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2004-717-Minutes for Meeting April 14,2004 Recorded 4/21/2004DESCHUTES COUNTY OFFICIAL RECORDS C NANCY BLANKENSHIP, COUNTY CLERK J 2004.117 COMMISSIONERS' JOURNAL 1111111111111111111111111 111 04/21/2004 04:51:16 PM 2004-10 DESCHUTES COUNTY CLERK CERTIFICATE PAGE L C - L C-. This page must be included if document is re-recorded. Do Not remove from original document. Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1130 NW Harriman St., Bend, OR 97701-1947 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 388-4752 - www.deschutes.orc MINUTES OF MEETING DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2004 Commissioners' Hearing Room - Administration Building 1130 NW Harriman St., Bend Present were Commissioners Michael M. Daly, Dennis R. Luke and Tom De Wolf. Also present were Mike Maier, County Administrator; Tom Anderson, Kevin Harrison, Catherine Morrow and Matt Martin, Community Development Department; Marty Wynne, Finance Department; Laurie Craghead, Legal Counsel; Media Representatives Barney Lerten of bend. com and The Bugle, Lily Raff and Chris Barker of the Bulletin; Jason Carr of Z-21 TV; and seven other citizens. Chair Daly opened the meeting at 10: 00 a.m. 1. Before the Board was Citizen Input. None was offered. 2. Before the Board was a Public Hearing and Consideration of an Exemption from the Deschutes County Public Contracting Code for a Request for Proposal for Work in La Pine under a National Fire Plan Grant. CATHERINE MORROW: This is a hearing to consider findings to allow the Board to do an exemption, as allowed by ORS. We published a notice about the public hearing in the Daily Journal of Commerce and the Bulletin on March 31, as is required by law. The findings are attached to your packet. The findings address the criteria for the exemption. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 1 of 15 Pages Let me tell you what the project is. It is on County -owned land in La Pine; it's the area that we commonly refer to as the New Neighborhood. The project is an area of nineteen acres in a 100 -foot wide strip along Huntington Road. It is in three parts, and includes thinning to some specifications that were partially developed as part of a national fire plan grant that we previously addressed for the whole Neighborhood area. It also includes fuel reduction or treatment; that is probably the area in this request for proposal that we are most interested in hearing peoples' different approaches. The other piece of the project is to construct about one and one- half mile of soft surface trail in this open space. The 100 -foot wide area is designated in the comprehensive plan as an open space area. And the community of La Pine, throughout all of the public process and development of that Neighborhood plan has looked forward to having this area as open space with a trail. The findings point out the need to evaluate different approaches for fuel removal and treatment. There is a need to evaluate different approaches of using woody material from the site to construct the trial; a need to evaluate the proposers' experience in working on projects in aesthetically sensitive areas; and the need to evaluate the proposers' experience in working with the County to develop specifications. I've worked on a draft request for proposal. It is still a draft because I didn't want to put a final effort into it until I knew whether this exemption was going to be approved. But, in the draft I have described the outcome that we desire from this, which is both aesthetic and also reduces the potential of wildfire traveling to the crowns. In the description of the project, I've stated that we are asking for detailed written descriptions, and that points would be given for a demonstration of how the three parts of the project will be integrated in the most cost effective way. We have points for integration and reviewing the proposals, and also reviewing the cost with a not to exceed amount. LUKE: I have a question. There are several parts to this grant. This is specifically for private contractors; do you anticipate the County bidding on this? Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 2 of 15 Pages I don't know who will bid on it. The grant, which is from the BLM and is a national fire plan grant, is $109,000. It calls for $61,000 for contractual work. We have already done work on the project with the Heart of Oregon Corps. and the Juvenile crews. The grant lays out that it is to be a combination of both private contracting and Juvenile crews. DALY: If you were going to write a scope of work for this project, would that scope have to include the Heart of Oregon Corps. and Juvenile work crews in the private contracting part of it? MORROW: No, although someone could propose to come forward and use the Heart of Oregon Corps. and private contractors in response to this RFP. The grant merely requires that on the entire property we use some of the money for Heart of Oregon Corps. and some of the money for private contracting. This is a multi-year project, and the Juvenile crews did do some work to thin and prepare I think about seven acres of the site for the Forest Service bundler. This is part of the 500 -acre County -owned property there. DALY: This private contracting portion is how many acres? MORROW: Nineteen acres. (She referred to a map at this time) The bundler project was laid out so that it did not include this 100 -foot wide strip adjacent to the road. It was in further. DALY: My big question is, part of this grant is already being used? MORROW: The work that was done by the Juvenile crews was done under this grant. DALY: So that part of the requirement has already been fulfilled? Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 3 of 15 Pages MORROW: Not entirely. LUKE: How long do you have to spend this money? MORROW: Five years. And there is an opportunity to reapply for this, because the grant was written generally to treat the entire 500 acres. There is no way for that amount of money to treat the entire 500 acres. We did the goat project under a different grant last year, so I'm trying to break it down into pieces. The next piece I would like to do under this grant would be in the northwest part of the site where the fuels are the heaviest. We might do a firewood sale in there as a way to reduce the fuels and provide firewood to the community. So there are all kinds of approaches we can do under this grant to achieve the objectives. For the community of La Pine, it's important to have this open space corridor and to create the trail with polishes, with the subdivision coming for the first phase of development, fuel reduction and visual objectives along Huntington Road, and create this recreational amenity. DEWOLF: I had a call this morning from a woman in La Pine who read the story in the paper about what we are proposing. Her suggestion was to separate this into two processes. You go out for proposals on what we want to do, without dollar amounts attached, and get four or five different ideas on how to proceed with the process; then pick one and put that out to competitive bid. Can we do that? LUKE: As a general contractor, let me say this. You are asking people to invest time and energy into developing something that they may not be successful in getting. DEWOLF: I'm just asking, is this illegal on the face of it? LAURIE CRAGHEAD: I would have to research that. I'm not sure why contractors would actually bid on that, given the fact that they would not get any money for taking the time to put it together. