MEMBERS PRESENT: Frank Betlejewski, Richard Brock, Jo Anne Eggers, Stephen Jensen (Chair), Anthony Kerwin, Bill Robertson (Vice Chair), Diane White
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Chris Chambers, Nancy Slocum, Keith Woodley
Non-Voting Members Present: Cate Hartzell, Marty
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Betlejewski/White m/s the minutes of November 10, 2004 as submitted. Motion passed unanimously.
A. 2005 Proposed Work Projects – Woodley and Main announced their proposed work for the coming year: 1) finish burning piles created from logging slash within the timber sale area of the City Forest Lands Restoration Project Phase II; 2) reforestation, 1500 seedlings in timber sale area, primarily in Units D1, B2 and B3; 3) maintenance of drainage devices on Alice and BTI trails; 4) coordination for prescribed burn in Unit K with US Forest Service; 5) prescribed underburning, Units J and M; 6) brushing, thinning to create additional holes in Units G, U; 7) hazard tree removal (as needed) and; 8) Winburn prescriptions. This list did not include continued work with the Forest Service on the Ashland Fire Resiliency Project.
B. Commission Budget – Woodley reported that of this year’s $70,000 budget, $40,000 had been expended. He expected a similar level of funding for next year.
C. Interface Work – Chambers reported that recent work had taken place mainly outside the City limits including the areas around Tolman Creek,
D. Main Feeder Pipeline Replacement Project – Slocum reported for Project Manager Pieter Smeenk. The project had bid with the preconstruction meeting scheduled for the end of January and construction beginning in early February. Slocum passed out a tentative schedule for the project and asked the commission to call Smeenk if there were any questions. Project plans were available for review.
AFRCA Team: Review of Minutes/Update -
The AFRCATs continue to work on unresolved issues including riparian, inventory and operations issues, however the process is close to being finished. Any additional issues would be discussed after the Draft EIS was published.
Hartzell asked about monitoring and weed issues. Eggers reported that Cindy Deacon-Williams and George Baduras had concerns regarding riparian and soils issues.
Kerwin noted that in the December 17th AFRCAT minutes the group had discussed the need for a supplemental EIS if the Plant Association Group mapping turned out to be inaccurate.
Chambers wondered if the Forest Service could obtain the funding needed for the project.
Borgias noted the Nature Conservatory’s vast experience in monitoring issues. He thought a commission orientation on stewardship contracting might by helpful. Commission agreed and asked that the topic be put on a future agenda.
A. Field Trip Enhancements to Improve Public Participation – Jensen suggested forming a subcommittee to address this issue. Commissioners suggested some ways to improve public participation including serving free food, making a list of those desired and contacting them personally. The rest of the discussion was tabled.
A. Review of the Forest Lands Commission Powers and Duties – Tabled as the commission ran out of time. Hartzell recommended immediately discussing most important issues. Commission agreed to set a special meeting in approximately two weeks to finish the agenda.
B. 2005 AFLC Goals – Tabled.
C. Exhibitor Booth at Earth Day, April 23, 2005 – Tabled.
D. Schedule additional field trips – Tabled.
E. Winburn Parcel – Tabled.
A special meeting was set for Wednesday, January 16th beginning at 4:30 PM. The venue would be announced. The next regularly scheduled commission meeting is Wednesday, February 9, 2005.
X. ADJOURN 6:00 PM
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Stephen Jensen, Chair
Respectfully Submitted,
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Nancy Slocum, Clerk