HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010.02.09 Forest Lands Commission Minutes Action Minutes FOR A MEETING OF THE
ASHLAND FOREST LANDS COMMISSION
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
5:30PM to 7:30PM
Siskiyou Room, Community Development Building
51 Winburn Way
I. CALL TO ORDER: 5:30 PM
II. INTRODUCTIONS
Chris Chambers, Melody Noraas, John Williams, Pete Holley—Pacific Oasis, Paul
Galloway, Katie Schubert, Chris Iverson, Greg Lemhouse, Tony Kerwin, Gary Pool,
Craig Gorson, Chief John Karns, Marty Main, Dan Maymar
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 12"', 2010
Chris forgot to print the minutes—will review at next meeting.
IV. PUBLIC FORUM
No public present wanting to comment.
V. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA
None
VI. BUSINESS
A. Ashland Forest Plan Update—Public Process
Chambers and Kerwin talked about the response to the media put out about the
Forest Plan Update. Kerwin will put together a list of names who were interested
In the update and get in touch with them. He'll also put together a proposal for
moving forward with the update and bring it to the next meeting.
B. AFR Update and Community Engagement Plan
Paul Galloway spoke about the AFR project. The Forest Service looked across the
country at ARRA funded projects and due to the impending lawsuit filed against
AFR, decided to reallocate a portion (2 million dollars) of the ARRA funding to
another project—move was prior to the FS seeing the lawsuit, but knew it was
being filed. FS will look at more funding to see the project to completion.
Senators Wyden and Merkley have both sent letters to the Secretary of Agriculture
asking that the money be reinstated. 10.7 million dollars nationally was redirected.
Primary objective of stimulus dollars is to put people to work. There is still 4.5
million in stimulus funding available to the project that came from another project
at the regional level.
Marty commented on the context of the funding. The normal appropriated dollars
for this type of work in the Forest Service is much, much less than the 4.5 million
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dollar allocation. Galloway said that appropriated dollars are the normal budgeted
dollars the FS gets each year. In the President's 2011 budget, there are specific
funding opportunities for watershed restoration and fuels reduction, so there are
more opportunities through appropriated dollars than before this project planning
stage started. Williams asked if there is more information that might help clarify
that the withdrawal of the stimulus funds was not a politically motivated move.
Galloway said that there was a program in place to look at all stimulus funds and
this one was seen as vulnerable. Williams thinks that the information that has been
in the media has been largely from the point of those filing the suit and wondered if
the Forest Lands Commission could craft a letter stating the facts of the current
plan to clarify what the project really is. Lemhouse sees this as a fragile issue and
the withdrawal of the money puts the project in jeopardy in the public's eye.
C. City Forestlands Management
City forestlands were reviewed in the past couple years and City lands are in good
shape currently. There may be opportunities or issues on City lands that can be
taken advantage of. Drought conditions could create mortality in trees that needs
to be addressed, Marty has seen evidence of dying trees this week.
AFR timeline is complicated, but likely that actual thinning won't start until the fall
of 2010. Layout and prescriptions will be taking place during the spring on AFR.
The USFS has used the Wyden Amendment to spend funds on City forestlands
(prescribed burning). Main said that this year there won't be many opportunities to
work across boundaries, but there will be in the future.
D. Public Outreach Plan Watershed Map Project
Iverson said that the flyers have been passed around town, SOU professors have
announced the contest, and the artist of the example map may be interested. Some
local printing companies have said they will donate some printing. Ann Seltzer
from the City of Ashland has given some suggestions for the map, including:
1. City of Ashland logo included
2. The Public Arts Commission need to be involved in the selection
3. Criteria for the selection of the winning map
4. Selection panel not involving members of the Forest Lands Commission
discussion among the FLC favored Forest Lands Commissioners staying
involved in the selection process. Iverson will go to the Public Arts
Commission meeting next week to talk about this. The addition of criteria will
be used for selection of the winning map by the selection committee.
5. City owns the design, not the artist. City may want to use the map for various
uses so needs to own the image/art.
6. Needs to be in various digital formats.
7. Distribution information. This has been talked about and agreed to by the
Commission. Iverson doesn't see the need for a lot of work on this.
8. Speaker's bureau?Iverson thinks not, but use map as a tool for those who are
speaking about the watershed.
9. Generic design to use for various purposes. This can be accomplished, but
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limited in scope of use other than the obvious uses for posting and education.
Iverson handed out copies of the contest flyer. Williams pointed out that format of
the drawing is important to the end use. Some input to the artists and selected artist will
help in the development of the final product.
E. Public Outreach Plan Watershed Engagement Plan
Next steps beyond the map—a video of the watershed and a brochure. Iverson
remembered Rich Whitley's advice to update folks and then bring them into the
future. Brochures can be used for a variety of uses.
F. Commission 3-Year Goals
No actions taken on these.
VII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
VIII. REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR/NEXT MEETING
A. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting: March 9th, 2010
ADJOURN: 7:30 PM
Williams motioned to adjourn, Iverson seconded motion, all ayes.
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(TTYphone 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).
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