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 4 of 15 Pages DEWOLF: Because they want to make their community better? CRAGHEAD: It's a free market society, someone may not want to put their ideas together and put forth the process just to help the County for free to figure out specs. You would still have to take an exemption process for the first part. I also wanted to say that this is not bypassing competitive bidding. This is a process that is allowed by statute, a request for proposal rather than an invitation to bid. An invitation to bid is you have already worked out the specs and know exactly what you want to do, and you get bids on price. LUKE: The State is doing that on almost all of their bridges. It's called design build. You are bidding the design as well as the construction of the bridge. It eliminates staff. This is actually providing a continued public process, and it is still competitive. It allows you to evaluate additional factors other than price. You have to take an exemption from our normal contracting procedures, which is the invitation to bid type of process. It is still going to be a competitive process. Chair Daly then opened the public hearing. ROBERT OTTENI: (He presented photos to the Commissioners, which will be entered into the record. He then read a statement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit ) DEWOLF: You think the entire 500 acres could be done for $109,000. OTTENI: Sure, it could be done. That's what you'll find out in an RFP. I propose that the entire thing go to private contracting, with the whole grant process open to the public. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 5 of 15 Pages DEWOLF: So then we have seven different people writing grant proposals for the same project? OTTENI: It happens all the time. For instance, in the RAC fund granting, the Forest Service puts out a thing that says they are currently accepting applications for RAC funds. The funding process is open to any and all businesses and community organizations. DEWOLF: But that's different than writing a grant proposal to various agencies. And I'm not talking about the local RAC here. I'm talking about where we are getting dollars from a variety of different places. We submit our own. We have a grant writer. OTTENI: I would come in and ask that you partner up with me and submit the grant for my organization. LUKE: That would have to be a competitive process. The difference is, the RAC already has the funds. You're applying to the RAC, and they approve the project. We don't have the funds; we're applying for the funds for a specific project. If we went in with an individual private business, you'd have to throw that out to a competitive process and figure out which business you would use before you ever apply for the grant. OTTENI: How do I involve private industry in the national fire plan? Public Law 106- 291 says that the Forest Service, Department of Interior and all related agencies are directed to utilize small businesses, and local contractors whenever possible. And yet there has been nowhere that this has been able to happen. All along the private contractors have been excluded. I would have to sit down and write the grant, submit it, and then go out for competitive bid. That's a lot of work to maybe get a chance to bid on something later. You could be the sponsoring agency and the writer of the grant gets the work. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 6 of 15 Pages DEWOLF: We are sitting here with $60,000 or so dollars, and it is going out to a competitive request for proposals for what they intend to do and what it will cost. Those will be evaluated by a specific set of criteria. As a result of that, someone in the private sector is going to get a contract to perform that work. How is that not competitive and private sector? OTTENI: I appreciate the work Catherine has done. The reason that is in there is I started this process of politicking about two years ago. The original grant was to be written solely for Heart of Oregon crew and Juvenile. I kept saying that it didn't seem fair to not involve the private sector. Catherine has made the effort through that to begin this. DEWOLF: I know Dave Holmes is here, and he works with Heart of Oregon Corps. Dave, could you give a brief overview of what the Heart of Oregon Corps. is? DAVE HOLMES: The Heart of Oregon Corps. is a non-profit organization started four years ago, which teaches job skills to youth, to recruit youth that have dropped out of school or who are not attending school, to get them into a GED or high school program. It's tri -county, including north Klamath and Warm Springs. We work crews throughout the year, and some are permanent, through grant funding and what can be earned in projects. DEWOLF: Have some of these kids been through our system? HOLMES: Yes. There are a variety of kids with a variety of challenges in their lives. DEWOLF: The thing that I hope everyone understands, we will go specifically for grants to support the kinds of projects that Dave is talking about. In addition to Heart of Oregon Corps., we do other grant applications to help people with certain challenges, with drug and alcohol treatment or mental health treatment, to help them overcome those challenges. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 7 of 15 Pages I'm not willing to give up all of the opportunities to help people that need a little helping hand so that every bit of work that is done in Deschutes County is done by the private sector. There is a reason why we have the Heart of Oregon Corps., and a specific reason why we want our juveniles who are part of the work crews involved. Part of their work is repayment to the community in the form of community service. I am fully supportive of that. If what you are suggesting is that we get rid of Heart of Oregon Corp. and just keep the juveniles locked up until we can put them in prison in Salem at age 18, I can't support that. OTTENI: The trouble with this process is that every time the idea of competitive bidding and the needs of private industry, and the responsibility to taxpayers, if you want a job, that means you don't like the inmate programs. It's not that anybody wants to deny opportunities. But the Heart of Oregon Corp. should compete for the grants like everybody else. They should be part of the competition. They are the only ones who are getting jobs out of this. We're looking for a role to play, too. DEWOLF: I'm confused. Here we have $109,000 at stake, and 60% of it is going out for competitive bid for the private sector. It's what you are talking about. OTTENI: I'm not talking about the County lots. maybe $10,000, not $60,000. All that is past. You are talking about LUKE: Let's say that everything goes really well, and we go for a certain number of acres. MORROW: We have the ability to spend this $109,000 to treat that property. However much we can do in various projects to get it done. $60,000 is for private sector to bid on the project. This is the first one we are putting out there for competition. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 8 of 15 Pages If it comes in for that price, I can then, with the help of the new County Forester, assess what the next priority should be, and draft up maybe even a strict competitive bid document. It's just that in this area I wanted to do the request for proposal so we could consider integrating these three parts of the fuel treatment, the thinning and the trail construction. DALY: When you say RFP, is this the low bid process? OTTENI: No, that would be a request for quotes. This is a proposal. DEWOLF: What is proposed is to find out how you would do it and what you would charge. Both are fully competitive, but the RFP allows more people to be involved. DALY: Then low bid doesn't necessarily get the contract. LUKE: The low bid if they meet the criteria. MORROW: The RFP will have in the criteria for evaluation points for scoring and a place to submit costs per linear foot and acre. The scoring includes points for cost. DALY: But the low bid may not necessarily get the job. MORROW: The reason for the scoring is that it considers their approach and the final condition of the land. LUKE: The lowest bid might be burning it off with a butane burner. Some processes that are proposed may do damage to the ground. