MEETING OF THE ASHLAND FIREWISE COMMISSION
Wednesday, February 19^th, 2014 11:00AM to 1:00PM
Conference Room, Ashland Fire Station #1
455 Siskiyou Blvd
I. CALL TO ORDER 11:20 am
 
II. INTRODUCTIONS
 Annette Herron, Pete Norvell, Matt Warshawsky, Eric Olson and Vicky Sturtevant.
Staff: Kimberley Summers, Chris Chambers, Ali True (call in). Absent: Council Liaison Greg Lemhouse.
 
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 20^th, 2013 meeting approved by Eric Olson, Annette Herron seconded the motion.
 
IV. PUBLIC FORUM Mimi Pippel, AAUW Spring Garden Tour proposal- They are planning for their 19^th Annual fundraiser event here in Ashland. They are seeking awareness with Firewise plants in the garden, hand out from last year was provided. Would like the Firewise Commission to support and partner up with their efforts of the Spring Garden Tour, a follow up e-mail will be sent by Mimi Pippel. Eric Olson will endorse the Spring Garden tour AAUW with the goals of building Firewise garden practices and Matt Warshawsky 2^nd the motion. The 2014 endorsement was given for the Firewise write up in the program and the 5 gardens will be inspected by Ali True. If recommendations are needed to be Firewise it could have a sign posted and would be explained or marked as a work in progress in the program. Annette Herron will be the contact person and work with Ali True on this project.
 
V. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: It was recommended that we stream line the communication and if we could do a better job at keeping the commissioners up to date with issues and sending out the agenda 1 week before; Any documents that need reviewed they would also like sent in a timely manner. Next meeting will discuss the chair positions for the commission, (3) open vacancies.
 
VI. BUSINESS
 

1. Firewise Clean-Up Day Planning; May 4^th, volunteers needed- Valley View Transfer Station will be the drop site this year, Ali True has a meeting scheduled at Recology Ashland office on 2/24 at 0900. Please send her an email if you would like to attend.
2. Firewise program update: Ali True- Some background info was provided in an e-mail for us to view. See attached.
3. Review commission charter changes- The changes were reviewed and presented by Chris Chambers. The name “Wildfire Mitigation Commission”, would like to get it approved and on the Council agenda in March. Eric Olson has moved to have Chris Chambers present this to City Council. Annette Herron 2^nd the motion.
4. Wildfire Hazard Zone- TBD
5. CWPP presentation by Victoria Sturtevant, SOU Professor (ret.) – Presentation was given to the group it was discussed on how other communities created their CWPP.
6. Ashland CWPP review- TBD
7. CWPP Update Process- TBD

VII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
 
VIII. REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR / NEXT MEETING
 

1. Next meetings March 19^th, 2014 and April 16^th, 2014

IX. ADJOURN: 1:10 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).
Firewise Program update for February Commission meeting: Ali True
 

• Firewise Clean-Up Day – May 4^th, Sunday
  • @ Valley View Transfer Station, NOT Lincoln School
  • Free organic disposal for Ashland residents only, though  VVTS will be open that day to public for all other business
  • Will need volunteers to help direct traffic and check IDs. (No unloading this year!) Recology estimates 1 volunteer needed an hour, will confirm at meeting next week. I will sign up volunteers at future meetings; just mark your calendars now!
  • Will meet with Recology, Monday, 2/24 @ 9 AM, if any Commissioners would like to be there, they would be welcome and appreciated to help plan. Contact me via e-mail for details.

 
 

• Firewise program update:
  • All 12 Firewise Communities successfully renewed their participation in the program in 2013. Many used grant funds for fuels removal, but much less than in previous years. Communities are shifting towards maintenance mode.
  • In addition, 85 individual residents completed home assessments and grants totaling nearly $26,000.
  • Grant money for 2014 is currently unconfirmed, pending ODF’s official notice that remaining unspent grant funds of around $25,000 can be spent in 2014. Should know soon, and if so, would provide some funds for fuels removal: Firewise Community activities, individual home assessment grants, and staff time
  • Rogue Valley Fire Prevention Coop (with mention to Ashland Firewise and Grants Pass Firewise) was selected as a runner up in the nationwide Firewise Challenge (sponsored by NFPA), and will receive $900 to use on safety gear, tools or mitigation projects.  I am not sure yet how or if Ashland gets to use that money but will check with the Co-op to find that out and go from there.
  • See attached flyer: New contest sponsored by NFPA and State Farm is providing $500 to FW community projects for Wildfire Preparedness Day (5/3/14). If any Commissioners have project ideas, please let me know via e-mail. Visit wildfireprepday.org for more details. Contest open until 3/19. I will send this info out to all Ashland FW Communities this week.