Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-0615 Documents Submitted , , CITY OF ASHLAND Council Communication Title: Title In Jackson County Funding Program for. Ashland Fire and Rescue Meeting Date: 06/15/2010 Primary Staff Contact: John Karns Department: Fire Department E-Mail: karnsj@ashland.or.us Secondary Dept.: Administration Secondary Contact: John Karns Approval: Martha Bennett Estimated Time: 5 minutes Question: Does the Council wish to approve a funding agreement between the City of Ashland and Jackson County for the Ashland Firewise Communities Recognition Program (Title III)? Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that Council approve the Title III funding agreement between the City of Ashland and Jackson County. Background: Ashland Fire and Rescue has previously participated in Title III grant programs for wildland interface fuels management support and the implementation of Firewise public outreach projects. Ashland Fire and Rescue has recently applied and received approval for a Title III grant for implementing a Firewise Communities Program for Ashland. It is recognized that this funding agreement requires Council approval to move forward. The Firewise Communities Program involves homeowners, community leaders, planners, developers, and others in the effort to protect people, property, and natural resources from the risk of wildland fire before a fire starts. The Firewise Communities approach emphasizes community responsibility for planning in the design of a safe community as well as effective emergency response, and individual responsibility for safer home construction and design, landscaping, and maintenance. Information on this program was provided to the Citizen's Budget Committee during Ashland Fire and Rescue's budget presentation. Ashland Fire and Rescue wishes to expand the level of public awareness concerning the challenges of living safely in the wildland interface. An increased level of citizen involvement is critical to reduce loss oflives, property, and resources to wildland fire by building and maintaining communities in a way that is compatible with our natural surroundings The Firewise Communities Program is a nationally recognized effort that is an integral part of this local process. The Firewise Communities Program will work in concert with the other efforts of local and regional organizations to produce a safer community. Fiscal Impact: This funding agreement would fund approximately $47,000 for staff costs for the Ashland Firewise Communities Program. There would also be approximately $5,000 for other program costs. Page I of2 , Council Communication Firewise.doc r:., CITY OF ASHLAND Council Options: Council can: . Approve the funding agreement . Deny the funding agreement . Table the proposal Potential Motions: . I move that the City Attachments: Exhibit A: Funding Agreement and Project Submission for Ashland Firewise Communities Recognition Program Page 2of2 Council Communication Firewise.doc ~~, FUNDING AGREEMENT Terms and Conditions for Jackson County Funding for: Ashland Firewise Communities Recognition Program Public Law 110-343, Title III Recipient Name: City of Ashland - Fire & Rescue Dept. Contact Person: Address: OFFICE USE ONLY Chris Chambers 455 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520 Phone #: (54 I) 552-2066 fax#: (541)488-5318 E-mail: chamberc(Q)ashland.or.us Business License # License # State Business Registry # Tax Identification # Business type: Title III Category: Amount of Award: $52,000 Term of this Agreement: 7/1/10 to 6/30111 Business PROJECT #: 2608 50lC3 Partnersbip LLC Other A. Preamble: Financing for this project is subject to the availability of federal funding. The Parties understand that continued federal funding for this grant depends on demonstration that the project is successfully implemented and satisfies the applicable purposes set forth in PL 110-343. The following description of the project may be general in nature. The Parties may request to make adjustments to the Project in order to better accomplish the nature and purposes set forth in PI 110-343. Such requests will be subject to approval by Jackson County. B. Definitions: I) "BoC" means Jackson County Board of Commissioners. 2) "Department" means Department of Economic and Special Development. 3) "Parties" means Jackson County and Recipient. 4) "Project" means subject matter for which Recipient is receiving funds. 5) "Project Manager" means that person which is responsible for administering the County's Title III program. 6) "Recipient" means person or entity receiving Title III funds pursuant to terms of this Agreement. C. Funding Objectives: I) To establish and conduct programs that further the intent and purpose of Public Law 110- 343. 2) To achieve project as described in Exhibit A, herein attached and incorporated by reference. D. Funding Outcomes: FUNDJNG AGREEMENT - Page 1 I) See Exhibit A. E. Funding Conditions: I) The Recipient may use the grant funds only to meet objectives established under PL 110- 343 and those elections made by Jackson County Board of Commissioners for TitIe III projects, Order 84-10. 