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 9 of 15 Pages �.,I Wd You can accomplish the same objectives by writing a scope of work and requiring certain things to happen. You can do it all in a competitive bid process with the lowest bid. HOLMES: When we wrote these grants, it was open to the public. I got the information from BLM and the Forest Service, off the Internet, and wrote the grants specifically for youth, for training purposes. The concept is to have qualified people that will help us train the youth and make them stewards of the land. It was never intended to be competitive with private business. When Catherine and I partnered up, we did some restructuring. There was always some of the money in there for contractors. We competed with other youth groups from all over the State of Oregon for these grants. LUKE: You are on the record that you support Catherine's proposal, since more people can bid it, depending on the level of equipment they have. Have you talked with others about this? OTTENI: I talked with other contractors about the difficulty getting any type of activity and getting involved in the process. As far as the RFP process, the first time I knew about it was seeing it in the paper. I think it is a step in the right direction. No other testimony was offered, and Chair Daly closed the public hearing. LUKE: We need to make a decision on the concept, since the actual draft is not ready. This will allow more contractors to bid on the project. If we specify equipment, it restricts this. Some people may have better ideas. Again, if we go to this process this time and it's on nineteen acres, and we don't get sufficient bids, or everybody is bidding the same thing, this is a learning process. We're looking at the balance of 500 acres. DEWOLF: If the process works, we could do other portions the same way. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 10 of 15 Pages LUKE: I don't mind doing this on the first one, but let's keep an eye on it, and want to get feedback from contractors as well. It is still a competitive process. It allows contractors to use their ideas. DALY: I have a different idea. I was in the contracting business for eighteen years. I bid many contracts that were very complicated. To me, this job is very simple. There are thirty some contractors in the phone book who do this type of work. The methods are well established. I think Catherine is having a problem writing a scope of work on this. If we just took the list of people who applied for the Forester job, any one of them could walk out there with you and write the scope of work. It would be a small effort, and you could put that out for bids. By doing what you want to do is complicated, with too much room for speculation and criticism. It's not a complicated issue. You would probably have to bring someone in from the outside who has expertise in this to write the scope of work. LUKE: I move approval of the exemption to the County contracting process. DEWOLF: Second. VOTE: DEWOLF: Yes. LUKE: Yes. DALY: Chair votes no. (Split vote) 3. Before the Board was a Public Hearing and Consideration of Signature of Ordinance No. 2004-007, a Code Amendment relating to the Transferable Development Credit Program. Christy Morgan gave an overview of the changes proposed by this Ordinance. Chair Daly opened the public hearing. Being no testimony offered, Chair Daly closed the public hearing. LUKE: Move first and second readings by title only, declaring an emergency. DEWOLF: Second. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 11 of 15 Pages VOTE: DEWOLF: Yes. LUKE: Yes. DALY: Chair votes yes. Chair Daly then conducted the first and second readings, by title only. LUKE: Move approval. DEWOLF: Second. VOTE: DEWOLF: Yes. LUKE: Yes. DALY: Chair votes yes. 4. Before the Board was Consideration of Whether to Hear an Appeal of the Hearings Officer's Decision Approving the Establishment of a "Large Tract" Dwelling in the Forest Use Zone. CRAGHEAD: The 150 days runs out today. If you choose to hear it, it could then be subject to a writ of mandamus action. The Hearings Officer's decision wasn't done until March 31, and it was appealed late. Scheduling with the parties was a problem, too. It started out as an administrative decision, then was appealed; and the record was left open several times, with several extensions of the 150 days given by the applicant. If the Board doesn't make a decision, the Hearings Officer's decision goes to court. If it is remanded back to the County, the County could be liable for fees of about $175. DEWOLF: There is absolutely no time to review this information, which we just got yesterday. DEWOLF: I move that we do not hear this. LUKE: Second. VOTE: DEWOLF: Yes. LUKE: Yes. DALY: Chair votes yes. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 12 of 15 Pages 5. Before the Board was a Discussion of County Representation regarding the Pelton Round Butte Settlement Agreement. DEWOLF: I move that Laurie Craghead be authorized to do this. LUKE: Second. VOTE: DEWOLF: Yes. LUKE: Yes. DALY: Chair votes yes. 6. Before the Board was a Presentation and Consideration of Approval of the RFP Banking Services Committee's Recommendation regarding County Banking Services. Marty Wynne explained that the County does this every five years. It is a big project and a comprehensive RFP. Not every bank is able to respond due to the technological requirements of the County. Various aspects are evaluated, including the cost of services, other services offered, technical capabilities, communication and interpersonal skills, and the nature and scope of work. He stated that Bank of the Cascades was the choice by a fairly wide margin. LUKE: Move approval. DEWOLF: Second. VOTE: DEWOLF: Yes. LUKE: Yes. DALY: Chair votes yes. CONVENED AS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE 9-1-1 COUNTY SERVICE DISTRICT 7. Before the Board was Consideration of Approval of Weekly Accounts Payable Vouchers for the 9-1-1 County Service District in the Amount of $3,392.40. LUKE: Move approval, subject to review. DEWOLF: Second. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 13 of 15 Pages VOTE: DEWOLF: Yes. LUKE: Yes. DALY: Chair votes yes. CONVENED AS THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE EXTENSION/4-11 COUNTY SERVICE DISTRICT 8. Before the Board was Consideration of Approval of Weekly Accounts Payable Vouchers for the Extension/4-11 County Service District in the Amount of $842.65. LUKE: Move approval, subject to review. DEWOLF: Second. VOTE: DEWOLF: Yes. LUKE: Yes. DALY: Chair votes yes. RECONVENE AS THE DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 9. Before the Board was Consideration of Approval of Weekly Accounts Payable Vouchers for Deschutes County in the Amount of $754,749.83. LUKE: Move approval, subject to review. DEWOLF: Second. VOTE: DEWOLF: Yes. LUKE: Yes. DALY: Chair votes yes. 10. Before the Board were Additions to the Agenda. None was offered. Being no further items brought before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 14 of 15 Pages DATED this 14th Day of April 2004 for the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners. ATTEST: Recording Secretary Tom DeWolf, Commissioner Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Meeting Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Page 15 of 15 Pages N H cn B N U N rn C: v U N L O L CD cn m CD N N N L ! I ul0 o = � 0 0- C r- d d rpt 0 C k CL --�----i cr cam. CD A^^ll N N d V Q% L Q M li .N C W�L `� a •� E I m 7—- J M i O C r �W a W xhibi age ' of B N U N rn C: v U N L O L CD cn m CD 4-14-04 My name is Robert Ottem . I am here today largely to participate in the discussion concerning the request for proposal contracting format for use in the ladder fuel reduction contract in the Newberry Neighborhood. Before entering this discussion I would like to use a few minutes of the public forum to bring forth some ideas that might only indirectly apply to the RFP discussion. To begin with I have brought some photos and a few documents to illustrate my point. The first document is a list of National Fire Plan grants awarded within Deschutes County since the Plan's inception. Keep in mind that this list does not include RAC funds, Dept. of Interior funding, private grants or grants awarded to organizations outside of Deschutes County yet directed for use within Deschutes such as Oregon Dept. of Forestry grants. The NFP Dept. of Agriculture funding sheet shows $1.17 million dollars appropriated with in Deschutes County with $251,000.00 directly funded to Deschutes County for ladder fuels reduction in the South County. When all other sources are counted the actual figures for fuel reduction and related activities are substantially higher. To