MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 11:00AM to 1:00PM

I.  CALL TO ORDER 11:07am

In attendance: Stephen Gagne, Ron Parker, Doug Kay, Bruce Moats, Tim Bewley, Vicky Sturtevant, Alison Lerch (AF&R)

Guests: Tracy Peddicord, Kent Mclaughlin

Public Forum: Debbie Neisewander (neisewander@gmail.com - send Firewise information)

2. INTRODUCTIONS

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: April 20, 2016 Stephen motioned to approve, Tim 2^nd, All in favor.
   1. Action Items
      1. Farmers Market Table
         1. Doug and Alison attended 2 weeks in a row, 5/10 and 5/17 from 8:30am-10:30am.  On 5/17 they brought props of lava rock and bark mulch to show safe landscaping techniques around the house. They are going to attend every 2 weeks. Next dates: May 31^st and June 14^th from 10:30am-1:30pm. Tim and Vicky can help on June 14^th.
         2. The idea to host a Lithia Park Wednesday Walking Tour was proposed.  The WMC could host a Firewise Plants walk in the future.
            • Vicky will lead a Lithia Park Tour before the June WMC Meeting.
         3. Shooting Star Nursery also hold a lot of classes. AF&R could partner with them to do the next Firewise Landscaping Course.
      2. June City Source
         1. June is a great time to educate the city about Firewise tips around the house.
         2. August City Source- Put in a modified Talking Points to prep for the September 12^th/13^th Ashland Chamber Summit Event.
         3. Alarm Box 6 weeks from now: article about the 5-30 ft Home Ignition Zone?

4. PUBLIC FORUM (The Public has the opportunity to speak for 5 minutes.)
   1. Debbie Neisewander is working with the Mayor and ODFW and to create public awareness and an educational program about bears in the city.

5. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA

6. BUSINESS
   1. Ongoing Business
      1. Commission Vacancy
         1. Currently, there is 1 vacancy on the Wildfire Mitigation Commission (WMC).  An additional position will open up 4/2017. Tracy Peddicord is a professional landscape designer and education to homeowners, Sage Hill Landscape. Kent Mclaughlin is a concerned citizen in the community that lives on Scenic Drive.

2. Commission Renaming
   1. This will take City Council action and an Ordinance.
3. Wildfire Hazard Zone Joint Commissions Meeting
   1. No date has been selected for this meeting. This is a brainstorm meeting with the Chairs of the Tree, Planning and Wildfire Mitigation Commissions including members of the AF&R, Planning Department and the Mayor. Vicky will send an email to the Commission when the date is selected.
      • We absolutely support the goal of this ordinance and it is critical to the safety of the city.
4. Chamber Task Force
   1. The group met for the second time on May 3^rd. AF&R, WMC and the Chamber will host a Wildfire Summit September 12^th/13^th.  Paul Hessberg, a Research Ecologist from the Forest Service in Wenatchee, Washington will do an evening presentation at SOU (place TBD). The following morning will be a Chamber hosted session with key individuals from the board.  The WMC will listen to the concerns about wildfire and use the information to update the Community Engagement section of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
5. Firewise Clean Up Day Update
   1. 150 carloads, 3 bins filled.  2015 stats: 152 carloads and 4 bins filled. Thank you to Doug, Ron & Vicky for volunteering.  The event was highly successful and look forward to doing it again next year. Some citizens asked if Recology would host a day in the fall.
6. Ashland Food Project/Firewise Website
   1. Alison will double check to make sure the image is rotated.  Alison will send an email to Doug when the website is complete.
7. Wildfire Mitigation Commission Annual Report to the City Council
   1. Vicky and Alison presented a report to the City Council on May 17^th. Vicky read the mission of the WMC and outlined the work that is ongoing with the Chamber, Farmer’s Market, Ashland Food Project & RVCOG. Alison presented the work with the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network and Firewise.
   2. The WMC would like a City Council representative to attend the monthly meetings. Ron will call Mayor Stromberg, Alison will call Greg Lemhouse to see if he can make the next meeting.
2. New Business
   1. Ashland Firewise Celebration Event:  June 8^th - 5:30-7pm at the Bellview Grange
      1. Ron, Doug and Alison will meet after this to develop the agenda. Rogue Valley Roasting Company will provide coffee, tea and appetizers. This is a celebration event.

7. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
8. AGENDA ITEMS
   1. Branding
   2. Commission Roles

9. REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR / NEXT MEETING

1. Mayor’s Brown Bag Lunch: May 27, 2016: 12PM-1PM (COMDEV, 51 Winburn Way)
2. Ashland Chamber Task Force: June 8, 2016: 9:30AM-10:30AM (Station 1)
3. Ashland Firewise Celebration: June 8, 2016: 5:30PM-7:00PM (Bellview Grange)
4. Next WMC meeting: June 15, 2016, 11AM-1PM (Station 1 - 455 Siskiyou Blvd)
5. Regional FAC Exchange: June 22-23, 2016 (Ashland Springs Hotel)
6. Evening Presentation with Stephen Pyne: June 22, 2016, 7:00PM (SOU, Meese Auditorium)
7. Ashland Chamber Summit Evening Presentation: September 12^th, 2016 (Time/Location TBD)
8. Ashland Chamber Summit: September 13^th, 2016 (Time/Location TBD)

10. ADJOURN: 1:07 PM