2) Any change or adjustment to the Project (excluding changes that increase the budget total for t~e Project, which will always require BoC approval), or any change or adjustment to the budget of greater than 10% of a major budget category as described in Appendix A, shall be submitted in writing and approved by the Project Manager. If the Project Manager determines the proposed change materially alters the project, a contract amendment shall be required for the change to become effective. 3) Any monies Recipient has expended between July 1,2010 and the date of execution of this Agreement and which would otherwise be authorized expenses that are reflected in preparation for and/or provided services applicable to this Agreement will be reimbursed under this Agreement. . 4) Unless otherwise provided, all unexpended funds and/or property existing at the end of the term of this Agreement will be returned to the County. F. Payment of Funds: By accepting these funds, Recipient acknowledges and certifies that Recipient is awareit is receiving federal funds which are subject to Single Audit requirements if the dollar threshold is met as provided under: U.S. Office of Management & Budget (OMB) Circular A-133, Audits olState, Local Government, & NOll Profit Orgallizatiolls. (The circular can be obtained from wwwwhitehousel!Ov/omb/cicutrJr!;) I) The Project Account Number, stated on Page I, shall be referenced on all correspondence 'including, but not limited to invoices and progress reports. Correspondence or other documents without this identification will be retumed and invoices unpaid. 2) The Recipient shall submit invoices, together with progress reports, to the project account number by delivery to the Department of Economic and Special Development (the "Department"). These invoices shall reflect services for the quarter ending September 30, December 31, March 31, and June 30, and shall be due for such services within thirty (30) days of each respective date. Applicant may submit invoices monthly, but those invoices coinciding with the end of the quarter shall be accompanied by progress reports. If no activity has occurred during the quarter, applicant shall notify the Project Manager in writing. 3) The invoices shall describe all services performed with particularity, by whom and on the date it was performed, the number of hours spent performing such work, and shall itemize and explain all expenses for which reimbursement is claimed. Invoices shall be sent to the Department with the progress r~port attached. 4) The Department shall reimburse project expenses upon approval of invoices. 5) Notwithstanding any of the above, Recipient shall maintain all fiscal records relating to this Agreement in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and federal circulars (as applicable). In addition, Recipient shall maintain any other records pertinent to this contract in such a manner as to clearly document Recipient's performance hereunder. G. Program Review and Record Inspection: Recipient shall permit authorized representatives of Jackson County to review the records of Recipient in order to evaluate Recipient's compliance FUNDJNG AGREEMENT - Page 2 with the use of grant funds for achieving program goals and objectives and shall permit authorized representatives ofJackson County to perform site reviews of all services covered by this grant. H. Property Acquisition: Recipient must obtain Department advice and consent to any purchase of real property, capital improvements, vehicle purchases and/or other expenditures for property in which such expenditure exceeds $5,000. I. Modification: Any modifications to this grant shall be in writing and signed by both parties before they become effective. J. Conveyance, Assignment or Transfer: Recipient shall not enter into any subcontracts for any of the work required by this Agreement, or assign or transfer any of its interest in this Agreement, without the prior written consent of Department. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns, if any. K. Termination: . I) This grant agreemenlfuay be terminated by: a. The mutual consent of the parties, or b. By either party upon thirty (30) days written notice unless a shorter period is agreed to by both parties. Notice of termination shall be accomplished in writing, and delivered by certified mail or in person. c. County may terminate or modify this Agreement, in whole or in part, effective upon delivery of written notice to Recipient, or at such later date as may be established by County, under any of the following conditions: i If County funding from federal, state, or other sources is not obtained and continued at levels sufficient to allow for the grant of necessary funding; ii If federal or state regulations or guidelines are modified, changed, or interpreted in such a way that the services are no longer allowable or appropriate for funding under this agreement or are no longer eligible for the