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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017.01.10 Forest Lands Commission Minutes MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE A SHLA ND FORES T LA NDS COMMISSION Tuesday, January loth, 2017 5:30PM to 7:30PM Fire Station #2 Conference Room 1860 Ashland Street I. CALL TO ORDER: 5:30 PM Luke Brandy, Nathan Lewis, Steve Jensen,Frank Betlejewski, Jeff McFarland,Jill Mullen-Feeley, Torsten Heycke, Matt Miller, Stefani Seffinger,David Shepherd, Marty Main, Chris Chambers, Dominic Barth II. INTRODUCTIONS Interim Fire Chief David Shepherd introduced himself along with Dominic Barth and Torsten Heycke of the Ashland Woodlands and Trails Association. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Miller motioned to approve as submitted, Brandy seconded and all voted in favor. IV. PUBLIC FORUM None V. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA None VI. BUSINESS A. Trails/Recreation (25 min) Heycke presented the Jabberwocky Trail application, which he originally submitted in November, and then withdrew until now. The trail has existed for 15 years and needs to be upgraded on both the Forest Service and City sections. Jabberwocky as proposed takes bike traffic off of the Waterline Trail and Alice In Wonderland in some part for each. The Alice In Wonderland trail could close and having Jabberwocky is an alternative is important. The trail will be built to the specs for safety and sustainability. The trail will be unofficially one way downhill. Both Chambers and McFarland have walked the route. Barth has been involved in the design for many months. Lewis asked about the classification of Waterline Trail and if it could be hiker only. Heycke said that Snark allows for bikes, so making Waterline hiker only would eliminate Snark as a bike route, one of only few for cross country bikers to ride uphill. McFarland read from a geology report that was commissioned by AWTA regarding three sites along the Jabberwocky route. The report was favorable with some further recommendations about specific construction techniques. Chambers described a unique ecological setting that he'd like to see protected along with a dangerous dead tree. The Forest Service will be using amini-excavator on their portion and it could be used on the City side, but will have to be evaluated for its impact and exit route. Brandy would like to see the machine in progress. Main talked about a situation in Portland where Metro owns property that has trails on it. The trails impact on wildlife populations is being looked at and fragmentation of habitat could be an issue. The presence of dogs contributes to the influence on wildlife. Heycke said the USFS NEPA study addressed the issues with trails and wildlife in their process. City lands probably have more trail density and human use. Main asked McFarland if he thought that additional trails would be built as a result of any new trail in an area. McFarland said that it depends on design and making sure the trails are monitored. Screening is helpful to deter short cuts. McFarland feels like sustainability is important and we've reached the threshold for trails in this particular area. The new Jabberwocky route gets rid of the unsustainable portion of the old route, which will be better overall, and safer too. The sooner you catch any illegal use or construction, the better. Brandy motioned to approve the Jabberwocky Trail proposal as submitted on the 12/29/2016 map as presented. Jensen seconded and all voted in favor. B. Meeting process decision (30 min) Miller motioned to accept the Speaker Policy document as amended. Jensen asked how speakers receive the handout and Frank will implement the agreed upon rules. C. FLC Climate Policy Follow-up (5 min) Frank talked about his meeting with Adam Hanks. D. Ashland Ponds Update (5 min) This is a good example property where the Climate and Energy Action Plan goals could be attained, though that level of detail would not be included in this plan's scope. McFarland pointed out that a goal setting and budget session for Parks is upcoming if Ashland Ponds projects are to be put forward. E. 2016 Ashland Forest Plan Press Release (10 min) Brandy would like to see the 25 year update highlighted. Frank would like to see Climate Energy Action Plan input mentioned. Miller would like to see the resources protected like watershed, property and level of monitoring data we have. Brandy added to usability/applicability to other commissions and partners, transferability of knowledge, an understated statement on the quality of the document and its unique value. Frank added a topic about the map page and will follow up with a user guide for the online map. F. City Lands Management Update (3 min) There is one unit burn plan underway and another that's already completed for spring of 2017. These might be burned in the TREX program. Parks will be in the OWEB grant program for thinning on the Lawrence Property and the new Acid Castle Rocks property, and an underburn in Siskiyou Mt. Park(the first one). G. AFR Project Update (5 min) Burning went well until moisture limited the effectiveness of burning in late November. Piles are too wet and won't consume efficiently until drier weather. Cutting is about half way done on the commercial units (200 acres) and the helicopter will be ready to move in near the end of January when weather permits. This will cause closing of some trails on the east side of the watershed including Catwalk and Marty's below Four Corners and above Lamb Saddle. H. CWPP Update (5 min) Chambers said the CWPP process is moving along including updating the document outline with the Wildfire Commission next week, a smoke working group on the 20th, and beginning of the risk assessment mapping this week. VIL COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Brandy hiked the proposed Gimble trail and liked the proposed extension, but could see how it's possible to drop from there into the lower slopes and creek. Brandy was selected as the liaison for the Trails Master Plan update, but can't make meetings during the weekdays. McFarland will see if he can get the meetings moved until later in the day so Brandy can attend. VIII. REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR/NEXT MEETING AGENDA A. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting is February 14th, 2017 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).