Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016.09.28 Conservation Commission Agenda Packet ASHLAND CONSERVATION COMMISSION Meeting Agenda September 28, 2016 — 6:00 PM Community Development Building, Siskiyou Room 51 Winburn Way 1. Call to Order 2. Consent Agenda 2.1. Minutes August 24, 2016 Commission meeting 3. Announcements (10 min) 3.1. Next Regular Meeting: October 26, 2016 3.2. Upcoming Sub-committee meetings 3.3. Other Announcements from Commissioners 4. Public Forum (10 min to be evenly divided by public wishing to speak) 5. Reports / Presentations/Updates (45 min) 5.1. Open Burning Ordinances and Regulations —Fire Marshal Hickman(30 min) 5.2. Recap of Commission Annual Report to Council (5 min) 5.3. Council Update- Councilor Rosenthal (5 min) 5.4. City Conservation Programs and Operations—Hanks(5 min) 6. Old Business (15 min) 6.1 Commission Monthly Column in Sneak Preview (5 min) a.November-Meet your Commissioners b. December—Holiday waste prevention ideas 6.2 Climate & Energy Action Plan—Project Update (10 min) 7. New Business 8. Wrap Up (5 min) 8.1 Items to be added to next agenda 8.2 Adj ournment CITY 0, F Minutes for the Conservation Commission August 24,2016 Page 1 of 3 MINUTES FOR THE ASHLAND CONSERVATION COMMISSION Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way 1. Call to Order Chair Bryan Sohl called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Commissioners Mark Weir, Marni Koopman, and Roxanne Beigel-Coryell were present. Councilor Rich Rosenthal was present. Staff member Adam Hanks was present. Commissioner Cara Cruickshank arrived late. Commissioners James McGinnis, Risa Buck, and Jaime Rosenthal were absent. 2. Announcements The next commission meeting will be September 28, 2016. 3. Reports/Presentations/Updates Recap of annual report to City Council— Sohl stated that at last week's Council meeting he gave the annual report to Council. It went well, but there were no questions from Council. Council Update— Councilor Rosenthal stated that at the last meeting Council agreed to move forward on the ordinance requiring that the City of Ashland create 10% of its electricity locally by 2020 (aka the 1 Ox20 ordinance). The first and second reading of that ordinance is expected to occur on September 6th. Group discussed what the next steps would be after the ordinance passes. Rosenthal also informed the group that at the recent Study Session there was an interesting presentation regarding the future of the electric utility. He reminded the group that on August 28th there is a volunteer appreciation event hosted by Ashland's elected officials and he hopes the commissioners can attend. Commissioner Cruickshank arrived 6:07 p.m. 4. Consent Agenda Weir/Koopman m/s to approve the minutes of July 27, 2016 as presented. Voice Vote: one Abstention, the rest Ayes, Motion Passes. 5. Continuation of Announcements Group requested that a discussion of next year's Earth Bowl be added to the September agenda. Beigel-Coryell stated that SOU starts on the 26th of September, and students begin moving in on the Thursday prior. Group discussed the status of the appointment of the Ashland School District Representative to the commission. They agreed that it was appropriate for Chair Sohl to talk to Mayor Stromberg and request that Mayor Stromberg have a discussion with the new Ashland School District Administrator regarding appointment of a representative. 6. Public Forum Louise Shawkat— Stated that last year she had talked to the previous Ashland School District Minutes for the Conservation Commission August 24,2016 Page 2 of 3 Administrator about the missing school representative and he showed no interest in appointing anyone. This week she e-mailed the new Administrator, who replied back that she supported finding a representative. Huelz Gutchen— Stated that at the last Council Study Session Mark Holden stated he was not interested in adding solar to the Electric Department operations. Huelz stated that this makes him think there should be a full-time Electric Director, rather than the current combination of Electric/Information Technology Director, in order achieve the requirements of the upcoming 1 Ox20 ordinance. He stated that he has talked with the 1 Ox20 proposers and understands now that the ordinance is vague on details for a reason. Our current climate is so bad we need to do what the ordinance is proposing now. He would like to see a project where the City rents rooftops for solar panel installation. He thinks that this project would take two full-time employees to handle. He stated that we need to consider measuring all the carbon issues for buildings in order understand