[ Council Communication ]  [Resolution]

Council Communication

Title:	Annual review of City burning regulations and adoption of a resolution authorizing outdoor burning under certain conditions from March 1 through October 31, 2003, excluding fire season.
Dept:	Fire
Date:	02/04/03
Submitted By:	Keith E. Woodley, Fire Chief
Reviewed By:	Paul Nolte, City Attorney
Approved By: ...........................	Brian Almquist, Interim City Administrator

Synopsis:	AMC Section 10.30.020 provides for an annual city burning report to Mayor & Council during the month of January: "The Fire Chief shall annually report to council in January of each year the outdoor fires regulated under this section and any recommendations the Chief may have regarding such fires or this section. (ORD 2795, SI 1997)
Recommendation:	Staff recommends the Council accept this report and retain AMC 10.30, Controls On Open Burning, as presently written. AMC 10.30.20, "Period When Outdoor Burning Is Authorized," requires a Council resolution setting forth the dates during which burning permits may be issued during the 2003 burn permit season.
Fiscal Impact:	(not applicable)
Background:	This memo is provided as a report of residential burning activity for the calendar year 2002 in fulfillment of ordinance requirements. With the amendments to our municipal burning ordinance in the Spring of 1997, our burning practices are in full harmony with Jackson County air quality regulations. The opportunity to dispose of wildfire fuels through the burning permit process continues to provide residents of our community with another viable option for fuel removal, in addition to the alternatives of composting and recycling. A ten year summary of our burning activity is included with this report. A summary of our opening burning activity for the past ten years is depicted below: PERMITS ISSUED Period 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Spring 87 106 79 175 143 159 127 87 147 139 154 Fall 29 42 31 33 30 46 53 19 38 3 0 Total 116 148 110 208 173 205 180 106 185 142 154 The Spring burning period in 2002 occurred from March 1 through June 11. There were a total of 102 days within the burning period. All of those days were at an index of 401 or above to allow burning. Due to the hot, dry summer conditions in 2002, outdoor burning was not permitted in the Fall.

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RESOLUTION NO. 2003- _________

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING OUTDOOR BURNING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS BETWEEN MARCH AND OCTOBER 2003.

Recital: The council being fully informed regarding the advisability of permitting outdoor fires during the 2003 calendar year as recommended by Keith E. Woodley, City of Ashland Fire Chief, in his memorandum to the council dated February 4, 2003.

THE CITY OF ASHLAND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Pursuant to Ashland Municipal Code section 10.30.020, outdoor fires are authorized between March 1 and October 31 of 2003, excluding fire season, when the ventilation index is over 400 and fire fuel conditions are conducive to burning.

SECTION 2.This resolution takes effect upon signing by Mayor.

This resolution was read by title only in accordance with Ashland Municipal Code Section 2.04.090 duly PASSED and ADOPTED this _____ day of February, 2002.
Barbara Christensen, City Recorder

SIGNED and APPROVED this ____day of February, 2003.
Alan W. DeBoer, Mayor

Reviewed as to form:
Paul Nolte, City Attorney

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