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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015.12.08 Forest Lands Commission Minutes Action minutes FOR A MEETING OF THE A SHLA ND FORES T LA NDS COMMISSION Tuesday, December 8th, 2015 5:30PM to 7:30PM Fire Station #2 Conference Room 1860 Ashland Street I. CALL TO ORDER: 5:30 PM Present: Frank Betlejewski (chair), Jeff McFarland, Luke Brandy, Steve Jensen, Dave Brennan, Matt Miller, Marty Main, John Williams, Stefani Seffinger II. INTRODUCTIONS Torsten Heycke (Ashland Woodlands & Trails Association) III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November Meeting Minutes Draft minutes from November meeting not available for review since Chris Chambers is not at meeting. Will defer until January 2016 meeting. IV. PUBLIC FORUM None V. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA None VI. BUSINESS A. 2016 Ashland Forest Plan Draft Discussion (45 min) Steve Jensen will have draft chapter completed by noon 12/9. Some chapters have had additional comments and need cleanup before Tier 2 review. Tables, graphs, references need to be cleaned up. FLC members are included in Tier 2 review. Motion/seconded to send out draft plan on 12/9 for Tier 2 review, with review period open until February 14. Passed unanimously(Luke Brandy abstained) Timetable for Forest Plan, which has been in progress for approximately 4 years: • Tier 2 review open through February 14, 2016. • John Williams will format draft in March 2016. • Goes to City Council for review in April 2016. • Goes out for public review after City Council approval. Jensen is concerned that draft is still too rough and uneven to review. Betlejewski acknowledged but thinks it's now time for review by new people. Brandy wants draft reviewed and edited for style, grammar, typos. Miller will take on using style guidelines from US Forest Service technical writing guide. Torsten Heycke will be added to Tier 2 review list. B. Trails/Recreation (15 min) Torsten Heycke (AWTA) presented three trail project applications, all related to Red Queen Trail. Red Queen Trail on US Forest Service land has not had any objections, and approval should be signed on December 22. Red Queen Trail proposal (city lands): would connect with proposed Red Queen Trail on US Forest Service land. Portion on city land is relatively level, and is constrained by Palen property line. USFS section climbs to meet 2060 road where current Jabberwocky Trail does. Proposed for hiker/equestrian use only. No sensitive areas, no geological issues, no riparian zones. Future goal of BTO Trail is to connect to Waterline Trail. ACTION TAKEN: Approved Red Queen Trail proposal unanimously, contingent on approval of USFS section. Gryphon Trail proposal: Would connect Red Queen to Bandersnatch. Goals are to create shorter loop, take advantage of views, reduce vehicle traffic to White Rabbit trailhead, and provide access to 2060/White Rabbit if private landowners close access. Palens still haven't signed easement after 12 years. Concerns are that short section of proposed trail just crosses into private land, although city does have easements on both parcels. Potentially could reroute so entire trail would be on city land. ACTION TAKEN: Approved Gryphon Trail proposal unanimously, but only for hiker use (concern over equestrian use coming down ridge above Red Queen). Lower Red Queen Trail (formerly Terrace Street Trail): Goal is to connect Terrace Street with Bandersnatch/BTO/Alice in Wonderland trails, while avoiding geologically sensitive areas. AWTA doesn't have proposed route finalized—needs at least one more site visit. Most neighbors on Terrace Street support proposal. ACTION TAKEN: Approved pending final routing after site visit with city staff(all in favor except Brennan, who opposed). C. City Lands Management Update (15 min) Burning largely done on Winburn piles from previous helicopter logging. Smoke settling into town at night has been a concern w/burning. Trying to walk fine line. Part of it is gaining public acceptance , understanding of summer wildfire smoke vs. winter prescribed fire smoke. For many residents their only relationship with forest is when we have wildfire smoke in summer. Have been burning on city lands since mid 1990's, slowly becoming the norm in Ashland with increasing public acceptance. iJPR has three part series this week on forest management. Jensen asked if there is more we can do with media outreach, thinks that average resident doesn't differentiate between AFR, City, and private lands. DEQ air quality monitor in town now should help. Williams reported that Lomakatsi and school groups doing annual Ashland Ponds work projects—blackberry eradication, tree planting. Short sections of Bear and Ashland creeks are only City lands with potential for anadromous fish improvement and for placing large woody material in the creek for habitat. VII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS VIII. REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR/NEXT MEETING AGENDA A. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting is January 12th, 2016 IX. ADJOURN: 7:26 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).