funding proposed for payments authorized by this agreement; or iii If any license or certificate requited by law or regulation to be held by Recipient to provide the services required by this Agreement is for any reason denied, revoked, suspended, or not renewed. d. For Default or Breach: Either County or Recipient may terminate this Agreement in the event of a breach of the Agreement by the other. Prior to such termination the party seeking termination shall give to the other party written notice of the breach and intent to terminate. If the party committing the breach has not entirely cured the breach within 15 days of the date of the notice, or within such other period as the party giving the notice may authorize or require, then the Agreement may be terminated at any time thereafter by a written notice of termination by the party giving notice. ii Time is of the essence for Recipient's performance of each and every obligation and duty under this Agreement. County, by written notice to Recipient of default or breach, may at any time terminate the whole or FUNDING AGREEMENT - Page 3 any part of this Agreement if Recipient fails to provide services called for by this Agreement within the time specified herein or in any extension thereof. iii The rights and remedies of County provided in this subsection d are not exclusive and are in addition to any other rights and remedies provided by law or under this Agreement. 2) Oblil!8tion/Liabilitv of Parties. Termination or modification of this Agreement pursuant to subsections a, b or c above shall be without prejudice to any obligations or liabilities of either party already accrued prior to such tennination or modification. However, upon receiving a notice of termination (regardless whether such notice is given pursuant to subsections a, b, c or d of this section K, Recipient shall immediately cease all activities under this Agreement, unless expressly directed otherwise by County in the notice of termination. Further, upon termination, Recipient shall deliver to County all Agreement documents, information, works-in-progress and other property that are or would be deliverables had the Agreement been completed. County shall pay Recipient for work performed'prior to the termination date if such work was performed in accordance with the Agreement. 3) Jackson County may, however, in its sole discretion, upon discovery of any violations of any provision of this grant agreement, cause funds or services to be withheld, reduced, or terminated, pending correction of the violation(s). Upon correction of the violation(s), the terms, provision, and conditions of this grant agreement may be reinstated at the option of Jackson County. L. Reimbursement to Jackson County: In the event Recipient cannot or will not comply with the conditions of this agreement, Recipient shall repay to Jackson County the funding reasonably determined as not used in compliance with this Agreement. In the event Recipient cannot or will not repay such funding, Jackson County, in its sole discretion, shall be entitled to obtain a money judgment in tile amount reasonably determined as not used in compliance with this Agreement. M. Independent Contractor: The Recipient represents and warrants that Recipient (i) is not an employee ofJackson County, Oregon, (ii) is not currently employed by the Federal Government, and (iii) meets the specific independent contractor standards ofORS 670.600. Recipient is not an "officer", "employee", or "agent" of Jackson County, as those terms are used in ORS 30.265. N. Compliance with Laws: Recipient agrees to be further bound by and shall comply with all federal, state statutes, rules, regulations, local laws and ordinances applicable to the grant agreement. Specific laws include but are not limited to those provided in Exhibit B, herein attached and incorporated. Recipient shall maintain all licenses, certificates, authorizations and other approvals required by applicable law to deliver the service(s) provided under this grant agreement. O. Indemnification. Recipient shall indemnifY, defend, and save harmless Jackson County, and its officers. employees, and agents, from and against all claims, suits, actions, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses of any nature whatsoever resulting from, arising out of or relating to the operations of the Recipient, including, but not limited to the activities of Recipient or its officers, employees, subcontractors or agents in relation to this grant agreement. FUNDJNG AGREEMENT - Page 4 i P. Funds Available and Authorized: County has sufficient funds currently available and authorized for expenditure, to finance 'the costs of this Agreement within the County's fiscal year budget. Recipient understands and agrees that County's payment of amounts under this Agreement attributable to work performed atler the last day of the current fiscal year is contingent on County appropriations, or other expenditure authority sufficient to allow County,in the exercise of its reasonable administrative discretion, to