HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016.02.17 Wildfire Safety Committee Minutes MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE
WILDFIRE MITIGATION COMMISSION
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
11:00AM to 1:00PM
Training Room, Ashland Fire Station #2
1869 Ashland Street
I. CALL TO ORDER
In Attendance: Tim Bewley,Bruce Moats,Vicky Sturtevant, Ron Parker, Stephen Gagne,Alison Lerch
(AF&R), Chris Chambers(AF&R)
Not In Attendance: Doug Kay(Commissioner), Greg Lemhouse(City Liaison)
II. INTRODUCTIONS
III.APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 20,2016
Ron motions to approve, Tim seconds, all in favor.
A. Action Items
a. Doodle Poll for Retreat
b. Draft Cover Letter for Measure 56
IV. PUBLIC FORUM
V.ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA
Add Chamber of Commerce Response
Add Trauma Resource Institute
VL BUSINESS
A. Action Item Update
a. Commission Vacancy(5 minutes)
i. Vicky sent an email to Oshana and was still interested in joining the WMC. Ron
has a recommended individual Kent Mclaughlin. We also considered inviting a
local Landscape Architect. Vicky will follow up with Oshana and Tracy. Ron
will follow up with Kent.
ACTION ITEM: Invite the individuals to the March 16 Wildfire Mitigation Commission(WMC)meeting
ACTION ITEM: Vicky, Tim, Ron, Stephen will participate in an informal coffee meeting. Vicky will
send out some dates.
B. New Business
a. Wildfire Hazard Zone (WHZ)Discussion(30 minutes)
i. The public draft ordinance will be available tonight or tomorrow for the
commissioners to review for the joint meeting next Tuesday 2/23 at 7:OOpm.
ii. Endorsement?The ordinance seems to be a great representation of the ideals of
the Planning, Tree and Wildfire Mitigation Commissions and is a great piece of
work. The WMC should have an equal voice as the other commissions. The
WMC needs to support this ordinance in principal. Out of all the commissions
involved,the WMC needs to be the commission that whole heartedly supports
this ordinance. We have to support the ordinance,knowing that this is a
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compromise between the more stringent regulations and those that we are more
acceptable amongst the community.
iii. Overall views: The WMC endorses the process,which has created community
wide awareness and discussion,but we are waiting for more details and specifics
in the ordinance.
iv. Public Meeting on February 25, 2016 from 5-7pm at the Gresham Room at the
Ashland Library. It will be advertised in the newspaper,Facebook, email lists,
etc.
1. Should we bring up concerns from the previous public meetings in 2015?
b. WHZ Cover Letter(45 minutes)
i. Alison will send an updated draft by the end of the week. Comments on the cover
letter need to be sent to Alison and Chris by Wednesday February 24, 2016.
ii. Tone: this has a passive voice. "Much as we would like to see a city-wide
ban....."Let's change the tone to include a more active and encouraging voice.
111. Add the Draft Ordinance to the WHZ website
c. Retreat(20 minutes)
i. Community Engagement Action Plan
1. Timeline of tasks, including sequencing
ii. Talking Points/Asking Points
iii. CWPP Outline to include the "Steal with Pride", "Written but needs to be
modified", "What needs to be written"
1. Alison will bring copies of the Jackson County and Ashland CWPPs
iv. Look at prior agendas to see if there is something that is still needing attention
v. Branding?
d. Chamber Response
i. Chris, Tim and Vicky spoke at the Chamber meeting on 2/11. Chris outlined the
Wenatchee wildfire example and Vicky talked about the CWPP. It was apparent
that we needed them as a partner in this process.
11. The Chamber is going to put together a subcommittee and asked the WMC to
join the taskforce.
ACTION ITEM: Chris will send the email from the Chamber to the WMC
e. Evacuation(10 minutes)
i. There is an existing framework for evacuation in the Ready, Set, Go! Program.
There are immediate needs to be filled out in the CWPP to address evacuation
concerns. The Fire Department will be working with the Red Cross to find out
where they stand in this process. We could invite the Red Cross to a WMC
meeting in the future.
1. How does this relate to the WMC? This is part of the CWPP. The
WMC will drive this issue to the City Emergency Manager(Fire Chief)
to make sure it is on his plate. Should we draft a motion to the Fire
Chief?What is the best methodology to the Chief. It is imperative to
have evacuation language in the CWPP instead of"We need an
evacuation plan."
ACTION ITEM: Keep Evacuation on the Retreat timeline when we talk about the CWPP timeline.
ACTION ITEM: Alison will send reminders for the next 3 meetings: 23, 24, 25'. Use Vicky's Gmail
account.
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VII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
A. Next Meeting Agenda:
a. Trauma Resource Institute
b. Evacuation
VIII.REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR/NEXT MEETING
A. Tuesday February 23, 2016: Joint WMC/Planning/Tree Commission Meeting
B. Wednesday February 24, 2016: WMC, 9AM-3PM at Station 2
C. Thursday February 25, 2016: Public Meeting for WHZ Expansion, 5-7pm Gresham Room Library
D. Next WMC meeting March 16, 20161 11 AM-1 PM at Station 1
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).
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