HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020.06.17 Wildfire Safety Commission Minutes MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE WILDFIRE SAFETY COMMISSION
Wednesday, June 17th,2020 11:00AM to 1:00PM Zoom
As the June 17th Wildfire Safety Commission(WSC)will be held electronically,written testimony for public input will be
accepted by visiting the WSC website, clicking `Contact the Wildfire Safety Commission' and providing your written
testimony in the Message box, along with all of the other required contact information. Written testimony must be
submitted by 4:OOPM, June 16th and will be included in the meeting minutes.
Meeting protocol via Zoom: raise hand to chime in and Stephen or Katie will facilitate when you can begin speaking
I. CALL TO ORDER
Charisse Sydoriak, Bruce Moats, Dan Dawson, Paul Behrhorst, Kent Romney, Stephen Gagne, Tonya
Graham. Pacific Power guests: Jeff Bolton, Drew Hanson, Tom Eide, Lorelei Philips. Jackson County
Emergency Management: Stacey Belt.
II. INTRODUCTIONS
A. None
III. Approval of Minutes
A. December minutes as amended
1. approved
B. January minutes as submitted
1. approved
IV. PUBLIC AND GUEST FORUM
A. Jeff Bolton, Emergency Manager, Pacific Power
1. Introductions,
a) Pacific Power: Drew Hanson, Jeff Bolton, Tom Eide, Lorelei Philips
b) Jackson County Emergency Management: Stacey Belt
2. Pacific Power staff provide presentation Wildfire Mitigation and Safety Plan
a) Presentation attached to these minutes
b) Pacific Power provided weblink to wildfire safety-specific information:
PaciLlcpower.net/wi/dfiresaLeLv
3. Pacific Power responded to questions
a) Responding to question regarding concerns about debris under powerlines
(1) Pacific Power's standards are to utilize lop and scatter method, with piles
18" or less when can't access chipper. This is a common practice approved by
ODF. Otherwise, crews will chip material.
(2) Pacific Power audits all spans of wire (100% audit program, initiated
2019) confirming that standards are met, and sends contractor back to areas where
standards weren't met. Additionally, there is government audit on this work,
conducted at sites at random
MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE WILDFIRE SAFETY COMMISSION
Wednesday,June 17th,2020 11:00AM to 1:00PM Zoom
b) Responding to question regarding needing permission from private property
owners to remove versus top trees.
(1) Pacific Power cycles through their locations every 4 years for treatment,
and targets trees under lines. Pacific Power completes a 100% audit of every
treated location, and sends contractors back if not up to par.
(2) Pacific Power does need permission from land owner to cut anything
greater than 6" in diameter. Some customers don't want trees removed to
maintain privacy, but Pacific Power works closely with owners to get them
removed.
(3) Pacific Power also offers a removal and replacement program—providing
vouchers to land owners to buy powerline friendly trees or grow away from
conductors. Stephen voiced Steve Ashers continued concerns. Stephen G will
connect Steve Asher with Lorelei Philips.
c) Responded to question regarding scheduling of work under powerlines (already
partially answered above)
(1) On a four year cycle Pacific Power is looking for hazard trees during
inspections. Looking for trees that could grow into clearance zone
(2) Pacific Power noted that Ashland area has lots of fast growing trees.
Pacific Power crews injects tree growth inhibitors into the tree to limit the number
of times they have to come back to trim trees
4. Stephen listed Steve's additional new questions,but ran out of time to address them.
Stephen is connecting Steve Asher with Lorelei to get questions answered. Should we expect
Steve to report back?
5. Stacey Belt from Jackson County Emergency Management stayed on for a few more
minutes to describe the potential for power shutoffs to take place historically, prior to Pacific
Power conducting power shutoffs. Since 2011, only one area in the Cascade Siskiyou National
Monument would have been eligible (given fire weather conditions) to receive a power shut off,
and it would only have been for 4 hours.
V. ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA
A. Pacific Power will be joining meeting at noon. Go through agenda as is until noon, and complete
the agenda if time after their presentation.
a) There was no time to continue with the agenda after Pacific Power's presentation.
VI. CITY COUNCIL CHECK-IN
A. Council is working to address shortfall from lost tax revenue from tourism, general fund. Cost
reduction may impact fire department, but no plans yet where cost cuts would come from. There is
currently no known reduced capacity for wildfire safety.
B. Department heads and administration is looking at these budget issues. The budget committee
has not been reactivated to look at budget shortfall, and there is not an intention yet to do so.