continue to make payments under this Agreement. In the event the County has insufficient appropriations, limitations or other expenditure authority, County may terminate this Agreement without penalty or liability to the County, effective upon the delivery ofwriiten notice to Recipient, with no further liability to Recipient. Q. Litigation or Settlement of Disputes. If suit or action is instituted in connection with any controversy arising out of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the losing party, in addition to all other sums and allowable costs, its reasonable attorney fees, both in preparation for and at trial and any appeal or review, such amounl"lo be set by the court before which the matter is heard. For purposes of this section, attorney fees may include the reasonable value of the services of in,::,h6use or staff counsel. . R. Merger Clause: This grant agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties. No waiver, consent, modification or change ofterms of this agreement shall bind either party unless in wr,iting and signed by both parties. Such waiver,. consent, modification or change, ifmade~ shall be effective only in the specific instanccand for the specific purpose given. There are no understandings, agreements, or representations, oral or.written, not specified herein regarding this agreement. Recipient, by signature of its authorized representative, hereby acknowledges that slhe has read this agreement, understands it and agrees to be boundby its terms and conditions. If Recipient is a corporation, each individual executing this grant agreement on behalf of said corporation represents and warrants. that slbe'is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Grant Agreement on behalf of said corporation, in accordance with the by-laws of said corporation, and that this grant agreement is binding upoll.said corporation. RECIPIENT JACKSON COUNTY t By: - (Date) Danny Jordan County Administrator (Date) FUNDING AGREEMENT - Page 5 EXHIBIT A PL 110-343 Title III Proiect Submission Form for Jackson County EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT OF 2008, TITLE VI, SEC. 60 I Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act Name of Project: Ashland Firewise Communities Recognition Program Date Project Submission Form To Be Returned To Matt Michaelis: February 19,2010 Date Project Submitted: February 19'",2010 Project Sponsor: City of Ashland, Ashland Fire & Rescue Sponsor's Address: 455 Siskiyou Boulevard Contact Person: Chris Chambers, Forest Resource Specialist Phone: 541-552-2066' Fax: 541-488-5318 E-Mail: chamberc@ashland.or.us Project Is Authorized Under The Following Category (see Sec. 302(a)): (choose only one) X Activities Under the Firewise Community Program o Reimbursement for Search, Rescue, Firefighting or Other Emergency Serviccs on Federal land o Develop Community Wildfire Protection Plan Project Location: City of Ashland's Wildfire Hazard Zone (Wildland Urbanlnterface) Other Identifiers: (geographic location, road name or number, stream name) The project will be limited to residences within the City limits and inside the defined Wildfire Hazard Zone. Project Description (include work windows or other limitations/restrictions/public or private land): Title III funds will support one full timc staff person who will create and implement a Firewise Communities recognition program in Ashland. The goal of this program will be to get Ashland national recognition through the federally sponsored Firewise Communities organization within ffi,'o to three years. The recent Siskiyou Fire emphasized the need for widespread community wildfire preparations. Firewise Communities is a nationally recognized program that has demonstrated success creating safer communities throughout the country. The state of Oregon has relatively few sanctioned Firewise Communities and we look forward to creating a model for other Oregon cities to follow. This coincides with the implementation of State Senate Bill 360 in Jackson County. Project Goals and Objectives: I. Establish a process by which the entire affected area within the City limits receives Firewise recognition within three years. 2. Hirc a coordinator for this program by at least July 1,2010. 3. Train the coordinator in Firewise home safety standards through an on-line class and field experience. 4. Coordinate with the Oregon Department of Forestry, the national Firewise Communities program, and local organizations in order to develop a programmatic approach to the ultimate goal of Firewisc recognition. 5. Estahlish and advertise Firewise standards for individual homes. 