MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE
ASHLAND FIREWISE COMMISSION
Wednesday, August 21^st, 2013 12:00PM to 1:00PM
Conference Room, Ashland Fire Station #1
455 Siskiyou Blvd
I. CALL TO ORDER
            Note meal source and amount: _Big Town Hero $85.58 ($10.69 each) _____ Number Attending: _8____
II. INTRODUCTIONS: Guests: Chris Chambers, Chief John Karns. Attendees: Kimberley Summers, Ali True, Kathy Kane, Matt Warshawsky, Annette Herron, Eric Olson. Absent: Kelly Eaton, Pete Norvell. One vacancy.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 19^th, 2013 meeting Approved 12:03 pm Eric Olson, 2^nd Annette Herron.
IV. PUBLIC FORUM- None
V. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA - None
VI. BUSINESS
 

1. Update on meeting with Recology Ashland Sanitary regarding 2014 Firewise Clean-Up Day: Olsen, True- the Recology staff meeting was fantastic; they are definitely supportive of our annual Firewise event. A plan for next year was discussed, what worked and what could be improved. They are willing to do the same one annual weekend in May, on a Sunday, at the Valley View Transfer Station. They are supporting the community; this is not a profitable experience for them. The volunteers will be checking ID and directing the flow. We will continue to promote and advertise for this event.
2. AIR program: September 7^th “Ashland Is Ready”; the Fire Department is in charge of the emergency management in the city, this is a workshop for emergency preparedness for the citizens of Ashland. We will have an AM & PM session located at the Ashland Historic Armory. The cost is $5.00 per person. If you are interested you can check with Kimberley at the front desk at Fire Station 1.
3. Report on Fire Adapted Communities (FAC): Chambers- Slide show provided “Western Wildfire costs push past $1b mark on the front page of the Daily Tidings today, indicates national attention and scale to wildfire and FAC is a way to promote local solutions. Wildfire Management Strategy slideshow presentation followed. City of Ashland will be pursuing this strategy, Firewise is a part of it, but there are many more aspects to program.
   • Wildfire Response
   • Restoring and Maintaining Fire Resilient Landscapes
   • Create a Fire Adapted Communities

Proposed: What needs to happen? Firewise Commission becomes the FAC steering committee
Develop a process to update the community wildfire protection plan (CWPP), Commissioners would shepherd that process and elicit community comments and participation.
Establish priorities and action plans in four areas, Built, Social, Natural, Response
Marshal the appropriate community stakeholders at each stage of process
Olson: what kind of staff resources or budget are available to support FAC program?
Some software available to complete assessments of structures, Chambers is training the weed abatement coordinator.
Building/vegetation codes and ordinances are part of the package that Committee/Commission would be working on.
Chambers: Committee should meet 2-3 hours outside of Commission a month and he will be devoting more of his time to the Committee. Chambers will be at next meeting to answer questions and continue conversation.
VII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
VIII. REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR / NEXT MEETING
 

1. Next meetings: September 18^th and October 16^th, 2013

IX. ADJOURN: 1:00 PM
 
 
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Public Works Office at 488-5587 (TTY phone number 1 800 735 2900). Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title I).