HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014.07.09 Wildfire Safety Committee Minutes Action Minutes FOR A MEETING OF THE
WILDFIRE MITIGATION COMMISSION
Wednesday, July 9th, 2014
11:00AM to 1:00PM
Conference Room, Ashland Fire Station #1
455 Siskiyou Blvd
I. CALL TO ORDER
Tim Bewley, Russ Silbiger, Eric Olson, Chris Chambers, Hugh Holden,Annette Herron
II. INTRODUCTIONS
III.APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 18`h Meeting
Tim made motion, Eric seconded, all in support
IV. PUBLIC FORUM
Chambers will find out if he can add the meeting time to the City main calendar.
V. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA
VI. BUSINESS
A. FAC Coordinator Position Interviews
Interviews were conducted the day before and four candidates went through the process. The
selection will be made by the end of the week after City Administration considered how to
apply the grant awards from Title III to the dedicated City budget for the position at .6 FTE.
B. Update on Fire Adapted Community Activities/Programs
a. Ready, Set, Go
Chambers explained the CERT training coming up on Saturday and invited
commission members to attend.
b. Title III grants
The Fire Dept secured 3 grants from Title III (Jackson County),two of which are for
Firewise over the next two years and one is for the CWPP rewrite effort.
c. Wildfire Hazard Zone
Chief Karns, Chris Chambers, and Fire Marshal Margueritte Hickman gave a
presentation to the Planning Commission in a study session about expansion of the
wildfire hazard zone to include the whole city. The commission was interested in the
proposal and Fire Department will bring it back in a formal session this summer.
d. Regional and National FAC meeting
Chambers attended a network meeting of national FAC communities in Colorado.
The City has an opportunity to partner with the County to implement FAC work
plans, and get funding to help implement it.
e. INTTERRA project
Chambers said the project is on hold due to time constraints, though the new coordinator
position could spend some time on it. Bewley asked if there's a possibility to do the
assessments via a volunteer group, even commissioners, or high school students. The
commission discussed how a high school program would work. Olson suggested a
teacher needs to champion the project. Bewley will ask the High School about how that
might happen.
f. Watershed Patrol
Consider signage to report suspicious activity to be put into the locking cases.
C. AFR Project Update
Chambers talked about operations wrapping up and planning amping up for the summer. He
also mentioned a recent visit from two Washington D.C. Forest Service personnel that was
successful in raising the AFR project as a priority for funding.
D. CWPP Update Process: Discussion and Process Design
Tim pointed to the Community Guide for CWPPs as a great resource that we can follow.
He asked what the ultimate outcome of the CWPP is for Ashland. Chambers cited the
experiences of the FAC network participants who have experienced fires recently. One of
their big lessons was the understanding and relation to fire management teams who were put
in place near or in their communities during the fire. Liaisons to the fire team were really
important as a conduit of information.
E. Future Meeting Date and Time
Next month's meeting was switched to August 13th at l lam.
VII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
VIII. REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR/NEXT MEETING
A. Next meeting August 13th,2014
IX.ADJOURN: 1:00 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).