settle my curiosity I set out to find some completed examples of ladder fuels reduction or any on the ground type of activity. The truth is, I was hard pressed to find where any activity had taken place. The only area I knew of was in the Newberry Neighborhood and this work was only about ten acres. The photos I brought with me are of the thinning work done in the Newberry Neighborhood by the County sponsored Heart of Oregon Corp. The other photos are of a separate RAC funded project done by private industry a mile or two from the other project. The photos of the thinning project in the Newberry Neighborhood simply illustrate the worst work I have ever seen from any thinning crew. If this type of work was done for Crown Pacific or Gilchrist Timber the crew would have been fired. If this work was done on Forest Service land, the contract would be in default and the company would be looking at liquidated damages. I urge you to visit the site and judge for yourself. The tree selection, spacing, fuels left on the ground, missed trees, no brush treatment, etc. is not acceptable. The area is a mess and needs to be reworked. I use the other photos to illustrate what a professionally done thinning job should look like. This fuels reduction job, (not NFP funded) was done within two miles of the county crew. I propose at this time that the County Commissioners apply for a Change of Scope in the current grant for the Newberry Neighborhood to include the use of private contractors and a competitive bidding process for the entire project. Not just 19 acres out of the 500+ acres in the Neighborhood with the rest of the grant given to the Inmate crews and the Heart of Oregon Corp. I further propose that in the future all county sponsored fuels reduction grants are open to the competitive process. A notice of intent to solicit grant request for fuels reductions should be made public. This action opens the application process and follows the spirit of Public Law 106-291. I believe that this necessary and that it is in the best interest of the taxpayers, the environment, and everyone involved in the forest health industry. Thank you. Exhibit Page J of /(o To: Deschutes County Commissioners Dear Sirs, I am pleased to note that County officials have taken a proactive step towards forest health issues. In my view this can have a very important effect on small forestry businesses here in, Deschutes County. These effects can be very positive or very negative depending on how they are implemented. Over the last several years I have studied the National Fire Plan. There are several sections that address small businesses. As a private employer we are unable to directly apply for funding and as such are directed to work through public agencies. There are however, several sections that direct these agencies to utilize local private contracting firms wherever and whenever possible. I believe that these sections are very emphatic in this direction. There are also questions contained wherein those agencies are asked if they have considered the effect their actions will have on small business in the local area and if these actions will have a net positive effect on creating sustainable employment. The economic stimulus for rural areas is a very important aspect of the overall plan.. With this in mind I ask that you please keep our small businesses in mind when you apply for fire grants in the near future. There are four tree service companies between Sunriver and La Pine that advertise chipping / fuel reduction in the yellow pages. With all due respect, may we please have a role to play? It is very difficult if not impossible to find an agency willing to include private employers in doing this fuel reduction. This seems contrary to the directives of the plan. We have the experience and equipment to do these jobs. We need this work to support our companies and our workers. I have over twenty years experience doing pre -commercial thinning, machine / hand slash piling, commercial thinning, tree planting, fire crews and all other aspects of forest health. I am an ISA certified arborist and currently operate as Professional Tree Care. If I can be of assistance to you, perhaps as a small business representative, please keep me in mind. Sincerely, Robert Otteni Arborist Professional. Tree Care Exhibit ( Page - of 1 (o National Fire Plan Summary of Procurement Contracts, Grants, or Cooperative Agreements Overview: The U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs have adopted joint implementation strategies for fuels reduction, and rehabilitation and restoration contracts. The joint strategies are described below. The policies, strategies, and models for community assistance agreements and rural fire assistance agreements apply to the four bureaus in the Department of the Interior. The rural fire assistance authority in Public Law 106-291 is a new pilot authority for the Department of the Interior wildland fire agencies. The U.S. Forest Service will use its existing authorities (other than Public Law 106-291) to provide community assistance through the State Foresters Back -ground: An Interagency Team of Contract and Agreement Specialists and Fuels Management Specialists met at the National Interagency Fire Center to develop: • model contracts for fuels reduction, and rehabilitation and restoration projects; • model grants and cooperative agreements to assist communities to perform fuels reduction, rehabilitation and restoration work; • model grants and cooperative agreements to assist rural fire districts; and • an action plan to assure joint implementation of the National Fire Plan. New Contracts: The Wildland Fire Agency Procurement Chiefs and the Interagency Implementation Steering Group are scheduled to issue a joint contract policy and strategy memorandum by January 31, 2001 (A draft is attached). 1. Templates of model contracts for fuels reduction, and rehabilitation and restoration projects, including contracts for monitoring and planning activities, will be posted on the National Fire Plan Contract Web site. The Web site will include: • model contract statements of work; • information for the public and vendors on how to prepare bids or offers; • contracts available for multi -agency use; • instructions for ordering services under contracts • a list of technical, contracts and agreement contacts in each agency by geographic area 2. The Geographic Area Coordinating Group, in collaboration with Interagency Implementation Steering Group, using the geographic area boundaries and fuel types as Exhibit i Page 5 of Modify current IDIQ contracts if the answer to the following questions is "yes". • Does the current contract involve fuels reduction, rehabilitation, or restoration? • Does the current contract have the potential to utilize local vendors within the area of the fuels reduction, rehabilitation, or restoration? • Does the current maximum order limitation allow other agencies to use the contract for additional work? • Is a mechanism in place to track orders by other agencies, to ensure that the warrant authority is not exceeded, i.e. maximum order limitation? 2. Include the following clause in the contract modification: "In accordance with Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2001, Public Law 106-291, Contracting Officers from Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service and USDA, Forest Service are hereby authorized to issue task orders/delivery orders against this contract." 3. Submit the contract, when the contract is modified, for posting on the National Fire Plan Contracts and Assistance Web Site so that Contracting Officers from all wildland fire agencies may order from it. 4. Search the National Fire Plan Contract Web site prior to initiating new solicitations and contracts, to determine if a currently awarded IDIQ contract will meet customer needs. DOI Community Assistance and Rural Fire Assistance 1. By March 1, 2001, electronic cooperative agreement models for community assistance and rural fire assistance will be provided to the National Fire Plan contract site Web master. 