HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-16 Study Session MINASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES
Monday, September 16, 2024
Mayor Graham called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Mayor Graham and Councilors Hyatt, Dahle, Hansen, and Bloom were present. Kaplan and
DuQuenne, were absent.
Public Input
(15 minutes - Public input or comment on City business not included on the agenda)
none
NHMP - Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan
Kelly Burns, Emergency Management Coordinator, reviewed the updates in the NHMP (included in
the agenda packet). The purpose of the plan is to serve as a comprehensive strategy to reduce
the risks posed by natural hazards and severe weather events. An approved plan allows the City to
apply for and accept Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for hazard
mitigation. Updates to the plan were made after engagement with the City's planning, water and
wastewater departments as well as other emergency management professionals familiar with
such plans.. Burn's spoke that City staff recommendation is for Council to formally re -adopt the
updated plan at the October 1, 2024 City Council meeting which will re -start the five-year timeline.
Dahle thanked Burns for prioritizing wildfire risk reduction in the updated plan and asked if there
was any stakeholder feedback related to wildfire that stood out for Council to be aware of. Burns
responded that the evacuation study helped the City develop evacuation zones and to work on
expanding the drivable space within those zones. For example, the evacuation study informed
design decisions for road projects on Ashland Street to forego median planter boxes in favor of
open drivable space. Evacuation zones also expanded into Jackson County to include zones
surrounding the City. Burns spoke of the landslide hazard potential to the current water treatment
plant and suggested this should increase in priority as it poses a threat to the City's essential
water supply. Graham noted that landslide was listed as the only threat to the water treatment
plant in the table and suggested this be changed to a multi -hazard threat designation as wildfire
and flooding also pose threats to it.
Hansen asked about the threat ranking of the potential Cascadia event. Burns spoke this is
number four on the plan's priority list. Ashland is less likely to be directly affected by this potential
event; however, the municipalities to the North and West are more susceptible may need to
evacuate to Ashland. This potential event could also represent a threat to Ashland's supply chain.
Hansen asked if adopting this plan will increase grant opportunities for enhancing transportation
systems. Cotta mentioned that after adoption, this plan would be shared with the City's grant
consultants for utilization.
Graham asked if the evacuation plan in place for wildfire is sufficient for handling a volcanic event.
Burns spoke of learning from a volcanologist from Boise State University who spoke of this threat
City Council Study Session
September 16, 2024
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as a high magnitude / low probability event. Hyatt asked about the hazardous air quality and
drought items listed as mid -tier on the hazard analysis matrix since they are listed as high
probability and high vulnerability. Burns spoke that these kinds of events do not take out
infrastructure which is why they are categorized as mid -tier.
Graham spoke of the work underway to update the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)
and asked if the CWPP could be included in this NHMP in the table as a specific action. Burns
spoke that plans to publish the CWPP are spoken about in the body of the NHMP but could be
added to the table as suggested. Burns spoke that the CWPP has more clearly defined line -item
goals. Graham spoke that the question for Council will be how to invest around the identified risks
in the NHMP. Graham asked for discussion about how to know when the City has mitigated its risks
to the best of its ability: what does that goal looks like, and how does Council assess progress
towards this goal? Graham suggested engaging in this Council conversation before the next
budget cycle to determine how to best prioritize investment in what the community has said is its
top concern (wildfire). Hyatt spoke that when these priorities are defined, there is the opportunity
for accountability to them. Hyatt spoke that this work requires both financial resources and staff
time. Graham spoke of community partners as additional resources to staff time and thanked
Burns for this body of work that will assist the Council and the community.
III. Adjournment of Study Session
The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
City Recorder Alissa Kolodzinski
Attest:
Mayor Tonya Graham
City Council Study Session
September 16, 2024
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