CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES
6:00pm-8:00pm –February 27, 2013
Community Development Building
51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR 97520
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To be approved at the March 20, 2013 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, Jim McGinnis,
Mark Weir, Marni Koopman and David Runkel.
City Council Liaison: Carol Voisin
Staff Representative: Adam Hanks
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairperson Beam asked for approval of the minutes for February 27, 2013.
Commissioner Buck moved to approve the minutes for February 27, seconded by Commissioner Hartman
Voice Vote: All Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next Conservation Commission meeting would be held March 20, 2013, due to Spring Break on the normal fourth Wednesday time.
Upcoming sub-committee meetings:
Conservationist of the Year sub-committee will meet March 12, 2013 at 4:00 at GEOS offices on Fourth St.
PUBLIC FORUM
Mimi Pippel from the Ashland Association of University Women (AAUW) presented an overview of the organizations annual fundraising event, the Spring Garden Tour and asked for the Commission’s support of sponsorship to allow the group to be eligible for the purchase of a permit to install an event banner across East Main St. The Commission asked about the Garden Tour’s practices in terms of graywater use and other sustainable practices and Ms. Pippel addressed the groups growing emphasis in these areas.
Commissioner Weir motioned that the Commission agree to recommend sponsorship to the Council per the criteria described in resolution 2012-03 with a condition that each garden on this year’s tour have a water audit conducted by the City’s Water Conservation Specialist. The motion received a second from Commissioner Runkel. The motion passed unanimously.
Two presentations to the Commission were made by SOU students, one on alternative energy – renewable resources and one on pollution of the outdoor environment.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- Earth Day Request
Commissioner Weir motion/Runkel second to recommend allocation of the full $1,000 as requested by Earth Day organizers from the January Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Weir requested that staff put together a budget history of the re-occuring expenses similar to Earth Day for planning purposes in the coming year. Hanks agreed to prepare a summary.
- Commission 2013 Goals Discussion
The Commission began the discussion with an update from Councilor Voison on the Council goal setting process for 2013. Councilor Voison explained this year’s process included major goal categories, objectives within the goal and potential tactics provided by Staff to accomplish each objective. Councilor Voison referenced the draft goals list provided in the meeting packet and the Commission discussed and agreed that the goals were generally lacking in specificity.
The Commission then discussed the list of potential goals that resulted from the December retreat and the January Commission meeting that were summarized in the meeting packet in a staff memo. Commissioner Weir made a motion to create two goals 1) Develop a storm drain adoption program. 2) Create a best practices guide for car washing in Ashland. The motion was withdrawn by Commissioner Weir as other Commissioners preferred to discuss the goals list as a whole prior to motions for approval.
Commissioner McGinnis suggested that the Commission create goal categories and place items under each category. The Commission agreed on the following categories:
Sustainability Planning
Water
Energy Conservation
Civic Events
Green Business
Climate Change Education
Waste Prevention
Commissioner McGinnis suggested placing two items under Sustainability Planning: 1)Support City Plan, 2) Begin Community Plan
The Commission discussed several different goals/targets for energy conservation. The resulting motion was to Develop a set of recommendations for reducing energy use in the community in support of a zero percent increase in kwh and a reduction of 20% in ten years. That motion was seconded by Commissioner Gould and passed with a 7- 1 vote (Runkel no longer present, Beam no).
Commission Chair Beam reminded Commissioners that the goals completion will be the first agenda item for the March meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Deferred to March Meeting
QUARTERLY LIAISON REPORTS
Deferred to March Meeting
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
Deferred
OTHER BUSINESS FROM COMMISSIONERS NOT ON AGENDA
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00.
Respectfully submitted by:
Adam Hanks, Administration-Conservation