ASHLAND FOREST LANDS COMMISSION June 25, 2003 4:30 – 6:00 PM MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT: Frank Betlejewski, Elizabeth Crosson (Vice Chair), Stephen Jensen (Chair), Bill Robertson Members Absent: Richard Brock, Jo Anne Eggers, Anthony Kerwin Staff Present: Nancy Slocum, Pieter Smeenk, Keith Woodley, Marty Main (Consultant) I. CALL TO ORDER AT 4:32 PM II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 9, 2003 minutes were not available for approval. III. PUBLIC FORUM: Bill Gates, a new resident on Morton Street, introduced himself and wanted to observe a meeting. IV. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: A. Public Hike Update – Robertson reported that ten very diverse members of the public hiked to Units H, J and D1. Betlejewski estimated that 10-15% of the Douglas Fir in these areas has died. Motion: Robertson moved that the Chair contact the City Administer and City Councilors to personally invite them on a hiking tour. Crosson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Woodley meet with John Schuler, acting Forest Ranger beginning July 7. He suggested inviting him as well. He will email the commission a bio. The outreach subcommittee will meet immediately following the meeting. Crosson asked Slocum to submit hike information to Jeffnet’s calendar of events. B. Discussion and Vote on Inclusions to the City Forest Lands Restoration Project Draft – Jensen reviewed the commissioner submissions to date. The commission commented on Betlejewski’s submission on prescribed fire. Robertson would like the sections personalized as “we the commission.” Crosson commented that there needs to be a sentence clarifying terms such as “underburning” and “prescribed burn.” Crosson would also like to clarify that pretreatment is needed before prescribed underburning. Commission discussed burning 7” branches versus using an on-site mill. Jensen encouraged the commission to have all drafts ready by the next meeting. He wondered what’s next. Woodley said the City Council would be expecting economics of the project to be addressed. Main said that after the prescription is finished on each unit, he needs to develop a cost for helicopter logging and come up with a cost per unit. He is optimistic that he could have this by the end of summer or beginning of fall. Jensen asked if staff had enough time and money to work with the commission on finishing the proposal. Woodley said yes, but he was unsure about implementation of the proposal. Woodley spoke to the City Administrator about the project. The feedback was the project must be rational, reasonable, incorporate community’s values and be economically feasible. Woodley acknowledged the commission’s sense of urgency, but stated there were many difficult and complex hurdles to overcome before implementation began. V. OTHER BUSINESS None VI. REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR / NEXT MEETING A. Next scheduled meeting was set for Wednesday, July 9, 2003. VII. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:50 PM