Agendas and Minutes

Conservation and Climate Outreach Committee (View All)

Conservation Commission Meeting of May 22, 2013

Agenda
Wednesday, May 22, 2013

CONSERVATION COMMISSION MINUTES

6:00pm-8:00pm –May 22, 2013
Community Development Building
51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR  97520

 
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Beam called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
Attendees:
Thomas Beam, Risa Buck, Stuart Corns, Jim McGinnis, Jim Hartman, Cat Gould , Shel Silverberg and Mark Weir,
Not present: Marni Koopman, Roxane Beigel-Coryell (Stuart Corns representing SOU).
 
City Council Liaison: Not present
Staff Representative: Adam Hanks
 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairperson Beam announced that the April 24, 2013 minutes will be presented for approval at the June meeting as well as the Fourth of July sub-committee minutes for May 7, 2013.
 
               
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioner McGinnis stated that he would send out an email to the Sustainability sub-committee to set a new regular time and schedule for the sub-committee meetings and report back with the results.
 
The next Conservation Commission meeting would be held June26, 2013, Wednesday beginning at 6pm.
 
Commissioner Buck announced that the Fourth of July sub-committee meeting will be held on June 11 at 4:00 at Recology.
 
Hanks announced that the Commission will need to nominate and elect new officers for 2013.  The Commission discussed possible nominations and agreed to have the item placed on the next meeting agenda.
 
PUBLIC FORUM
 
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
 
2013 Goals Prioritization
Commission Chair Beam described that he felt that each of the goal categories are priorities and that he wanted to be sure that each Commissioner felt that their issues were adequately represented and that there was a “champion” for each category and that strict prioritization wasn’t necessary.
 
The Commission also discussed the future of the Water sub-committee with Commissioner Weir informing the group that he would be unable to give it the time and attention he felt it needed due to his non-Commission related time commitments and hoped that another Commissioner would be able to step in to fill his leadership role.  The Commission agreed to discuss this further at a future date.
 
The Commission discussed their interest in additional water sub-committee related work, specifically the car wash storm drain issue that had already been in the works.  The Commission discussed various options for improving the water quality aspect of public fundraising type car washes, including coupons, regulatory requirements (banning/enforcement). 
 
Commissioner Weir then made a motion to approve the use of up to $850 to purchase a car wash storm drain kit similar to the one currently being borrowed from Rogue Valley Council of Governments that the Public Works Department provides to people doing car washes in Ashland as well as a sign that the group can use at the car wash describing the car wash as “green” or something similar to recognize the efforts being made.  The motion was seconded by Gould and approved unanimously.
 
 
 
NEW BUSINESS
A.  Fourth of July Planning
Commissioner Buck described the plans for the event beginning with the tractor/trailer containing recycle bins as a float that then turns into a collection station on the plaza.  Buck mentioned that the Chamber is providing banners for the trailer float and Commissioners will have similar t-shirts as last year.
 
Buck made a motion for approval to spend up to $100 from the Commission budget for t-shirt related expenses.  Motion seconded by Gould, and approved unanimously.
 
Buck announced the next Fourth of July sub-committee meeting would be May 7 at Recology at 4:30.
 
B. Grey water follow-up discussion
The Commission is interested in pursuing the establishment of an incentive from the City for the installation of greywater systems and discussed the potential for offering an incentive equivalent to the $95 permit fee.  Hanks noted that greywater is listed in the 2012 Water Master Plan, but incentive payments were not suggested.  Hanks explained some of the decision making and evaluation of the City’s water conservation incentive programs including balancing incentives across the various program areas within budget constraints, which incentives provide the best “bang for the buck” in water savings, etc.  Hanks suggested that Staff present an overview of the Water Conservation programs prior to the Commission making a formal recommendation and tentatively scheduled that presentation for the July meeting.
 
C.  Car Wash Kit Purchase
The Commission discussed the future of the Water sub-committee with Commissioner Weir informing the group that he would be unable to give it the time and attention he felt it needed due to his non-Commission related time commitments and hoped that another Commissioner would be able to step in to fill his leadership role.  The Commission agreed to discuss this further at a future date.
 
The Commission discussed their interest in additional water sub-committee related work, specifically the car wash storm drain issue that had already been in the works.  The Commission discussed various options for improving the water quality aspect of public fundraising type car washes, including coupons, regulatory requirements (banning/enforcement). 
 
Commissioner Weir then made a motion to approve the use of up to $850 to purchase a car wash storm drain kit similar to the one currently being borrowed from Rogue Valley Council of Governments that the Public Works Department provides to people doing car washes in Ashland as well as a sign that the group can use at the car wash describing the car wash as “green” or something similar to recognize the efforts being made.  The motion was seconded by Gould and approved unanimously.
 
D. Normal Master Plan Update
Hanks mentioned that this was a request of Commissioner Koopman who wasn’t able to attend this meeting so it may be worth discussing at a future meeting.  Hanks mentioned that the Commission does not have a direct role in the land use development process of the City, but that policy level involvement and recommendation, such as with the Unified Land Use Code Update, project can be effective in setting the standards and requirements for future development. 
 
 
STAFF REPORT/UPDATE
Hanks presented a powerpoint overview of the Conservation Division budget for the FY13-15 biennium.  Hanks described the general funding sources for each area, energy and solar programs funding comes from the Electric Fund and water conservation funding is from the Water Fund, managed by Public Works and noting that the Division has moved into the Administration Department.  Hanks provided some statistics regarding water conservation over the past year and program plans for the upcoming year, including assistance to large irrigation customer to replace domestic water irrigation with TID.
 
The presentation will be continued to the June meeting, due to adjournment.
 
QUARTERLY LIAISON REPORTS
Deferred to June 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

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