2. All Department of the Interior Agreement officers will use the appropriate model to develop cooperative agreements to: • assist communities to accomplish fuels reduction, rehabilitation, and restoration treatments; and • assist rural fire districts, including training, equipment purchase, and prevention activities on a cost -share basis. Key Action Items: 1. Wildland Fire Agency Procurement Chiefs/Directors and the Interagency Implementation Steering Group will meet on Wednesday, January 1.0 to decide on a Exhibit Page _� of /Co a guide, will: • determine sub -geographic boundaries; • assign a lead agency for collaborative contracting efforts in these sub - geographic areas; and • provide the information to Department of the Interior bureau procurement chiefs and Forest Service procurement director who will ensure contracts are awarded for all agencies to use. By March, 2001, the lead agency contracting officer for each sub -geographic area will: 1. Use non-traditional methods of outreach to find sources for contractors and prospective employees. These include employment agencies, timber associations, timber companies, range associations, local small and disadvantaged businesses, chambers of commerce, and other community organizations; 2. Coordinate the solicitation prior to issuance with the agency's Business Utilization Development Specialist and the local Small Business Administration; 3. Train local community entities how to develop proposals and bid on contracts; 4. Issue the solicitation for and award of multiple Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts for hazardous fuels treatments and rehabilitation and restoration within the geographic or sub -geographic boundary, and authorize ordering by all wildland fire agencies; 5. Obtain maximum competition that is practical using local contractor personnel. Use 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(5) "Authorized or Required by Statute" as your authority to contract without providing for full and open competition. Public Law 106-291 authorizes the use of local contractor personnel whenever possible. This authority is provided: "...notwithstanding Federal government procurement and contracting laws". This includes taking into account the contractor's ability to enhance local and small business employment opportunities when awarding contracts or issuing task/delivery orders, i.e to hire local contractors or to ensure contractors use the local work force; 6. Include the following language in the contract: "In accordance with Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2001, Public Law 106-291, Contracting Officers from Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service and USDA, Forest Service are hereby authorized to issue task/delivery orders against this contract."; 7. Set maximum order limitations considering multiple agency use, contractor capability and warrant authority; 8. NOT include user fees or percentages in new or modified IDIQ contracts; 9. Upon award, submit the contract for posting on the National Fire Plan Contracts and Assistance Web Site so that Contracting Officers from all wildland fire agencies may order from it. Modification of Current Contracts By March. 2001, each Contracting Officer in the wildland fire agencies will: Exhibit Page 5- of /(o process to select lead agency contracting officers for collaborative contracting within sub -geographic areas. 2. Obtain information needed for reporting contract information to Congress so that the information can be collected electronically through the Federal Procurement Data System, which currently reports over 60 data elements on contract actions in excess of $25,000. Automated reporting for National Fire Plan contracting down to amounts of $1 can be required, but it is necessary to assure that all needed data elements are captured. 3. Request opinions from the Department of the Interior Office of the Solicitor and USDA Office of General Counsel on the "notwithstanding Federal government procurement contracting laws" terminology in Title IV - Wildland Fire Emergency Appropriations. Request specific opinions on the following: • Can tribes order against federal contracts? • Can state or local entities order against federal contracts? • Do any of the following laws apply? • The Competition in Contracting Act; i.e. limit competition to only those who use a significant percentage of local contractor personnel within a sub -geographic area ■ Service Contract Act; when contracting with non-profit organizations ■ Fair Labor Standards Act • Convict labor, or other labor laws Exhibit (?• Page (o of FIRE CHRONICLE: Stories of the National Fire Plan Number 16 February 18, 2003 NATIONAL FIRE PLAN PROVIDES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR RURAL RESIDENTS The National Fire Plan gave the Departments of Interior and Agriculture specific direction to provide employment to people in rural communities (Title IV of the 2001 Interior Appropriation Bill P.L. 106-291). A new study by the University of Oregon's Ecosystem Workforce Program assessed progress toward this goal by studying business and employment effects of the fire plan in Oregon and Washington. The study identifies socioeconomic effects of the National Fire Plan, including a measurable increase in rural employment opportunities. The study drew the following conclusions from looking at National Fire Plan contracting and hiring for fiscal year 2001 in Oregon and Washington: - Contractors who received National Fire Plan funds from the U.S. Forest Service were based in locations closer to the work site than contractors performing similar work funded by other programs. This finding suggests that the Forest Service made use of special National Fire Plan authorities to consider local economic benefit when awarding contracts, although the contractors in isolated rural communities still captured only a small percentage of the federal procurement dollars. - The Forest Service often hired local residents to carry out fire suppression functions of the National Fire Plan. Between one half and two thirds of Forest Service hires for fire plan funded work probably did not have to relocate for their positions, which usually paid wages above the median wage for poor rural communities. The study focused on the effectiveness of agency contracting and hiring in achieving the socioeconomic goals of the National Fire Plan. The study is significant for its findings and the methodology for tracking the socioeconomic effects of the National Fire Plan. The Departments of Interior and Agriculture have not as yet conducted this type of monitoring of congressional goals for the National Fire Plan. Findings about Contracting The authors compared contacts awarded under the National Fire Plan to contracts awarded for ecosystem management services such as thinning, road rehabilitation, restoration, wildlife habitat improvements, and Exhibit Page -7 of �� noxious weed treatment. The study authors assumed that if Title IV were effective in encouraging the agencies to award jobs to rural communities, then firms that were awarded fire plan contracts would be located closer to project sites than firms contracted using other funds. In fact, data for the Forest Service in the two -state study area showed that, all else being equal, contractors who were awarded fire plan contracts were headquartered 58 miles closer to the national forest than contractors who performed other ecosystem management contracts. The study also found that contracts requiring heavy equipment were generally awarded to businesses closer to the work site than contracts requiring labor-intensive work such as hand thinning and brush piling. The data for the Bureau of Land Management was less conclusive than for the Forest Service, but still suggested that Title IV had some effect. Findings about Hiring The Forest Service hired 878 employees and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hired 86 employees in Oregon and Washington in 2001 using National Fire Plan fire suppression funds. The study compared the wages paid in these fire jobs to the median hourly wage in Oregon, and found that the hourly rate of compensation was usually higher than the average median wage for poor rural communities. However, most of the jobs were temporary, seasonal appointments that do not provide year-round