6. Create a tracking system to gauge progress toward the goal of Firewise Communities status. Is There An Opportunity To Tie To An Associated Title II Project? Explain: There arc no current Title 11 projects in the Ashland area. The projectwill augment a previous Title III project as well as the Ashland Forest Resiliency project on U.S. Forest Service land in the Ashland watershed. Proposed Method Of Accomplishment: II Contract [ I Volunteers [ ] Agency (FS!BLM) Employees [] County [ I County Corrections (adult! juvenile) II Non-Profit IXI Other: City Employee Current Status Of Project Preparation: Considerable work has been done over the past 10 years both raising awareness of wildfire issues and creating defensible space around homes in the wildfire zone. A 2009 Tille 1II grant has been successful in getting homeowners to meet Firewise standards, increasing the likelihood of the larger area receiving recognition. The City has contacted the State Firewise Communities coordinator to get further information about the, process of becoming a recognized Firewise Community, as well as other already recognized communities to gain insight into the process. The current Ashland Fire Chief canle to Ashland in 2009 from the city of Beverly Hills, a recognized Firewise Community and shares his experience and knowledgc of the Firewise Conununities program. Contact Person(s) For Project Specific Documentation: Chris Chambers, Forest Resource Specialist Telephone Number(s) For Contact(s): 541"552"2066 HolY Does The Project Benefit The Community? Ashland's wildfire hazard area has the highest hazard rating in Jackson COllnty and potentially in the State of Oregon as well. The current estimate is that between 25% and 50% of homes meet Firewise standards for safety and the minimum requirement for recognition is 85%. A large wildfire could lead to the loss of many homes and potentially lives as well. The project will allow tile City to bring together' residents ofthe wildfire zone toward a common goal of area-wide wildfire safety. The extcnt ofthis effort requires a full time staff member to guide the initial process. Duration Of The Project: This initial Title III request is for one year of funding. We anticipate a request in the next fiscal years ofthe Title III program if the first year is successful. The City will maintain the Firewise credential once it is established, anticipating that upkeep will take much less effort than the initial certification. 2 Anticipated Cost of Project (itemize): . Review And Consultation Costs: . Contract Preparation And Administration Costs: . Materials And Supplies: $7,000 dollars for media, brochures, website, and mailing related to the Firewise Communitiesprogram. . Monitoring: . Other Costs: $45,000 for Firewise Communities program coordinator salary and/or benefits. . Indirect Costs (overhead): City will pay the Indirect Costs. TOTAL COST ESTIMATE: $ 52,000 . Estimatcd Start Date Of Project: July 1,2010 Estimated Completion Date of Project: June 30,2011 Is This A Multi-Year Funding Request? [X] No [ ] Yes (if yes, display by fiscal year) F cdcral FY09 Request: FY11 Request: FYIO Request: FY12 Request: Identify Source(s) Of Other Funding.For Project: The City of Ashland will contribute approximately $31,920 dollars during this funding period toward the proposed Fircwise Coordinator position. The represents 42% ofthe position cost with bencfits. Project Accomplishments I Expected Outcomes: The Firewise Communities Coordinator will coordinate program guidance and planning that will result in a formalized plan leading to Firewise Communities recognition in 2-3 ycars. The Coordinator will create a public infOlmation campaign explaining the Firewise standards for homeowners and the overall program goals. The Plan will be reviewed and approved by the Fire Chief and referenced as a deliverable to thc County during the project. The Coordinator will establish a measure of progress toward Fircwise status that will serve as a reporting tool back to the County, State, Firewisenational program, and community leaders. The project will ultimately result in an increased number of homes meeting Firewise standards and ultimately a significantly decreased loss of homes during a wildfire. How Is Project 10 The Public Interest? The project increases the effectiveness of fire suppression efforts during a wildfire and could prevent loss of life and property values in the City's wildfire zone. The project also increases the effectiveness of suppression resources that might otherwise be dedicated to homes on fire. The result is that more resources can be dedicated to protection of natural resources such as the upslope Ashland Municipal Watershed. Will Project Create a Product Or Benefit To Federal Resource? The majority of the Ashland Watershed area bordering the upper City limits is federal land managed by the U.S. Forest Scrvice. Increased compliance with Firewise home safety standards decreases the risk faced by federal land managers when using prescribed fire, which is planned as part of the Ashland Forest Resiliency Project, set to begin in Spring of 20 I 0 and last for at least 10 years. 