Minutes

Conservation Commission

01/26/05

January 26, 2005– 7:00 p.m.
Community Development Building

51 Winburn Way

Ashland

CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson, Alex Amarotico, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Development Building.

ROLL CALL
Attendees: Charles Bennett, Ross Finney, Jim Hartman, Joanne Krippaehne, Bruce Moats, and Paige Prewett.  Carol Carlson and Russ Chapman were absent.

City Council Liaison: Alex Amarotico

Staff Liaison: Dick Wanderscheid

Student Liaison: none present

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairperson, Alex Amarotico asked for an approval of the December 01, 2004 minutes.

Commissioner Finney moved to approve the minutes as stated and Commissioner Krippaehne seconded the motion.

Voice vote: all Ayes. The motion passed with a unanimous vote.

The minutes of the Conservation Commission Meeting of December 01, 2004 were approved.

PUBLIC FORUM

None present

ASHLAND SANITARY & RECYCLING UPDATE:

Commissioner Chapman was unable to attend, but submitted an updated report to the Commissioners highlighting 2004 figures verses 2003.

Lumber and Brush to Bio-Mass-up14%

Yard Debris-up 35%

Heavy Metals-up14%

Total fibers, plastic, aluminum, tin cans –up 25%

Also, he submitted an article from the AOR Newsletter for the Commissioners.

OLD BUSINESS

Conservation Goals and Council Goals

Chairperson Amarotico reported the results of the first effort to determine Council Goals and discussion followed about the Conservation goals submitted to the Council: 

• Continue the City’s current commitment of purchasing green power from Bonneville Power Administration and also explore expanding the size of this purchase in the future.

• Increase the overall energy efficiency in the City’s vehicle fleet, and also explore the expanded use of alternative fuels in the fleet.

• In order to ensure the utmost resource efficiency in new City facilities, require all new facilities be constructed to comply with LEED or Earth Advantage equivalent standards.

Mr. Wanderscheid reviewed the Draft Commission Goals from 2003-4 stating that the Commission had never formally adopted these goals, but reminding the members that many of them were already accomplished.

The Commission went through each goal and reconstructed a new set of draft goals that would be sent to each member by email for their review before the next Commission meeting and formal adoption.

• Research and recommend to the City ways to continue and possibly expand the City’s commitment

to purchasing or encouraging Green resources as a part of the City’s power mix.

• Research and Implement ways to more effectively market:

            Commercial Green Waste Participation

            The Renewable pioneer/Green Tag Program

            The Adopt a Street/Storm Drain Stenciling Program

            The Green Business Program

            The City’s Water Conservation programs, possible including Rain water and Grey

                        water initiatives

• Continue the conservation Commission’s educational classes and outreach.

• Continue to support the cities for Climate Change initiative.

NEW BUSINESS

Commission members discussed the implementation of the goals and how to directly incorporate them into the meetings.  The members decided to discuss it further at the next meeting.

 SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

1.      Historic Conservation

Commissioner Krippaehne will contact the Historic Commission to further set up communication between the two Commissions.

2.      Education/Events

None presented.

3.      Green Business

None presented.

COMMISSION ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA

Commissioner Prewett updated the Commission about her activities with recruiting businesses to purchase green tags.  She reported there were 13 businesses signed up and she is working with more. Her activities involve meeting with civic groups, the Chamber, Greeters meetings and other various opportunities for outreach.  Also, the Earth Smart Money Wise Guide will include a page for the renewable pioneers program that maintains a large distribution population.   

Commissioner Prewett updated the Commission about the brochure the Bonneville Environment Foundation was developing.

ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary McClary, Assistant to

Electric Department