where our `biggest bang for the buck' would come in project ideas. He also stated that he recently talked to Bonneville about where Ashland's electricity is from and how the map of electricity changes based on who is President and what they want. 7. Reports/Presentations/Updates, Continued City Conservation Programs and Operations—Hanks stated that the Conservation Division is currently in the process of updating forms and handouts for all reimbursement programs based on new BPA requirements. He stated that BPA also has a new solar taskforce, which is currently reviewing changes to their small-scale solar project requirements. As most projects done in the City fit into this category it is good to keep an eye on this process. Group discussed some of the rules/requirements from BPA on potential projects coming out of the LEAP process. Downtown Redeemables/Recycling—Hanks stated this project is going well. The new signage has helped people to understand what can or can't be placed in the baskets. Also helpful has been the Master Recycler who has been assisting with the project. He hopes to bring to the Council a request to expand the program sometime in the Winter. Expansion is additionally timely due to redeemable rates going from 5 cents to 10 cents in April of 2017 and an expansion of what is considered redeemable in 2018. 8. Old Business Sneak Preview Column—Group made minor edits to the Living with Wildlife article written by Weir and then approved it. They agreed that the following would be upcoming topics: October—Get to Know Your Commissioner November—Limiting Holiday waste, written by J. Rosenthal Group agreed they would determine December and January topics at the next meeting. Climate &Energy Action Plan — Sohl stated that at the last committee meeting the group voted to request that the Council approve an ordinance prior to the Action Plan being finalized or approved. The current Eugene ordinance is likely to the template for the ordinance the group will propose. The committee is still struggling with how to use or incorporate consumption into the plan. Committee members were also assigned to work in specific focus areas in order to review/prioritize potential strategies and actions for the upcoming Open House on September 25. Minutes for the Conservation Commission August 24,2016 Page 3 of 3 9. New Business None. 10. Wrap Up Group requested that on the next agenda there be the SOU quarterly update, and the Earth Bowl discussion. Meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Diana Shiplet Executive Assistant Outdoor Burning Requirements Outdoor burning is limited in the city of Ashland and always requires a permit. With a permit, there are two times per year that burning is allowed: • Spring - March 1 until fire season begins • Fall - For two weeks after fire season ends Before requesting a permit for outdoor burning, please read the following: Outdoor burning throughout the city of Ashland will be limited to materials resulting from Wildfire Fuel Reduction efforts and Noxious Weed abatement. How do I know if I can burn? You must meet both of the following conditions (A and B) to be considered for a burn permit: A. Material must be Wildfire Fuels or Noxious Weeds Wildfire Fuels Reduction is the cutting or thinning of native woody vegetation that is sufficiently flammable during the summer months. The vegetation must constitute a threat to property or structures to be considered as wildfire fuels. In order to burn wildfire fuels, your property must be in the City's Wildfire Hazard Zone. It is a good idea to consult with us before you cut wildfire fuels to determine what to cut and how you will dispose of the debris once it's cut. See our Firewise Program or call the Fire Adapted Communities Coordinator at (541) 552-2231 for a field consultation. Noxious Weeds are those weeds listed on the Oregon State Department of Agriculture's A,B, or T lists. Common weeds from these lists found in Ashland are (but not limited to): • Himalayan blackberry • Star thistle • Scotch Broom • Dalmation toadflax • English Ivy • Spanish broom • Spotted knapweed • Puncture vine 0 Japanese knotweed A complete list of noxious weeds can be found at:http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/PLANTMEEDS/docs/weed_pol icy.pdf Noxious weeds can be burned anywhere in the city once a permit is issued. WEEDS MUST BE PILED. NO WEED BURNERS (TORCHES) ARE ALLOWED. B. Burning is the only option for disposal of biomass material The biomass to be disposed of has to be in a place where chipping or hauling of the material is not feasible, or (as in the case of some noxious weeds) chipping or transport of the material