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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016.10.19 Wildfire Safey Commission Minutes Minutes FOR A MEETING OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION COMMISSION Wednesday,October 19,2016 II:OOAM to 1:OOPM Training Room,Ashland Fire Station#1 455 Siskiyou Blvd I. CALL TO ORDER II. IN ATTENDANCE III.INTRODUCTIONS IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. ACTION ITEM Chris would like to include the Wildfire Task Force group in a working group on smoke,both controlled burns and wildfire smoke. b. ACTION ITEM The commission is still interested in talking more with companies. Tim will invite Brian Conrad to a meeting. c. ACTION ITEM Vicky motioned that Ashland Fire&Rescue submit a letter of support for the code changes that includes an endorsement from the Wildfire Mitigation Commission. Stephen motioned to approve and Tracy seconded, all voted in favor. Sturtevant wanted to change fifth line in V. A.b. to strike"and/or teach them." Stephen motioned to accept minutes as amended, Ron seconded and all voted in favor. V. PUBLIC FORUM None. VI. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA None. VII. BUSINESS A. New Business a. Brian Conrad,with State Farm Insurance,will make a presentation regarding homeowner's insurance with discussion to follow Brian summarized their local process for underwriting policies. An inspection may or may not be necessary, including for wildfire. He described the wildfire checklist including defensible space clearance, enclosed spaces, gutters, and more. Most inspections are outside the City limits,but more are in the City limits as re-inspections are required. The underwriting process isn't well documented at the local level. Their tool is created by a third party,who defines where inspections happen. Overall, State Farm is becoming more aggressive on underwriting. Re-inspections are also done by a third party. The local agent then follows up with the inspections results and any mitigations required. Roofing is also considered with shake roofing possibly under increased scrutiny. Rural properties are assessed for water supply. Wood stoves are also an inspection item. State Farm has a grant program for Firewise programs and Ashland had one last year for 500 dollars. Discounts are given for various reasons. There is no Firewise discount. They do look at local area history of claims,though claims from the Oak Knoll Fire didn't change the local area rates. Brian does require gutters to be cleared and bushes to be cut back regardless of the location of the home. Tim asked if changing the City wildfire zone would change the way State Farm looks at insuring homes in the City. Reinspections are done with new policies, change of policy type, or at random from the underwriters. The models for their underwriting aren't available, so its hard to say what would happen in such a big company, though they might be interested to see the proposal. Stephen commented that discounts could help not only State Farm insured properties,but help the overall loss to communities and infrastructure.A letter to State Farm could help consider a change in policy to allow for discounts. Brian said that would be possible, including a shuffling of existing discounts to create room for a Firewise discount and he would pass on such a letter. Earthquake and flood are different types of policies. Doug asked if the neighboring property has an effect on a residential policy. Brian said it doesn't on residential,but it does on commercial. Chambers described the process the USAA insurance went through to get a Firewise discount passed in Oregon through the state insurance commission. Each company would have to navigate changes in rates through the state commission. Action Item: Ask Bruce at the next meeting about the process that took place on his insurance discount for Firewise. Action Item: Draft a letter from the commission to State Farm that would be reviewed by the Council, Mayor and Fire Chief as needed. Action Item: Chambers will contact the Oregon Fire Chief s Association, or other avenue,to make a contact with the Oregon Insurance Commission to ask about support for future Firewise discounts being approved. The group talked about Action Items from the previous meeting. Chambers is working on a smoke sub- committee through the Wildfire Task Force and will pass on the next meeting date to everyone. B. Ongoing Business a. Farmers Market Table tabled from previous meeting Doug talked with the Farmer's Market organizer and was invited back for next season. They don't want surveys taken in the Farmer's Market area,but could be done off the premises of the Market(sidewalk). b. Ashland Food Project/Firewise Website tabled from previous meeting An email came out from the Ashland Food Project but it wasn't the same paragraph that was sent out to AFP volunteers. Another opportunity will be next spring. c. AF&R Update: i. Ashland Forest Resiliency(AFR)/Ashland Forest All Lands Resiliency(AFAR). ii. Firewise d. Update on WHZ Joint Commissions Meeting held September 30. Tracy felt it was more like an overview meeting. Stephen reported on the Mayor's discussion about national policy on wildfire and Ashland's involvement. Stephen commented on Tracy's report on the limited number of plants on the Firewise list that are subject to deer browsing. In addition, having model home landscapes would be helpful, or even City buildings or developments sponsored by the City. Alison has a grant for a Firewise garden. Tracy appreciated the collaborative nature of the meeting between commissions, as did Stephen. Tim attended the Mayor's brown bag lunch. Tim brought up the need for more coordination between commissions and increased knowledge by commissions of their relationship to their associated City department. Tim will ask Diana for scheduling of the next joint commission meeting, and a reminder to include the Planning Commission. The group discussed a way to pass more information between commissions, including the Forest Lands Commission. Those present supported one member of the WMC attending another commission's meetings. Tracy and Doug will attend the next Tree Commission meeting. The Fire and Planning departments applied for a planning program aimed at wildfire prone communities,but didn't get in. However,the program organizers offered a smaller amount of assistance and Chambers will be in conference with them tomorrow to figure out what that would entail. He'll report back at the next meeting. e. Community Wildfire Protection Plan update i. Community Outreach Plan: Landscapers/Nursery When Alison is back,Tracy will talk with her about planning outreach and education with the nurseries and landscapers. An agenda item will be included in the December meeting. ii. Future Ideas: Make a website for the CWPP when it is finalized. iii. Review timeline and update on tasks Chambers will get together with Alison when she's back and come up with an updated schedule for CWPP completion by December of 2017. C. Parking Lot Issues a. Wildfire Hazard Zone b. CWPP Engagement Outreach(Chamber/Firewise Communities) c. Branding the WMC d. Wildfire Commission Collateral i. Create an annual plan of work for the WMC e. Firewise Website VIIL COMMISSIONER COMMENTS The commission discussed moving the December meeting to the 14t'to avoid the holiday break. Chambers will be gone starting on the 1411i,but Alison will be back. IX. REVIEW AND SET COMMISSION CALENDAR/NEXT MEETING A. Mayors Brown Bag Lunch: October 28,2016, 12:OOpm(ComDev) B. Next WMC Meeting: November 16, 2016, 11:00am(Station 1) C. Alison returns mid-November! X. AGENDA ITEMS FOR November 16 XI.ADJOURN: 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 35.102-35104 ADA Title I).