[Council Communication]  [Attachments]

Council Communication

Title:	Amendment To Outdoor Burning Ordinance
Dept:	Ashland Fire & Rescue
Date:	January 20, 2004
Submitted By:	Keith E. Woodley, Fire Chief
Approved By: ...........................	Gino Grimaldi, City Administrator Paul Nolte, City Attorney

Synopsis:	Jackson County is amending their outdoor burning regulations to permit a two week burning period immediately following the termination of fire season. To facilitate coordination in burning permit issuance and regulation, and to reduce the potential for confusion within and between emergency 9-1-1 service areas, it is proposed that our outdoor burning ordinance also be amended. Additional amendments to the open burning ordinance are intended to reduce city council and staff time required by the annual review provision.
Recommendation:	Staff recommends that the Council approve for second reading the attached amendment to the outdoor burning ordinance.
Fiscal Impact:	(not applicable)
Background:	In some past years, the fall burning period has been cancelled county-wide due to lingering fire seasons and related dry, hazardous fire conditions. Jackson County plans to amend their county burning ordinance to allow outdoor burning permits to be issued for a two week period following the conclusion of fire season, if conditions are deemed safe for burning. It is important for the City of Ashland to establish and maintain outdoor burning regulations that work in harmony with those in place in Jackson County. This helps facilitate the coordination of permit issuance, enforcement activities and reduces the potential for conflict in identifying and dispatching real emergencies. The current ordinance was written to require an annual review by Council to monitor burning activity in consideration of achieving air quality standards. The burning practices within the City have been in conformance with Jackson County DEQ standards for several years now and are no longer a concern. It is proposed that the requirement for annual review be eliminated from the ordinance.
Attachments:	• An Ordinance Amending Section 10.30.020 of the Ashland Municipal Code to Simplify the Annual Consideration of Outdoor Burning Regulations by the City Council.

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