3 Monitoring And Reporting Plan To Measure Outcome (how will you determine how well the proposed project meets the desired objectives): In year one oflhis project the measurable outcomes will be a Firewise Communities program plan and guidance, a tracking system for attainment of Fire\vise Communities status including an analysis of . progress to date, and the number of homes that have attained Firewise standards during the grant period. Ofticial recognition is not a goal for the first year of the program. Other Comments: Submitted To: Jackson County By: Chris Chambers, Forest Resource Specialist, Ashland Fire & Rescue. Address: 455 Siskivou Blvd. Ashland. OR 97520 Telephone: 541-552-2066 Date: February 19.2010 Tille HI Project Certification Date notice of proposed project was published: Date Project description was mailed to RACs with area jurisdiction: Date 45-day public comment period closed: Date project approved by county: Amount spent on project during the calendar year: 2009 $ 2010 $ 2011 $ 2012 $ 4 9''''......... {l..r"-"r--j RECEiVED June 6, 2010 JUN 1 {} 2010 GitYof AShland William Barchet 189 Granite St. Ashland, OR 97520 Michael R. Faught Director of Public Works 20 E. Main St. Ashland, OR 97520 Dear Mr. Faught; I received your letter, dated 5/17/10, however it was too late to respond for the meeting on MayZO, 2010.1 do have the following comments and concerns, pertaining to the proposed change in angle of the parking spaces: 1) The new angle configuration requires an additional 3'4" of road width (from 16'6" to 19' 1 0"), on average, for vehicles to pull in and out of the spaces. The present street width in some locations does not have enough width to allow for the 75 degree spaces. For example, spaces 7, 8, 9 and 10 only have about IT of back- up road width. The same holds true for. spaces 5-19 and 26-32.because the other side of the roadis frequently used for loading and unloading vehicles. When that happens, there is barely enough road width to get in and out of the currently configured spaces. 2) Critical changes to the Plaza parking configuration should only be implemented in conjunction with an approved master plan for the Plaza, allowing for public input and recommendations by design professionals. 3) If safety is the primary consideration, I suggest designating one or both of the parking spaces at issue for motorcycle use only, at least temporarily, until the master plan process has been completed. That would free up standard spaces now occupied by motorcycles during the warm seasons when the need for those spaces is most critical. 4) The second space targeted for removal should remain. Even though cars using that space back up into the crosswalk, there are other parking spaces (at least three) further along in the plaza that have a similar situation, and there have not been any safety related incidents to my knowledge for any of them. As a business owner on the Plaza, and a design professional, I wish to participate in a solution that is best for everyone. Please e-mail me(wbarchet((t;lI1ind.net) if! can be of any further assistance. Also, please refer to my previous letter for other comments relating to converting to compact spaces, etc.. Sincerely, ,.... ! ,~'\ () -f--- / - {/ I. I .~'". .. ~",....-:.-,,/ " \ ftJJ(. . I o ~I . n . I 49= I \ '(:\ ,- " , - 47 4S 41 ~ 37 .(,) "" (;) . "" "'l 31 29 - c2~on ( Ike \ G 1 936 1 1 1 2S lS I I 1 1\ \ l " ~' ,. " " - -- --- " ----=-// ___ If '" Ij / 20 / CIT. ~. / . ....indic.tes bicycle/motorcycle parking proposed b CthfJ rrsnsportstion'Y ommission , \ I - -- . c " 9 11~ t; ~ '+- otf= - 0 en ..~ en Q) >"0 +-10 ...J ~'b),~ .- ~. I!' ==("1) L.. J ; ..c II 0" CO '" Q)~ 0 "E C> - C E ~ ~ . .' - .- 0 en U <( :J C 0 - I ~ ~ I ~ if ~ C '11~ II en c en o Q) +:i...J co L.. ~"E 0 ~ a.. Q) :3 ~ E '" 0"7 ioU co ..., "'C ~ U::: L.. r- Cw 0 o + _~ ~ g>o . Ci5 cf2.. ::JI.(') ~~ ;',';.. -'} rr --,C", otf= _, ..., """P 0'; 4"0 ;<:;<>Q ~. 0:, ~- - ~ 0 If . if i:l c::> "', "00 c Er ~ tJ.'. ,- o~ ~ 0 ;uo ' '> 0 . , ("~ (/' C? ..-0 ~..', Q~<; iJ" $ ,,< .. r .: ~ rf~P:\/~./' qi ~ 9~ o ~ "~--;"'o q "'<S (j j, 0 o Q., (/' o Cl ~ ~ - c: i o ...... o N ; x Q) "C c: ~ :c ttl ~ o ~ I- 06 :c , >. Cl o o c: .c u Q) I- "C o o .c ~ o .0 .c Cl 'Qj Z ~ .E ~ Q) - c: Q) () Qj U ~ :::J o q (/) .,' ~~n-i.d:b:r! "us! (l) I<.f~ June 15,2010 To Mayor Stromberg and the Ashland City Council: Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the Regional Problem Solving (RPS) process. I am a member of the Board of Directors of Rogue Advocates, and a long-time supporter of 1000 Friends of Oregon, the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, the Rogue Valley Audubon Society, and other local groups concerned with preserving open space, wildlife habitat, and the environmental health and integrity of the Rogue Valley. ' The Regional Problem Solving process begins from the premise of planning for a doubling of the valley's population. While planning is prudent, and indeed essential, I urge the Ashland City Council not to adopt policies that would promote or hasten such drastic population growth. Ashland as a community is committed to sustainability, and it is very doubtful that the ecological, the agricultural, or the various infrastructure systems of this valley would be sustainable in the face of a doubling of population. In short, a doubling of population is