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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010.12.14 Forest Lands Commission Minutes MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE ASHLAND`FOREST LANDS COMMISSION Tuesday, December 14tb, 2010 5:30PM to 7:30PM Siskiyou Room, Community Development Building 51 Winburn Way I. CALL TO ORDER: 5:40 PM Greg Lemhouse, Chris Iverson, John Williams, Melody Noraas, Tony Kerwin, Anne Crispino-Taylor, Marty Main, John Karns, Chris Chambers, Gary Pool, Craig Gorson II. INTRODUCTIONS Anne Crispino-Taylor representing the Ashland Woodland Trails Association. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 9th meeting IV. PUBLIC FORUM V. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA Added City prescribed burn discussion and reordered the remaining items as listed below. VI. BUSINESS A. Public Outreach Plan Watershed Map Project Iverson handed out the black and white version of the map that will be used for kids to color in. Williams asked about some of the art near the plaza. A road looks like it passes from White Rabbit next to the plaza. Group decided that it wasn't enough of an issue. The black and white version will be colored by Poky and brought to the next meeting or the one after. Iverson will try to bring the map to the Public Arts Commission's meeting in January. Discussion of the lines next to the plaza resurfaced and Iverson will bring this change back to Poky. Discussion continued regarding what to put on the back of the map. Iverson suggested keeping the text simple and easy to understanding. Iverson proposed"What is the Watershed?" as a basic question. The most important point is that the watershed is the main source of the City's drinking water. State the size of the watershed (nearly 15,000 acres) of diverse vegetation and wildlife. The Watershed is one of very few managed by a municipal government and the U.S. Forest Service. Other questions could be: Can I ride my bike in the watershed? Can I hike in the watershed? Can I camp in the watershed? The watershed contains a diverse Vegetation and wildlife with Douglas-fir, pine, madrone, oak, spotted owls, bears, cougars, Pacific fisher, rare plants? Highly erosive granitic soils. Average precipitation 20-60 inches. Reeder Power Plant generates 3% of City electricity. Need something about the role of fire and historical fire years. City and Forest G:\fire\Forest Interface Division\Forest Lands Commission\MINUTES\2010\December 14th 2010 final minutes.doc Service watershed lands are managed for water quality and habitat (multiple resource values) by restoring the nature role of fire and historically open forests. Major floods by year is a good one: 1964, 1974, 1997. Commission will edit the text over the next couple meetings to have it finalized in February. Williams suggested adding text about the proximity of town to the watershed. Noraas suggested a word search on animals and trees and other vocabulary. Iverson left early. B. Ashland Woodland Trails Association Trails Planning Update Anne Crispino-Taylor showed the commission a map of the watershed with existing approved, unapproved, slated for decommission, and proposed trails. Existing approved trails equal 30 miles. The AWTA is suggesting another 30 miles of trails for approval. Some trails are proposed to create options for hikers and runners versus bikers to reduce conflicts. Anne recently saw bike use on hiker only trails so there's education to do among users. The AWTA is soliciting concerns about the proposed trails. They've been trying to visit all of the concerned groups and have already talked with many. The AWTA will put together a write up on each trail describing it and showing it on a map. Main pointed out that the AFR project will be clearing vegetation that could encourage more trail building. Main pointed out the BTO trail on City lands that was created after forest thinning and now connects to the Jabberwocky trail on the Forest Service. Main has seen a large increase in recreation in the watershed. It's part of the job of those involved to create a responsible plan to protect the watershed. There are many watersheds in the country where access is very limited. Karns asked about the biking community's involvement thus far. Anne answered that they have built new trails and maintained many trails to date. Noraas asked about the sustainable nature of trails and maintenance. Anne answered that they will identify the most sustainable trails and maintain them. Chambers asked about the process and how the Forest Commission and City should be represented in the process before the environmental analysis is undertaken by the Forest Service. Anne will send the information to Chambers to forward to the Commission and also contact the Parks Department about their participation. C. AFR Project Update including Community Engagement Main said Lomakatsi is currently working on the project but may get snowed out. Burning was discussed by the AFR partnership and are gearing up to burn