would spread noxious weed seeds beyond the area of current infestation — i.e, blackberries cut along a creek side or Scotch broom with seed pods still attached. In situations where removal by chipping or hauling is feasible, burning will be seen as a last option. Alternatives to Burning There are many alternatives to burning debris in Ashland. Here are some suggestions: • Recology Ashland Sanitary Service offers yard debris recycling pick up.http://recologyashiandsanitaryservice.com/ • Biomass One in White City has a sort yard where debris can be dropped off.http://www.biomassone.com/wood—waste_yard.php • Rent or Hire a chipper through local businesses • Compost the debris. Check with local extension office at 776-7371 if you are unfamiliar with composting. How Do I Get a Burn Permit? If you meet the conditions stated above, you need to schedule a burn permit inspection with Ashland Fire and Rescue by calling 482-2770 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Burn permits are only valid on days when air quality allows burning and during the two times of year permitted in the city of Ashland — March 1 until fire season begins and for two weeks in the fall after fire season ends. Once a permit is obtained, refer to the burning regulations PDF file below, and as directed by the inspecting fire crew. Follow the instructions on your permit to activate your permit each day that you burn. Residents living in the Wildland-Urban Interface need to be especially attentive to reducing wildfire fuels on their property Learn more about Wildfire Safety for Ashland Residents. When does fire season begin and end? Fire season is the time of year when outdoor fuels are prone to fire. Fire season is weather dependent, but typically begins in June and ends in October. Why is burning so restricted in the city of Ashland? In 2007, the Ashland City Council amended sections of the Ashland Municipal Code that regulate outdoor burning within the City of Ashland. The Council was responding to tightening air quality standards in the Rogue Valley and concerns raised by citizens with respiratory problems who are impacted by smoke from open burning. ASHLAND FIRE & RESCUE OPEN BURNING PROGRAM REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES Wildfire Fuels Reduction 1. The Ashland Municipal Code, Chapter 10.30, Sections .010 through .080, provide procedures and regulations under which open burning may be conducted. The pursuit of alternatives to open burning is strongly encouraged. Chipping, composting or transport of material to a transfer station or biomass utilization facility is encouraged. The following guidelines are provided to assist with the regulation of Open Burning in the City: 2. The open burning season within the City of Ashland is March 1 st through the beginning of fire season (usually June), and two weeks after fire season ends in the fall. The issuance of burning permits may be suspended when atmospheric conditions, such as high winds, do not support safe burning practices. 3. All open burning will be conducted during daylight hours only during periods when the Jackson County Open Burning Advisory air quality index is 401 or above. For a recording of the ventilation index, call 776-7007. To obtain burn permit information, call the Fire Station during business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 482-2770. It is understood that due to the characteristics of the material being burned that glowing embers may continue throughout the night time hours. Permittee will be responsible to ensure that fires do not"creep." 4. To open burn, a permit must be obtained from the fire department. Burn sites will be inspected by fire department personnel prior to the commencement of burning. Burn permits must be activated each day prior to conducting a burn by calling the fire department at 482-2770. 5. Adequate fire safety measures must be taken to insure that burning is performed safely: A. All burning must be attended and supervised by an adult. B. Piles should be constructed away from roots, stumps, and leave trees. C. A non-combustible perimeter of 10' shall be maintained from the burning area when possible. D. Pile size will be determined by location. Piles shall not exceed 4 feet in height or 5 feet in diameter. Additional material should be fed slowly to reduce smoke. E. Drip torches may be used to fire piles. Plastic used to cover piles should be removed prior to ignition. F. If water is accessible, it shall be on site for extinguishing piles and preventing fire spread. G. Each person working the fires shall have at least one hand tool — shovel, rake, Macleod, Pulaski — to help with fire control. H. Permittee is responsible for checking burned piles to ensure that the pile is completely extinguished. 