income. About one-quarter of the new hires in the Forest Service were for permanent positions and 13% were promotions, which suggests that the fire plan provided opportunities for advancement for the existing agency workforce. Most of the people hired for the new positions were already living in Oregon or Washington. Over 50% of those hired to work in the Eastern Cascades, and 33% of those hired in the Blue Mountains, already lived within 50 air miles of their new work site. For More Information The study, whose full title is "The Business and Employment Effects of the National Fire Plan in Oregon and Washington in 2001," was carried out by the Ecosystem Workforce Program at the University of Oregon. Funding for the study was provided by the Forest Service and the Ford Foundation. The full report can be downloaded from the web site http://ewp.uoregon.edu. The authors are Cassandra Moseley, Director of Research and Policy at the Ecosystem Workforce Project, and Nancy Toth and Abe Cambier. FIRE CHRONICLE is edited by the Forest Trust and written by Laura Falk McCarthy, Forest Protection Program Director. The Forest Trust welcomes your comments, stories, and observations about how the National Fire Plan is being implemented (just send a reply message and it will go to Exhibit Page $ of % the list moderator). To subscribe to FIRE CHRONICLE go to http://www.topica.com/lists/firechronicles/ or send an email message to laura@theforesttrust.org. PAST ISSUES OF FIRE CHRONICLE can be downloaded from http://www.theforesttrust/foresLprotection.html#fire 1.2002 Fire Plan Appropriations will Benefit from 2001 Experience 2. Wildland-Urban Interface Definition a Barrier to Accountability 3. Stewardship Blocks: Innovative Tool Brings Fire Plan Benefits into Community 4. Youth Training Needed for Fire Plan to Benefit Local Workforce 5, Grants Get National Fire Plan Money into Communities 6. Collaborative Forest Restoration Program Creates New Solution to Gridlock 7. Permits Regulate Prescribed Burning On Private Land 8. Accountability Remains a Key Issue for National Fire Plan 9. National Partnership Advances Landscape -Scale Forest Restoration 10. Poor Communities Most Threatened By Wildfire 11. A New Model To Fire -Proof Forest Homes 12. Consensus Over Fuel Reduction Treatment Dissolves 13. Wildland Urban Interface Definition Needed For Effective Policy 14. Funding Gaps Prevent Completion Of Hazardous Fuel Reduction 15. Agencies Propose to Streamline Environmental Review for Hazardous Fuel Reduction Treatments COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP COMMUNICATOR is an electronic bulletin that provides information about the national Community Stewardship Collaborative's effort to find solutions to issues related to large-scale watershed projects on the national forests and the National Fire Plan. The bulletin is prepared by the Pinchot Institute for Conservation and is available by contacting nrana@pinchot.org Exhibit Page of USDA Rural Community Assistance Grants E j Awarded by State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Programs Pacific Northwest Region - Oregon State Fiscal Year 1994-2003 County: Deschutes Recipient: La Pine Community Action Team FS Funds: $14,600 Toby Wilson 5415363972 Leveraged Funds: $6,700 Project Title: Home Landscapes Interpretive Garden Total Project: $21,300 Description: This project will fund a contract with a landscape architect to work with the La Pine park and Recreation District, La Pine Library, OSU Master Gardener's Program, La Pine High School Forestry class, La Pine Garden Club, and the La Pine fire District to design an interpretive garden and signage. After the design is completed, fire resistant plants and trees will be purchased to fill the garden area. The community will benefit by public education about the importance of protecting homes located near or adjacent to forest lands with a fire resistant landscape. By providing homeowners with an aesthetically pleasing model, they will be more likely to consider using fire resistant foliage around their homes. ONFP-02-003 tes $7,5 Recipient: Community Action Team of Sisters FS Funds: Deschutes Robert Grooney 5415499841 Leveraged Funds: $7 500 00 Project Title: Community Tent Total Project: $30,000 Description: Funds will enable the grantee to purchase a portable community center in the form of a tent. Tent will be made available for the community at large to rent for cultural events, fundraising events, sports events, community get-togethers, learning and trade fairs. Charge for rent will be reasonable, but must cover costs of sustainability. The community is highly dependent on tourism, hosting a large number of tourists seasonally. The tent will give the community a way to accomodate large groups during the colder seasons, increasing the economic health of the community. ORNW-02-008 Deschutes Recipient: City of Sisters FS Funds: $30,000 M. David Elliott 541-549-6022 Leveraged Funds: $22,000 Project Title: Sister Couplet Refinement Plan Total Project: $52,000 Description: Project will hire a consultant to provide technical assistance in preparing a Refinement Plan for the Sister couplet (a complementary pair of one-way streets used to expand capacity and relieve traffic congestion). Completion of the Plan will achieve readiness for ODOT to proceed with construction. Project outcomes include: complete a public planning process that considers public and stakeholder opinion; recommends a best alignment; and identifies environmental concerns and mitigation measures. Ssisters is economically dependent on travelers coming to the area to enjoy public lands recreation opportunities. Traffic congestion plays a significant role in traveler decisions to stop in Sisters or keep passing through. The couplet will reduce congestion, making the city more accessible to travelers while retaining parking for the many specialty shops that line the downtown area. mecipient: uescnutes County Dennis Luke 541-388-6568 Project Title: WUI South County Survivable Space Mgmt OREC-03-004 FS Funds: $40,000 Leveraged Funds: $27,450 Total Project: $67,450 Description: Project will accomplish fuels reduction treatments on approximately 100 acres of county -owned property in southern Deschutes County to reduce the fire danger in the wildland urban interface. Deschutes Summary # of Grants: 26 Total Awarded: $1,075,143 Total Leveraged Funds: $588,429 Total Investments: $1,663,572 Exhibit Page _ ONFP-03-007 Deschutes Rural Community Assistance Grants ,USDA Awarded by State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Programs Pacific Northwest Region - Oregon State. Fiscal Year 1994-2003 - County: Deschutes Recipient: Deschutes Board of County Commissioners FS Funds: $50,000 Dennis Luke 541-388-6568 Leveraged Funds: $21,398 Project Title: Defensible Space in an Urban Interface Management Total Project: $71,398 Description: Funding is for developing a model "defensible space" management plan for a new neighborhood in Deschutes County. The plan will include standards for ongoing vegetation management; recommended plant species; planting specifications to maintain defensible spaces around homes; locations for shaded fuel breaks; and estimated costs for implementation and maintenance of standards. We hope this project enables developers to know the standards they must follow to create a fire -safe neighborhood by building fire prevention and mitigation elements into the neighborhood comprehensive plan. In addition, we hope this neighborhood will serve as a model for other subdivisions to follow in order for them to preserve the natural character of their surroundings while providing a fire -safe environment. ONFP-01-020 Kecipient: uescnutes hoard of County Commissioners Tom DeWolf 541-388-6570 Project Title: Project Impact Pilot FS Funds: $47,000 Leveraged Funds: $43,136 Total Project. $90,136 Description: Funding for this project will expand the current Project Impact program, designed to build disaster resistant communities and create survivable space, to 11 subdivisions in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson Counties. This effort will result in: (1) more homes and businesses becoming survivable in the event of an urban- wildland