not a desirable goal. Some population growth, however, is inevitable, and the RPS process offers us an opportunity to prepare. The most important ways to prepare are to promote infill within existing urban growth boundaries, to develop robust public transportation systems, and to identify and preserve high-quality agricultural land. Adopting a higher density standard through the RPS process will advance all these goals, since that would limit sprawl and preserve agricultural lands, and since studies indicate that a minimum density of 7 units per acre is necessary for a viable public transportation system. The current RPS draft is based on a projected density of only 6.4 unitsl acre. This grave flaw must be corrected, as recognized in the resolution before you today.. I commend Ashland for not expanding its urban reserve as part of the RPS process. However, other valley cities have not been similarly responsible. Ashland should not endorse a final RPS plan that fails to protect high quality agricultural lands around Talent, Medford, Central Point, and Eagle Point that are slated for development in the current draft plan. Finally, as an environmentalist, I note that the RPS process fails to acknowledge the enormous uncertainties in our future due to climate change. The sobering 2008 report from the University of Oregon, Preparingfor Climate Change in the Rogue River Basin afSouthwest Oregon, documents the likely magnitude of these changes, including increased unpredictability in our water supply and increased wildfire hazards. Given these uncertainties, a conservative approach to growth that preserves open space and limits our demands on the environment is absolutely critical. In conclusion, Ashland should only endorse the final RPS agreement if it serves the overall goal of sustainability. We live in a small valley, and without careful controls population growth and urbanization could quickly destroy our environmental integrity and agricultural economy. Respectfully submitted, 1~ ..J. ~ Pepper Trail 2011 Crestview Drive Ashland, OR 97520 rl .",;- ~d M/S/fO p.ls Cate J. Hartzell 892 Garden Way' Ashland, Oregon 97520. 541-482-4111. Cate@mind.net PLEASE READ THIS INTO THE RECORD. Thank you. June 15,2010 Mayor Stromberg Ashland City Council 20 East Main Street Ashland, Oregon 97520 Dear Decision Makers, I express my appreciation to staff, the Mayor and the City Council for considering the Resolution in front of you tonight regarding the Regional Problem Solving initiative. . The leadership of the RPS process promoted the idea of broad involvement and working to truly address the needs of the future. It is appropriate, then, that the issues and perspective that the City Council raised in its 2007 Letter to RPS be addressed to the Council's satisfaction prior to Ashland offering any stamp of approval. In its decisions relative to the RPS, Ashland remained consistent with its land use goals like infill and balancing land use and conservation of resources. If this conservative approach was misunderstood and/or overlooked by RPS planners, then asking again for a recalculation of population projections before the Plan's adoption is appropriate and necessary. The fundamental precept of the whole process is to anticipate growth. To have proceeded for three years without addressing such a fundamental mistake in num\;lers is unfortunate; to proceed to adopt the Plan without this correction risks the credibility and success of the Plan. Since the start of the RPS initiative, the City has had to grapple with the financial challenges that the Rogue Valley Transit District has faced. I appreciate the City's request in the Resolution to really embrace the need to plan for public transit and the reduction of vehicle trips. This component of your request is vital. Ashland residents have watched as the hillside towards Grizzly Peak has filled in over the years. Your third request, to protect the Urban Fringe is a wise strategy to ensure that the goal of buffers is fulfilled. All that being said, it is my opinion that the RPS Plan as presented does not achieve its goals of preparing for future growth in the Rogue Valley. The evidence is strong that all regions will have to assume higher-than-expected levels offood production and other types .",... of agriculture. This plan fails to protect the land that serves the entire region in this respect. It fails to reflect basic planning principles that have made Ashland a desirable place to live and work. It falls short in respect to planning for public transportation. In its inability to reconcile issues with Jacksonville, RPS lost a critical segment in the planning area. This Plan does not reflect the values of sustainable practices that Ashland and its residents have a reputation for supporting. I respect that this Resolution is being offered as a compromise. I ask you not to weaken the Resolution that staff has brought you. Thank you for your service to this community. R/7ectfully, La Cate Hartzell Please include this into the formal record of this land use action.