MINUTES FOR THE MEETING

ASHLAND FOREST LANDS COMMISSION

March 10, 2009 – 5:30 PM

Community Development, 51 Winburn Way

MEMBERS PRESENT:         Christopher Iverson, Dan Maymar (Acting Chair),

                                                                                    Ben Rice, John Williams           

Members Absent:                              Craig Gorson, Anthony Kerwin, Melody Noraas

Staff Present:                                                  Nancy Slocum, Pieter Smeenk

Others Present:                                  Contracting Forester, Marty Main

I.                   CALL TO ORDER: Chair Maymar called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm in the Siskiyou Room.

II.                APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Iverson / Rice m/s to approve the minutes of February 10, 2009 as submitted. Motion passed unanimously.

III.             PUBLIC FORUM: 

Frank Betlejewski, former Commission and active AFRCAT member, spoke to the pre-implementation planning being done by Main. He volunteered to do validation monitoring for 320 acres east of Panther Peak near BLM land. He would like to classify a set of data to compare to revestment notes from the 1920’s. He said the walk-through would also act as validation of the AFR data gathered from the Forest Service. Betlejewski estimated it would take him four days for the walk-through and two days to write up the results.

The Commission was grateful to Betlejewski and several Commissioners asked to help him with the walk-through.

Jim Janousek, a recent SOU graduate, was working with Chris Chambers to develop a hike series in conjunction with North Mountain Park. The goal would be education on fire ecology. The hikes are scheduled for June 20^th and July 25^th. Jasik asked if the Commission was interested in assisting with the hikes.

Iverson wanted to add education on the connection between water quality and fire. He had planned on a possible May, June and September hike. The May hike could include the Restoration Phase II Project or the Winburn Parcel.

III.       ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: None.

IV.       NEW BUSINESS:

A.     SOU Presentation on Community-Based Monitoring

Shawn, Stephanie and Scott, SOU Students, presented a talk regarding Community-Based Monitoring. The presentation included the pros and cons as well as examples of three communities that were currently practicing community-based monitoring.

B.     Earth Day (April 25^th) Participation

Iverson is willing to staff the booth. He asked for additional volunteers. He would like to have a tent available. Slocum would ask the Conservation Commission if they would be willing to share theirs. Iverson asked how much was left in the Commission budget. He asked Slocum if give-a-way items could be purchased for Earth Day.

At the booth, he would like to recruit volunteers to help with Commission projects. He knew there would be a liability issue and asked staff to find out how the Parks Department handled this issue.

C.     Review Commission 3-Year Goals – Tabled until April meeting.

V.         OLD BUSINESS:

A.  Public Outreach Plan Discussion

Iverson handed out a draft Community Outreach Plan that contained nine goals and projects. Commission read and discussed each one. He suggested a subcommittee to review existing outreach materials within the City and/or other jurisdictions. For example, Kari Gies from the Park’s Department had an existing PowerPoint presentation aimed at 6^th graders. There is also a curriculum standard’s book could be used as a resource to develop in-class programs.

Commission’s other ideas included:

·         One day symposium with noted scientists

·         Siskiyou Field Institute classes

·         Art, poetry and photo showings or contests

·         Talk by Fred Swanson, geologist and ecosystem scientist

·         Can the Commission collect donations to be used for watershed-related projects?

VI.              COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:

VII.      ADJOURN: Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM.

Dan Maymar, Vice Chair

Respectfully Submitted, Nancy Slocum, Clerk