interface wildfire, (2) additional jobs created locally, and (3) a pilot project that can be expanded throughout other Central Oregon communities. ONFP-01-025 Ochoco Recipient: City of Sisters FS Funds: $35,000 M. David Elliott 541-549-6022 Leveraged Funds: $23,767 Project Title: City of Sisters Street Lights Total Project: $58,767 Description: Funding is to continue a previous street lighting project We hope this effort increases the wellness and safety of the community, thereby enhancing the usability of the City; the quality of life of the residents, businesses, and visitors; and the income generated from tourism. mecipient: central Uregon Intergovernmental Council Richard Mackay 541-548-9522 Project Title: Wildfire Risk Reduction, Phase II ORNW-01-038 FS Funds: $83,000 Leveraged Funds: $27,048 Total Project: $110,048 Description: This project will buide local utilization and treatment demonstration projects and encourage and enhance marketing of small diameter materials, fil data and knowledge gaps identified by the council, support and broaden local public education and outreach efforts, and continue 'Tools for Communities and Contractors' workshops and develop a report that can be used as a model for other communities. The marketing of small diameter wood products will create jobs, increase community stability, reduce fire risk and improve forest health. ONFP-02-005 Exhibit Page of /6 Oregon State Grants USDA Status Report as of March 07, 2004 Forest: Deschutes ONFP-01-008 Deschutes Soil & Water Conservation Dist. South Deschutes Hazard Fuels Composting Payments to Date: 08/28/2001 $40,000.00 06/27/2002 $0.00 08/09/2002 $49,950.00 ONFP-01-020 Deschutes Board of County Commissioners Defensible Space in an Urban Interface Management Payments to Date: 09/12/2003 $43,247.00 ONFP-02-005 Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council Wildfire Risk Reduction, Phase 11 Payments to Date: 03/03/2003 $9,748.22 03/14/2003 $8,233.40 05/12/2003 $12,270.94 06/24/2003 $5,696.49 07/14/2003 $7,639.44 10/31/2003 $13,967.78 12/12/2003 $10,657.26 ONFP-03-001 Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council Small Diameter Habitat Enhancement Market Stu Payments to Date: Project Start Date: 08/01/2001 Project End Date: 11/30/2002 Awarded: $89,950.00 Paid as of 08/09/2002: $89,950.00 Remaining: $0.00 Project Start Date: 09/01/2001 Project End Date: 12/31/2004 Awarded: $50,000.00 Paid as o1 09112/2003: $43,247.00 Remaining: $6,753.00 Project Start Date: 10/01/2002 Project,End Date: 12/31/2003 Awarded: $83,000.00 Paid as o1 1211212003: $68,213.53 Remaining: $14,786.47 Project Start Date: 05/01/2003 Project End Date: 12/31/2004 Awarded: $28,010.00 Paid as of Remaining: $28,010.00 ONFP-03-007 Deschutes County Project Start Date: 09/01/2003 WUI South County Survivable Space Mgmi Project End Date: 12/31/2004 Payments to Date: Awarded: $40,000.00 02/27/2004 $7,109.68 Paid as o1 02/27/2004: $7,109.68 Remaining: $32,890.32 OREC-03-004 City of Sisters Project Start Date: 09/01/2003 Sister Couplet Refinement Plan Project End Date: 12/31/2004 Payments to Date: Awarded: $30,000.00 02/27/2004 $2,828.00 Paid as of 0212712004: $2,828.00 Remaining: $27,172.00 Exhibit'] Page / 2 of I fi Rural Community Assistance Grants 1 DA Awarded by State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Programs Pacific Northwest Region - Oregon State Fiscal Year 1994-2003' ,` v County: Deschutes Recipient: City of Sisters FS Funds: $19,999 Steve M. Wilson 541-549-6022 Leveraged Funds: $7,300 Project Title: Community Action Plan Total Project: $27,299 Description: Funding from this grant is for the completion of a Community Action Plan for the City of Sisters. Approximately $5,000 is designated for the initial implementation of projects identified by the action plan. This project should provide the City of Sisters with a Community Action Plan that will support economic diversification of local resource dependent communities. ORNW-97-007 tes 30,0 Recipient: Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council FS Funds: $Deschutes Richard Mackay 541-548-8163 Leveraged Funds: 30 677 00 Project Title: Community Leadership Dev Model Total Project: $52,677 Description: Complete development of regional leadership training model for three central Oregon counties; and host sessions and activities during the grant period. Supports strategic plan implementation through community leadership development. Builds community capacity. ORNW-97-034 Recipient: La Pine Community Action Team Willamette FS Funds: $48,087 Randal Gordon 541-536-2543 Leveraged Funds: 16 300 Project Title: Community Encourager Total Project: $64,387 Description: Funding from this grant will support a LaPine Encourager to complete implementation of projects from the LaPine Strategic Plan including facilitating projects such as the LaPine Health Services District, the water system, community center, and self -governance project. This project supports an unincorporated community in initiating projects from the community action plan and supports southern Deschutes County in diversifying it's economy by building local capacity. ORNW-98-039 ► trwprenr- uny ue Jesters FS Funds: $15,000 Steven Wilson 541-549-6022 Leveraged Funds: $5,000 Project Title: Parks Master Plan Total Project: $20,000 Description: Funding is for the completion fo a Parks Master Plan for the City of Sisters This project implements a portion of the Sisters Strategic Plan, promotes the local area's natural resource-based tourism attractions, and supports community planning and infrastructure development. ORNW-99-009 rcecrprenr: Uty OT Keomono FS Funds: $46,525 Carrie Novick 541-504-3496 Leveraged Funds: 22 915 Project Title: Airport Sewer Extension Design Total Project: $69,440 Description: This project will fund the completion of final engineering and design of sewer service to the north side of the Redmond airport, including the new industrial area and the city property leased to the Redmond Air Center. This project implements a high priority project from the Central Oregon overall economic development plan as well as supports infrastructure development for the industrial park, especially natural resource fire suppression businesses. ORNW-99-010 Exhibit B Page 13 of j G Rural Community Assistance Grants USDA Awarded by State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Programs Pacific Northwest Region - Oregon State Fiscal Year 1994-2003 County: Deschutes Recipient. Central Oregon Community College Dr. Robert Barber 503-383-7201 FS Funds: $14,000 Leveraged Funds: $54,636 Project Title: Training Needs Assessment Total Project: $68,636 Description: Funding would support a training needs assessment for secondary wood products companies in cooperation with the Wood Products Competitiveness Corperation This would help build capacity for rural communities by identifying training needs for developing a skilled secondary wood products work force. ORRD-94-010 Deschutes Recipient: Deschutes Co. FS Funds: $20,000 Barry Slaughter 503-388-6570 Leveraged Funds: 5 000 Project Title: Community Action Plan Total Project: $25,000 Description: Funding is to support the completion of the unincorporated area of La Pine's community action plan ($ 15,000) and implementaiton of initial activities ($5,000). Grant funds support community based action planning in a resource dependent community. ntrwiJIVIII. L ti:Sullutes l.o. Barry Slaughter 503-388-6570 Project Title: Health Care Study ORNW-95-032 FS Funds: $15,000 Leveraged Funds: $13,600 Total Project: $28,600 Description: Funding is to support a health care feasibility study and business plan for the unincorporated town of La Pine. Grant funds support strategic action planning items and community diversification/development efforts including job retention and tourism strategies. ORNW-95-033 tes Recipient: Oregon Outdoors Association Inc. FS Funds: $2,2 Deschutes Richard Wren 541-382-1264 Leveraged Funds: 9 500 00 Project Title: Farm/Ranch Recreation Industry Total Project: $11,700 Description: Funds are for the development of a sustainable farm/ranch recreation tourism industry. The project supports a project from the Oregon's Rural Toursim Plan, and the diversification