6. The burning of any material which emits dense smoke or noxious odors, including but not limited to, petroleum products,rubber,plastic, styrofoam,household garbage, is prohibited. Burning in barrels is prohibited. Please be a good neighbor. 7. Acceptable materials for burning are restricted to native "woody debris" only. This means that no other materials will be allowed under the permit process, i.e., construction debris, etc. 8. All efforts shall be extended to insure materials are dry and readily ignitable to facilitate low smoke densities. 9. Permits will not be issued for piles which can reasonably be disposed of by another means. For example, one or two piles within 50 feet from a road could be carried to the road to be chipped or hauled away. Determination will need to be made on whether a wildfire hazard exists. For example, one pile in the middle of an empty lot 100 feet from structures or roads does not create a wildfire hazard. 10. Failure to abide by these open burning guidelines may result in permit revocation and may be considered an infraction punishable as prescribed in Section 1.08.020 of the Ashland Municipal Code. HACode References\Burning Regulations\Open Burning\Burning Regulations-October revised.doc—revl0/1/07 ASHLAND FIRE & RESCUE OPEN BURNING PROGRAM REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES Noxious Weed Abatement- Blackberries The Ashland Municipal Code, Chapter 10.30, Sections .010 through .080,provide procedures and regulations under which open burning may be conducted. The following guidelines are provided to assist with the regulation of Open Burning in the City: 1. The open burning season within the City of Ashland is March 1 st through the beginning of fire season (usually June), and two weeks after fire season ends in the fall. The issuance of burning permits may be suspended when atmospheric conditions, such as high winds, do not support safe burning practices. 2. All open burning will be conducted during daylight hours only during periods when the Jackson County Open Burning Advisory air quality index is 401 or above. For a recording of the ventilation index, call 776- 7007. To obtain burn permit information, call the Fire Station during business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 482-2770. Fire shall be out and cold to the touch by dark. 3. To open burn, a permit must be obtained from the fire department. Burn sites will be inspected by fire department personnel prior to the commencement of burning. Burn permits must be activated each day prior to conducting a burn by calling the fire department at 482-2770. 4. Adequate fire safety measures must be taken to insure that burning is performed safely: A. All burning must be attended and supervised by an adult. B. Piles should be constructed away from roots, stumps, and leave trees. C. A non-combustible perimeter of 10' shall be maintained from the burning area. D. Pile size will be determined by location. Piles shall not exceed 4 feet in height or 5 feet in diameter. Additional material should be fed slowly to reduce smoke. E. Drip torches may be used to fire piles. Plastic used to cover piles should be removed prior to ignition. F. If water is accessible, it shall be on site for extinguishing piles and preventing fire spread. G. Each person working the fire shall have at least one hand tool—shovel, rake, Macleod, Pulaski—to help with fire control. H. Permittee is responsible for checking burned piles to ensure that the piles are completely extinguished. 5. The burning of any material which emits dense smoke or noxious odors, including but not limited to, petroleum products, rubber, plastic, styrofoam, household garbage, is prohibited. Burning in barrels is prohibited. Please be a good neighbor. 6. Acceptable materials for burning are restricted to blackberries. This means that no other materials will be allowed under the permit process, i.e., construction debris,yard trimmings,wood, etc. 7. All efforts shall be extended to insure materials are dry and readily ignitable to facilitate low smoke densities. 8. The pursuit of alternatives to open burning is strongly encouraged. Chipping, composting or transport of material to a transfer station or biomass utilization facility is encouraged. 9. Failure to abide by these open burning guidelines may result in permit revocation and may be considered an infraction punishable as prescribed in Section 1.08.020 of the Ashland Municipal Code. HACode References\Burning Regulations\Open Burning\Burning Regulations-October revised.doc—revl0/1/07