HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012.11.13 Forest Lands Commission Minutes Action Minutes FOR A MEETING OF THE
ASHLAND FOREST LANDS COMMISSION
Tuesday, November 13th, 2012
5:30PM to 7:30PM
Siskiyou Room, CommunityDevelopment=Building
51 Winburn Way
I. CALL TO ORDER: 5:30 PM
Dan Maymar,Jim Berge, Frank Betlejewski, Jeff McFarland, Stefanie
Seffinger, Marty Main, Chris Chambers,Albert Pepe,John Williams.
II. INTRODUCTIONS
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 9th Draft Minutes
Frank requested under the AFP section, there was a request from Kristi
Mergenthaller that the Oredson-Todd woods be included in the Ashland Forest
Plan.
Several lines below, change common "scheme"to common "inventory".
Williams motioned to approve with Frank's edits. Pepe seconded and all ayes.
IV. PUBLIC FORUM
none
V. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA
none
VI. BUSINESS
A. Ashland Forest Plan Revision
Maymar was unclear about his assignment in the plan revision. Gary Pool had
recreation and social section. Betlejewski commented that we have Pacific fisher
In Siskiyou Mt. Park and Oredson-Todd Woods, according to the Forest Service's
recent data. McFarland showed Betlejewski around Siskiyou Mt Park. Frank went
on a tour with The Nature Conservancy talking about forest reconstruction being
done in the Ashland Watershed. Some of that info may apply to City forestlands.
Frank talked to Bill Schopp of the Pacific Northwest Insect and Disease Service
Center about insect concerns on City lands. GIS files are being gathered from
Siskiyou Mountain Park going back at least 10 years. Frank would like to see
common attributes assigned in GIS for treatments completed. AFR project has
some of this that we could use. It may be challenging to find older USFS files
adjacent to the City. Main may have Forest Service historic information. Frank
does not want to do USFS land, but to be able to compare the landscape with
adjacent ownership. This can help plan and budget for future work. Chambers
will send out the codes used in AFR and AWPP projects. Williams asked
about the timeline. Betlejewski recalled November as the initial date, but that's
been pushed back already. April was the original date for a draft of the new plan.
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Chambers will find the original assignments, Williams said the original
assignments are in the September notes. Next meeting is December 11 th.
Main has gone out with Bill Schopp about insects on City lands and he's a
resource for the City if we can take advantage of his time.
Berge motioned to make the first round of draft pieces for the December
meeting and have a draft of the Ashland Forest Plan update by April.
Seconded and passed all ayes.
B. Input on City Uniform Policies for Commissions
Discussion took place about the various options presented. Although not in the
same option together, Commission would like to see the policy allow chair to
serve for two consecutive terms if the commission and chair agree. FLC
supports the option let the Chair and Staff Liaison know up to 2 hours ahead
of the meeting for an absence. The group also supports the option for
attendance in #2 for two absences in a six month period. Commission would
like to define "excused absence" as notifying the chair or staff liaison at least
two hours before the meeting. Emergencies, or"urgent personal matters" can
be excused at a later date.
C. Update Commission 3-Year Goals
Betlej ewski sent out a draft updated version for review. Frank will resend it to
the group for approval at next meeting.
D. Trails/Recreation Update
AWTA put in a picnic table along the Bandersnatch Trail. A "pack out your
trash" sign will be installed at the table. McFarland has had problems with the
bottom of the Mike Uhtoff trail in keeping signage in place. He's looking to
relocate the pedestrian only section. They installed signs to discourage bicycle
use on the Lithia Park hillside trails. Jeff is waiting to build the middle section
of the Uhtoff trail until piles are burned. Parks has a State smoke management
permit but needs good weather for smoke dispersal this winter or spring.
E. AFR Project Update
The big focus in AFR are the two commercial projects. The ground based
thinning is taking place in the Bull Gap area above Four Corners. Winburn
Ridge was completed already. Weather may stop that operation soon. In the
helicopter operation, cutting was finished three weeks ago and helicopter has
been flying as weather allows. There have been four days of hauling logs out
of the watershed for a total of 70 loads. There's at least that much up there
now and hauling is subject to the weather and roads. Only one of five landings
have been used thus far. AFR is starting into the burn season, and there's a lot
of acres to do approximately 900. There have been around 500 acres of
commercial thinning cut to date between the two operations. Two mills are
being used right now. Wood is being made into veneer mostly, with a small
amount of saw logs in the smallest sizes. Meeting the Forest Service's
utilization standard is important. Pepe asked about post and pole utilization.
Main said that in AFR, the market for undersized material that can't go to a
mill is difficult to get together, especially in the context of the helicopter
contract. Other work may be more conducive to post and pole utilization. The
work in the woods so far has been positive in terms of protecting older trees
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and the residual stand. There are many pieces to the helicopter project that
have to be coordinated in order to have a good end product. Each step has to
be monitored for quality. Chambers said that the helicopter will be moving
down the hill and noise will be increasing as this happens in the next couple
weeks. Burning will start any day now.
F. Watershed Outreach Plan Review
Williams went back to the last Chris Iverson version of the plan and touched it
up. He'd like to set priorities next meeting. The items include designing a
brochure, powerpoint presentation, organize a watershed symposium,
art/photo contest, have a work party, create a classroom curriculum or activity
and implement a stewardship program. Williams created a Word file from the
PDF that Iverson worked on and will send it out for editing. Frank suggested
adding a list of accomplished items. There has been a lot of work already
done. McFarland has liability release forms from the City. Pepe asked about
the education effort. Williams said that this being the last year of Juli
DiChiro's contract with the School District, she's been slow to embrace the
idea of a unified watershed curriculum. Williams would like to get the AFR
education group together to push forward the proposal this winter. Chambers
will work with Williams to get a meeting scheduled. Maymar asked that we
put it on the agenda for next meeting to finalize it. McFarland described some
of the work parties he's hosted in the past, including students. Poison oak is
always a concern.
VII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Seffinger reported to the Parks Commission about adding the two properties
to the Ashland Forest Plan and the inventory work in store for Parks.
VIII. REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR/NEXT MEETING
A. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting: December 11 th, 2012
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).
C:\Documents and Settings\chamberc\Chris's Documents\November 13thdraftnotes,2012.docx