VIL OLD BUSINESS
A. Working Group Check-ins *action items in bold
1. Real Estate Engagement Program (SG, KG)
MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE WILDFIRE SAFETY COMMISSION
Wednesday,June 17th,2020 11:OOAM to 1:OOPM Zoom
a) Katie described the four components of the program (class for realtors, course for
inspectors, brochure, advisory form)
b) Rogue Valley Association of Realtors has applied for grant to fund this program
from their national group, and we should know in next month if received grant.
2. Nuisance Ordinance Expansion (DD,CS,CC,KG)
a) No report
3. Home Inspector Capacity-building (Kent)
a) Kent recommended a meeting with the city attorney to work through any liability
issues this class may bring up.
b) Stephen described how inspectors would be able to meet liability because they
have insurance
c) Charisse requests that we check if some members of the commission could
take the class. Could they get certified?
4. FAC Expansion/integration (KG, KR, CS, DK)
a) No report
5. Spring Wildfire Preparedness Campaign (KG, KR, CS, DK)
a) Working group reached out to many listservs, lots of good one-on-one
conversations, but some work was lost when COVID struck.
b) Kent and Katie were hosted by radio show, the Rogue Gardener for two hours in
April, discussed the wildfire preparedness campaign, firewise plants
c) Green Debris Drop Off Day
(1) Approximately 100 cars and 120 cubic yards of debris
(2) Discussion about if it is possible to host multiple green debris drop off
days in future
6. Intterra/Wine Program rollout (DD, BM, KG, KR)
a) Katie and Chris have been working closely with Wine over past several months,
postcards with codes to view individual home risk scores should be sent out in next
month
7. Nursery/Landscaper Education (CS, KG)
a) No report
8. Fire-Safe Business License Program for Landscapers and Contractors (KG, SG)
a) Included in Realty conversation
9. New Building Code Adoption advocacy (KG, SG)
a) Katie had discussion with Chris to begin pushing this in coming months
10. Consistent messaging by all departments (CS, KR)
a) No report
11. Identify Alternative Funding Sources (KR, KG)
a) No report
12. City Finances (SG)
a) Stephen noted that it is relevant for this commission to have hand in conversation
given that finance changes could impact Fire Department's ability to fight fire
MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE WILDFIRE SAFETY COMMISSION
Wednesday,June 17th,2020 11:OOAM to 1:OOPM Zoom
b) Finance challenges include many years of lacking communication to community.
Residents of Ashland does not know what city is doing. People don't learn about when
the city receives grants, receive awards
c) People are getting news from other than official channels. City has not adequately
responded to complaints of city.
d) Stephen provided www.tonvaforashland.com/tonvas-council-blot where finance
issues are discussed
13. Electric Utility Risk Assessment (SA)
a) Rolled into guest speaker conversation
14. Illegal Camping Ignition Sources (KG, CC)
a) Katie will include Council communications report out on last year's campfire
detection work(drone)
B. Farmer's Market
1. Discussion of how to commend commissioners of all their good work. Tonya hopes that
council takes up supporting commissions later this year. How can Council support commissions?
2. Stephen suggests there could be award that can be used by all commission,perhaps
signed by Mayor. Stephen could draft up language, and get approval from Mayor. First give peer
recognition in Commission, then bring to city council
3. Currently, we could utilize standing awards and presentations portion of council agendas
4. Bruce described how Doug has received award through Firewise program
C. State Farm Wildfire Insurance
1. No report(out of time)
D. OLLI Disaster Preparedness Class 2/24/20
1. No report(out of time)
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Updates from Oregon Shakespeare Festival
1. No report(out of time)
B. DEQ Grant
1. No report(out of time)
C. Homeland Security Grant for evacuation planning
1. No report(out of time)
D. Commission Chair nominations
1. Moved to top of agenda. Stephen has been in position for over a year. May be good time
to shift chair given new
2. Dan moves to nominate Stephen to continue as chair, seconded by Bruce.
IX. REPORTS AS TIME ALLOWS
A. Forest Lands Commission Report
1. No report(out of time)
B. Tree Commission (Katie)
1. No report(out of time)
MINUTES FOR A MEETING OF THE WILDFIRE SAFETY COMMISSION
Wednesday, June 17th,2020 11:00AM to 1:00PM Zoom
C. Chamber Wildfire Task Force (Katie)
1. No report(out of time)
D. Drone Detection Program (Chris)
1. No report(out of time)
X. NEXT MEETING
A. Wednesday, July 15th, 11:00AM-1:OOPM, Zoom
XI. ADJOURN