Agendas and Minutes

Forest Lands Committee (View All)

Regular Meeting

Agenda
Wednesday, February 09, 2005

MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING

ASHLAND FOREST LANDS COMMISSION

February 9, 2005 – 4:30 PM

Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:         Richard Brock, Jo Anne Eggers, Anthony Kerwin, Bill Robertson (Chair)

Members Absent:                   Frank Betlejewski, Diane White

Staff Present:                           Nancy Slocum, Keith Woodley

Non-Voting Members Present: Cate Hartzell, Marty Main

 

I.                   CALL TO ORDER: Chair Robertson called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM in the Siskiyou Room. Robertson asked if there were any additions or changes to the agenda. Three items were added.

 

II.        APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of January 26, 2005 were approved as amended.

 

III.       PUBLIC FORUM: No one spoke.

 

IV.       OLD BUSINESS

A.     Continued Discussion on Civility Policy and Roles of Participants – Item tabled until later in the meeting.

 

B.     AFRCA Team Update – Main reported that additional AFRCA meetings are not necessary until the Draft EIS was released in March or until the Forest Service asked for additional information. Eggers wanted the Forest Service to realize that the City of Ashland did not want them to move forward on the project without funding in place for monitoring.

 

Robertson suggested the City and Forest Commission take a proactive approach to monitoring the project and provide the resources if necessary. Eggers thought it should be the Forest Service’s responsibility, not the City’s.

 

V.         NEW BUSINESS

            A.   Exhibitor Booth at Earth Day, April 23, 2005 – Eggers encouraged the commission to participate. She said the exhibit could be as simple as providing a map denoting items of interest. None of the commissioners present volunteered to coordinate this project. Commission decided to table further discussion until the March meeting.

B.     Possible Commission Goal Setting/Public Input/Powers and Duties Retreat – Robertson reviewed the request last meeting for a facilitator to help the commission improve its general process. He suggested a four hour retreat, either facilitated or not, to discuss commission goals and objectives, public input and the charter (Resolution 96-21). There was $1000 allocated in the city budget for commission development and education and one 2004 City Council goal was to increase commission effectiveness. Eggers supported the suggestions and requested a facilitator lead the retreat and attend a couple of meetings. Brock agreed, but thought the commission also needed forest-related education. Robertson had a recommendation for a facilitator. Kerwin wondered if the process was broken.

 

Other suggestions to improve process included reinstating the monthly Action Plan introduced by Steve Jensen, increasing the meeting length to two hours and changing the time of the meeting to improve public participation. Commission decided to schedule a four hour retreat, but decided against hiring a facilitator. Commission set February 17th and March 17th as two tentative dates. Staff would check with Betlejewski and White for availability. Robertson and Slocum would draft an agenda for commission review. One half hour of the retreat would be reserved for public input. It was suggested that the commission invite specific stakeholders. Members of the Parks Department and City Council were named as potential participants.

 

IV.       OLD BUSINESS CONTINUED

A.     Continued Discussion on Civility Policy and Roles of Participants – Robertson referred to the draft language included on this month’s agenda and the draft Speaker Request Form included in the packet. Both were utilized at City Council meetings. The commission reviewed the documents. Some commissioners thought the proposed public input process was too formal. Commission decided to use the form as warranted, but maintain flexibility whenever possible. Commissioners agreed to assume the responsibility for assuring the meetings move forward in a timely manner.

 

V.         NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED

C.     Riparian Management on City Forestlands – Brock had spent time on City-owned forestlands’ riparian areas. Past history suggested a “hands off” policy. The task at hand was to delineate riparian transition zones. He suggested that the commission develop a “Phase III” plan on this issue.

 

D.     Monitoring on City Forestlands – Brock noted that City-owned forestlands lacked a monitoring plan. Currently there was some plot inventory data, but no soil monitoring. As the AFRCA Team had not been able to reach agreement on a recommended monitoring plan, Brock thought the City should be the leader for the Forest Service. Commission agreed.

 

Brock would also like to see specific stands treated and used as models for desired future conditions. Robertson added that these examples could also confirm what treatments work and offer important data to the Forest Service and other large land owners. He noted that because of the commission’s work on AFRCA, work on Winburn Parcel had been delayed for at least one year.

 

Woodley said the Raw Waterline Feeder Project this spring and summer would affect access to the Winburn Parcel. Commission had concerns about monitoring the waterline project. They want to encourage the City’s Project Manager to educate and enforce the contractor’s work. They asked staff to invite Smeenk to the next meeting.

                       

E.      Solicitation of Comments for Upcoming Commission Open House – Commission had several ideas. Slocum would convey their comments to the Mayor’s office.

 

VIII.    COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:  None

           

IX.       REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR / NEXT MEETING

The next regularly scheduled commission meeting was set for Wednesday, March 9, 2005.

 

X.         ADJOURN: 6:02 PM

 

 

___________________________

Bill Robertson, Chair

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

___________________________

Nancy Slocum, Clerk

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