piles in the winter and spring to be careful about smoke management. The partnership has been discussing priorities and budgets. Main has been working on prescriptions for blocks one and two in the project. The partnership will be taking a break during the holidays from their regular Thursday meetings. Williams and Chambers are trying to get footage of the AFR workers for the Mayor's Town Hall show in February. D. City Controlled Burning 2011 priorities Chambers handed out a map of the City forestlands that outlined several areas G:\fire\Forest Interface Division\Forest Lands Commission\MINUTES\2010\December 14th 2010 final minutes.doc proposed for burning. Main explained that fire has been intended to be a maintenance tool from the beginning and this is the beginning of what is hoped to be a burn program to manage and maintain past work to better protect and restore the City lands and watershed. Kerwin asked Main about contracting. Main said there were other options like ODF, the Forest Service. Currently with AFR project going there are other options for contracting with private firms as well. The season is March to May for the burns to take place. The City has budgeted a prescribed burning consultant for the AFR project and the City might consider using that person funded solely by the City for helping to design and implement this work. Burning will be challenging given all the constraints. E. Discussion Councilor Lemhouse commented that goals are actionable and achievable and he'll focus more on these types of goals this coming year. Kerwin asked about Tier Two power and Lemhouse said that the City pays more for higher amounts of power being used and less for less consumption. This is a challenge for Ashland as is water consumption. Williams asked which goals apply to the Forest Commission. Lemhouse suggested the Environment section. Kerwin commented on the Water Master Plan and that even Big Butte Springs is a limited water supply for the valley, which could affect the intertie project that Ashland is considering. Kerwin compared the future to what California has experienced with limited water and pressure for development. Noraas said we have to control our consumption. Lemhouse asked about the AFR project. Karns suggested support for the initial phases of AFR along with City Lands. Lemhouse suggested something actionable by the Council, which is more than support. Discussion ensued about what to adopt for fuels maintenance, support for the Firewise Communities program, and fire codes. Kerwin commented that it's not reasonable to fund private land clean up. Williams proposed a way to support the Woodland Trails Association's effort to coordinate recreation. Williams asked about how to discuss illegal camping in the watershed. Karns suggested a proper use goal that encompasses both recreation and camping. Main suggested something to take advantage of work proposed in AFR to coordinate work on adjacent City lands such as in the Winburn Parcel where the City's plan could be implemented in accord with AFR work. Lemhouse suggested saying something like the City lands could be ready for work and partnering when the time is appropriate. Main said that could be as soon as 2012. Karns suggested a goal involved with redrawing the City's wildfire zone to make it more effective at regulating fire risk. Lemhouse asked him to submit it. Williams asked about reviews of prior goals and Lemhouse said that those do happen and are effective. There's essentially one month left (Jan. 15th deadline meeting) for input. G:\fire\Forest Interface Division\Forest Lands Commission\MINUTES\2010\December 14th 2010 final minutes.doc F. Ashland Water Advisory Committee Update Not Addressed G. Commission 3-Year Goals progress Not Addressed VII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Williams commented on the ongoing controversy on camping in watershed forests. He'd like to see someone explain why camping laws are in place. Lemhouse commented that some say that winter presents no hazard for camping. Noraas brought up sanitation as an issue. Lemhouse said it's important that all sides of the issue are presented. Public testimony is closed on the topic so a letter to the Council or letter to the editor are a couple options for now. Williams offered to put together a letter and circulate it via email to the commission for the next council meeting. Kerwin made a motion that Williams will draft a letter that will be circulated among all commissioners, approved and then submitted to the Council and Councilor-elects before the next Council meeting. Gorse seconded the motion and votes were all ayes. VIII. REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR/NEXT MEETING A. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting: January 11 th, 2011 IX. ADJOURN: 7:30 PM In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, ifyou 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:Afire\Forest Interface Division\Forest Lands Commission\MINUTES\2010\December 14th 2010 final minutes.doc