of natural resource dependent communities. rcrrclpleni: Ulty of Jlsiers William Moyer 541-549-6022 Project Title: Wastewater Facilities Plan ORNW-96-043 FS Funds: $88,000 Leveraged Funds: $22,000 Total Project: $110,000 Description: Funds are for the completion of a wastewater facilities plan for the City of Sisters. The project supports the building of infrastructure capacity of a natural resource dependent community that was identified in the City's economic development plan. fluclpieni: %.ity at neamona Jerry Thackery 541-923-7755 Project Title: Redmond Caves Master Plan ORNW-96-044 FS Funds: $25,060 Leveraged Funds: $12,039 Total Project: $37,099 Description: Funding for this project is to support completion of a master plan for the Redmond Caves Park complex to be managed and completed by the City of Redmond. This project will lead to the protection and management of natural and cultural resources by the City resulting in the support of city/county tourism stragies through the park and interpretation. ORN W-97-005 Exhibitf� Page of /G Rural Community Assistance Grants USDA Awarded by State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Programs , Mim Pacific Northwest Region - Oregon State Fiscal Year 1994-2003 County: Deschutes Recipient: City of Sisters Steven Wilson 541-549-6022 FS Funds: $19,786 Leveraged Funds: $5,000 Project Title: Wastewater Project Grant Administration Total Project: $24,786 Description: Funding from this project will support the City of Sisters administration needs in support of completing the wastewater treatment project. This project supports a high priority project from the Sisters Community Action Plan and completion of the watewater treatment plant supports communities natural resource based tourism strategy and promotes increasing water quality in Deschutes River drainage. ORNW-00-002 Deschutes Recipient. La Pine Community Action Team FS Funds: $25,000 Theresa Baker 541-536-3972 Leveraged Funds: $17,000 Project Title: LaPine Stategic Plan Implem.-Capacity Building Pr Total Project: $42,000 Description: Funding is to support completion of projects from the La Pine Strategic Plan, including improving health care services, facilitation of water system implementation, development of a telecommunication strategy, enhancing self-goverance for the La Pine community, increase involvement of citizens in community affairs, and further other local strategic goals by participation in regional planning efforts. Supports the strategic goals found in the La Pine Strategic Plan. ORNW-00-027 Recipient: City of Sisters Deschutes FS Funds: $11,086 Barbara Warren 541-549-6022 Leveraged Funds: $7,865 Project Title: Comm. Coordination & Capacity Building Total Project: $18,952 Description: This project will fund the City of Sisters efforts to eliminate affordable housing problems as well as lack of power back-up in emergency situations. This project supports the completion of goals outlined in Sisters CAP; 1) Provides solution to emergency power back-up concerns; 2) reacts to growth issues & lack of affordable housing. ORNW-00-029 r—sapient.- uentrai uregon intergovernmental Council FS Funds: $106,350 Ric Ingham 541-548-9540 Leveraged Funds: $40,196 Project Title: Community & Economic Dev.Hazard Fuels Linkage Proj Total Project: $146,546 Description: Communication and outreach with interested and affected stakeholders in determining solutions for sustainable hazardous fuel reductions and research of potential market linkages based on best local, regional, and international practices. Short term outcomes include the development of improved working relationships between interested and affected stakeholders, improved quality of planning implementation of fuels treatment projects and increased emphasis on utilization of fuels treatment byproducts. Long term outcomes include an increase in the number of acres of hazardous fuels treated, resulting in decreased risk of catastrophic wildfire, strengthened linkages between local economic activity and hazardous fuels reduction, and retention of forest products industry infrastructure and jobs. ONFP-01-003 Exhibit 15 Page K_ of A' Rural Community Assistance Grants USDA Awarded by State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Programs Pacific Northwest Region - Oregon State Fiscal Year 1994-2003 County: Deschutes Recipient. Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council Ric Ingham 541-548-9540 FS Funds: $161,000 Leveraged Funds: $86,770 Project Title: Dry Forest Mechanized Fuels Treatment Trials Total Project: $247,770 Description: Project will organize and coordinate realistic mechanized fuels treatment trials in four locations in OR, WA, and ID. Results will be synthesized and disseminated to government agencies, potential local contractors, and other interested groups and communities. A public/private Steering Committee will guide the project Benefits include reduced environmental impacts, decreased treatment costs, increased acres treated, local forest products industry job retention and creation, and more informed discourse about mechanized fuels treatment impacts and capabilities. Results will be professionally recorded, interpreted, summarized for local and regional media and newsletters, posted on web sites, published in professional journals, and presented to professional meetings and conferences, such as Smallwood 2002, where many communities will be represented. ONFP-01-005 Recipient: Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council M_- nal Office FS e inalOfficeFS Funds: $31,000 Richard Mackay 541-548-9522 Leveraged Funds: 8 301 Project Title: Biomass Feasibility Study /Business PI Total Project. $39,301 Description: Prineville Energy LLC is upgrading a 6MV former sawmill co -gen plant to run on natural gas. This grant will investigate whether there is sufficient biomass and other raw material to economically supplement natural gas, and complete a feasibility study to determine biomass availability, resource assessment, risk assessment, and outreach (including other sources available, e.g. dumped tires.) The feasibility study will also detail permit process and environmental regulations. A business plan will be completed and will include project purpose, scope, sources and economics. The plan will build in components of the feasibility study, with the outcome of a document that can be used by Prineville Energy to secure project funding. The business Plan may simply draw all relevant information together and state that the project is not feasible. All information collected and presented in the feasibility study and business plan will be available to the public. A facility that utilizes biomass or other locally available raw material, such as recycled tires, will create and retain forest products jobs, maintain forest products infrastructure so that opportunities to add value to small logs and other fuels treatment byproducts can be pursued, and reduce hazardous fuels on 10,000 to 20,000 acres per year in Central Oregon. Project has potential to create over 100 higher - wage jobs. ONFP-01-004 Recipient: Deschutes Soil & Water Conservation Dist. OchocoFS Funds: $89,950 Jeff Rola 541-923-2204 Leveraged Funds: $38,330 Project Title: South Deschutes Hazard Fuels Composting Total Project: $128,280 Description: Funding to support pilot project in Central Oregon utilizing biomass residuals, organic wasters and treated waste water. Funding will support equiipment purchase, project coordination and operation of pilot project to test long-term viability and economic feasibility of project. Reduces biomass materials through utilization as compost; Pilot project w/SWCD tests economic feasibility for similar operations w/ other local entities; provides pilot test of using treated wastewater, benefitting water quality in area. ONFP-01-008 Deschutes Forest: Deschutes ORNW-02-011 Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council Project Start Date: 10/01/2002 Resource Development and Grant Writer Project End Date: 12/31/2003 Payments to Date: Awarded: $25,000.00 Paid as of Remaining: $25,000.00 Exhibit Page ! of i aw',�Yea. Exhibit Page / I Exhibit c Page ?, of : .\:� \��/� x.�� IL Exhibit Page - of 13 Exhibit L Page _ of