the final product. 
               
               
QUARTERLY LIAISON REPORTS
SOU UPATES:
  • Recycling center
  In operation for almost a year, from April to September, they have sorted out more than
  26,000 pounds of recycling, 500 pounds of items for reuse, and reduced their garbage contamination rate
  from 17% to13% in the last six months.  During the SOU move out, they diverted from the landfill more than   5600 pounds of items.
  • Green House Gas Inventory completed this year.
  • Purchased Power Safe Software to help reduce their electronic usage from computers.
  • The Green Fee will offset water use with restoration credits; help fund renewable projects on campus or within the community and support student projects.
  • Irrigation system will be updated expecting to save approx. 16 million gallons of water a year.
  • Department of Energy Video highlighting renewable energy releasing next week.
  • North Campus Village project still slated to be Leed Gold, opening in the fall of 2012.      
 
Chairperson Beam remarked how the students were doing an incredible amount of working leading staff in a direction that creates a campus they want to live on.
 
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
Set aside.
 
OTHER BUSINESS FROM COMMISSIONERS NOT ON AGENDA
Adam went over the proposed changes to the Commissions about an attendance policy and membership requirements summarizing their interest in the option to define their own rules for attendance and excused and unexcused absentees.
The members discussed the options from different angles including adding an option to attend a meeting by phone in case of illness or other circumstances.  Lee explained about other Commissions and Committees and the need for some flexibility due to the individual needs of each one. 
 
Commissioner Gould moved to adopt option 3 from the memo to the Commission regarding potential Ashland municipal Code Changes. Commissioner Weir seconded the motion.
 
Option 3- Proposes that each Commission develops and submits its own attendance rules that would include notification rules, excused/unexcused definitions, phone/internet participation options, minimum attendance requirements.
 
 Voice Vote: All Ayes.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
 
Commissioner Weir stated in order to keep the web site updated:
  • Recommends was spelled incorrectly on the Conservation web site 
  • Links to the other two videos are not on line yet
  • Remove or edit the composting class information, preferable edit. 
  • Highlight Grey water in the City Source.
 
Commissioner Gould relayed her experience with her family partaking in marking drains.
 
Commissioner Weir asked about the water conservation specialist position no longer be filled and Lee explained the City has a hiring freeze in effect until further notice.
 
 
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00.
 
 
 
 
 
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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