Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010.11.09 Forest Lands Commission Minutes MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE ASHLAND FOREST LANDS COMMISSION Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 5:30PM to 7:30PM Siskiyou Room, Community Development Building 51 Winburn Way I. CALL TO ORDER: 5:39 PM Dan Maymar,John Karns, Don Boucher, Poky McFarland, Chris Iverson, John Williams, Gary Pool, Melody Noraas, Pieter Smeenk, Greg Lemhouse II. INTRODUCTIONS III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 12th meeting Noraas made motion to approve, Iverson seconded. All ayes IV. PUBLIC FORUM V. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA Chambers asked to add item regarding prescribed burning on City forestlands VI. BUSINESS A. AFR Project Update including Community Engagement Boucher explained that the Lomakatsi crew is working on the AFR project as of today. They're working on the northern portion of block 1 near the 300 road or Hitt Road. Burning will also take place in the next couple weeks to pick up some old piles from prior projects. Boucher explained the prescription for cutting and handed out copies. The current work is focused on madrone thinning. There's a possibility to allow some utilization of the cut material that the partners are trying to work out. Boucher talked about strategies to keep down the madrone sprouting such as high stumps. In monitoring, there has been progress in working with the pre-treatment data across the area. SOU will be involved in a spotted owl prey study along with the Pacific Northwest research station. Prescriptions are in progress for density management, headed up by the City with Marty leading the work. Chambers explained that they will be hosting an open house at Fire Station 1 for any community members concerned with burning and smoke management. The open house will take place November loth from 6:30 to B:OOpm. B. Public Outreach Plan—Watershed Map Project Iverson reviewed the progress on the map and the expected progress. The changes are incorporated that the commission outlined last meeting. The new map needs to be reviewed by the Public Arts Commission before it's final. Iverson would like G:\fire\F'orest Interface DivisionTorest Lands Commission\MINUTES\2010\November 9th 2010 final.doc to discuss facts for the backside of the map. Poky asked if water should be shown in more obvious detail like splashes and the group liked that. Poky agreed to add a map date saying 2011 since the map will be issued then. Poky proposed adding "Siskiyou Pass" and the elevation along with the elevation on top of Mt. Ashland as well. Chambers asked about the boundary line for the watershed and identifying it. Poky suggested shading it with colors to bring out the watershed boundary. Lemhouse asked about the Research Natural Area and what that would mean to the average public person. Chambers said it wouldn't mean much and could be replaced and then asked if the previously discussed issue of burning could be included. More changes were suggested along the lines of showing specific tree species such as madrone and pine. Noraas asked about how we should proceed with the process of finalizing the map. The commission agreed to make these final changes without reviewing it again. Iverson motioned that the commission sign off on the final version of the map with the changes suggested and at his discretion. Pool seconded the motion, and passed with all ayes. Iverson will take the map to the Public Arts Commission for a final approval from them with Lemhouse on the 3rd Friday in December. Williams asked about the design process and Poky said he's going to ink it and then color it. Iverson will get a high resolution scan done of the black and white version for a "coloring book"version. Williams offered to convert the map to a color computer vector version that could be changed to grayscale or black and white. C. Ashland Water Advisory Committee Update The Committee is narrowing down the options for the City's water supply. The four choices are to extend to the Medford water supply, use more TID, develop ground water supplies, or use more recycled water. Williams felt there would be a combination of these options. A public meeting will be coming up to talk about the options. There hasn't been a lot of public input so the group will try to get more press on the process for the next public meeting. The group will meet again this week. Williams mentioned a proposed project in the Jenny Creek area on BLM lands in old growth forests. Williams read a press release from the Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center. Pool suggested getting the Tidings to do a poll online to get interest in the Water Advisory Committee public meeting. Lemhouse cautioned about results from polls. Noraas suggested something more exciting to attract people, possibly something in the City Source in the utility billing. Lemhouse suggested the Mayor's television show. Iverson suggested using WebSpirit Community to distribute it since they are largely a local group. Other suggestions included local bulletin boards, JPR radio, and a press release. D. Follow up on FSC Certification Iverson would like to revisit the issue soon and meet with Jake from the FSC program. Williams wasn't here last meeting but gathered that there was some cost to this and challenges. Karns brought up a discussion with Marty Main where Marty suggested forming a subcommittee to research the issue. Iverson suggested tabling this issue until after the map is completed and others agreed. G:\fire\Forest Interface Division\Forest Lands Commission\MINUTES\2010\November 9th 2010 final.doc E. Prescribed Burn on City forestlands Chambers presented a brief history leading up to the current need to implement prescribed burning on City forestlands as a fuels maintenance and ecosystem health strategy. It's also cheaper in the long term to maintain vegetation with fire than to maintain it with saws. We could burn up to 30 acres this spring if the windows for burning work out, which would be 1 or 2 units. The strategic area around the BTI trail on lower City lands is a high priority. Chambers asked the commission what involvement they'd like to have or what questions they have about burning on City forestlands. Maymar would like to see maps of the proposed areas in the larger context of the lower watershed. Karns suggested photos of the proposed burn units. Williams asked about the public outreach process. Chambers said that much of the public outreach will be done by the AFR project partners but that if the commission wanted to distinguish between Forest Service and City they could make an effort to showcase the City's work on its own land. F. Public Outreach Plan Watershed Engagement Plan Williams summarized some of the past discussion on videos and a website including possible documentaries and a video on the Mayor's television show. The map has taken up most of the effort recently. G. Commission 3-Year Goals progress Lemhouse brought up the issue of Council liaison moving into the future. Williams made a motion to ask the mayor to keep Greg Lemhouse as the Forest Lands Commission liaison. Pool seconded the motion and all voted ayes in support. Williams asked Lemhouse if there was other Council business relevant to the forest lands commission. Lemhouse described the Fire Department's efforts to bring fire safety proposals to the Council including the Firewise Communities program and non-flammable roofs. Williams asked about burning and how to curb it. Chambers explained how burning has been cut back significantly over the past two years. The Chief mentioned a potential chipping program to help people dispose of debris. Williams then asked Lemhouse about the homeless camping issue and problems with camping in the watershed and crime downtown. Lemhouse said that it's difficult to pass laws against certain behaviors and there's a need to help people who are homeless and need help versus those who don't want help. Williams has talked to the police chief along with others. Lemhouse would like to see a community solution to address multiple aspects of the problem. VII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS G:\fire\Forest Interface Division\Forest Lands Commission\MINUTES\2010\November 9th 2010 final.doc VIII. REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR/NEXT MEETING A. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting: December 14th, 2010 IX. ADJOURN: 7:30 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(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). G:\fire\Forest Interface Division\Forest Lands Commission\MINUTES\2010\November 9th 2010 final.doc