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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes - 2006-04-19 (02) ;AU os 1011Pik CITY OF LAKE OSWEGO NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES APP-11'6" April 19, 2006 CALL TO ORDER&ROLL CALL Co-chair Craig Diamond called the April 19, 2006 meeting of the Natural Resources Advisory Board to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. in the Human Resources Conference Room of City Hall, 380 A Avenue, Lake Oswego, Oregon. Members present besides Co-chair Diamond were Co-chair William Gaar, Nancy Gronowski, Morgan Holen, Sarah Asby, and Greg Wells (student representative). Ellen Adams, and Russell Jones were absent. Guests were Doug Rich and *Randy Varga. Staff present were Lisa Hamerlynck, Natural Resources Coordinator; David Odom, Planning Department; and Annie Bergelin, AmeriCorp, Natural Area Volunteer Project Coordinator. II. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Bergelin distributed the Stewardship Report. She reported that 45 persons had participated in an Arbor Week event in Springbrook Park, and 25 persons had registered via the Internet for an Earth Day project to remove ivy in Iron Mountain Park. Staff reported there were currently two applicants for the two open NRAB positions. They also reported the following staffing changes: Ms. Hamerlynk was to transfer from the Planning Department to the Parks and Recreation Department on May 15, 2006 and Mr. Odom, a certified arborist, was in charge of the tree removal permit program for the Planning Department. III. REGULAR BUSINESS Stormwater Master Plan (Clean Streams Plan) Ms. Hamerlynk reported that the City was negotiating a contract with OTAK (a consulting firm which had also assisted the City in the National Pollution Discharge Elimination Permit process) to help fashion the "Clean Streams Plan." She anticipated that the City Council would appoint a steering committee. Ms. Asby and Ms. Holen agreed to represent the Natural Resources Advisory Board (NRAB) on the committee if the Board was invited to send a representative. The Board anticipated that they would invite the program manager, as well as former NRAB chair, Jonathan Snell, to update the NRAB during the process. City of Lake Oswego Natural Resources Advisory Board Page 1 of 3 Minutes of April 19,2006 Meetings with City Council Members Co-chair Gaar reported that he and Co-chair Diamond had held meetings with Mayor Hammerstad and Councilors Gay Graham, Lynn Peterson, and Frank Groznik in order to get a better understanding of each Councilor's perspective on NRAB goals and the NRAB's desire to help the City focus on Sustainability. He reported that the Councilors preferred to have casual, one-on-one meetings, rather than more formal, group meetings. Council Objective on Phosphorus-Free Fertilizer Ordinance Co-chair Gaar reported hearing from some City Councilors that they did not want to take a position on natural resource issues based on "murky" science. He suggested the NRAB do the research and provide them with clear, scientific information on issues such as whether to adopt a phosphorus-free fertilizer ordinance. He noted that would help promote the City's Sustainability Goal. Staff advised that Tualatin Basin ground water had a high level of natural phosphorus, and the Lake Oswego Corporation was very interested in how applications of phosphorus affected the lake. Co-chair Diamond agreed to lead the NRAB effort. Process Issues The Board discussed Co-chair Gaar's suggestion to fashion a procedure to allow the NRAB to offer a timely and cohesive response to issues that come up between regularly scheduled board meetings. He anticipated that the more active the Board became, the more often such a procedure to reach a rapid consensus would be necessary. He suggested using e-mail for that purpose. He also suggested distributing the meeting agenda via email. The members wondered if electronic communication and decision- making was allowable. *Randy Varga joined the meeting Co-chair Diamond moved to table the discussion regarding an emergencv process to be used to take action between regularly scheduled Board meetings until the next meeting, and in the interim, obtain advice from the City Attorney regarding whether the NRAB could hold an electronic meeting to decide to take action. During the ensuing discussion, it was suggested that there be a policy to ask each new Board member if electronic communication was acceptable. That suggestion was not made part of the motion. Co-chair Gaar observed that the motion passed without objection. Review of Tree Ordinance Issues and Community Forestry Ms. Holen presented her Tree Code/Community Forestry memorandum. She reported she had examined the Tree Code and the revisions that had been recommended by the Tree Code Task Force. She suggested the board support the development, design and City of Lake Oswego Natural Resources Advisory Board Page 2 of 3 Minutes of April 19,2006 implementation of a Community Forestry Program. She noted the current Tree Code simply protected the existing number of individual trees in the City, without regard to species; however, the separate Sensitive Lands Ordinance had special provisions that protected entire groves. She noted the Cities of Portland, Oregon, Santa Barbara, California, and other cities had a community forestry program. She noted the benefits of such a program went beyond saving trees, and provided benefits of air, water and soil quality and wildlife habitat. Ms. Hamerlynck clarified that the Sensitive Lands Overlay allowed up to 50% reductions in tree canopy for development. As a first step, Ms. Holen advocated conducting a tree inventory to map every tree in the City and locate and identify tree groves in order to identify the differing management needs of each area. Update on Sustainability Efforts Tabled to next meeting by unanimous consent. Information request re: bond measure expenditures Tabled to next meeting by unanimous consent. Thursday meeting date Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday rather than Thursday by unanimous consent. IV. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Co-chair Diamond adjourned the meeting at 9 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jonna Papaefthimiou Natural Resource Planner City of Lake Oswego Natural Resources Advisory Board Page 3 of 3 Minutes of April 19,2006