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2009-1441-Minutes for Meeting August 12,2009 Recorded 8/25/2009DESCHUTES COUNTY OFFICIAL RECORDS CJ ?049.1441 NANCY BLANKENSHIP, COUNTY CLERK ~j~ii~umiuiuuin 08/25/2009 08:20:36 AM Do not remove this page from original document. Deschutes County Clerk Certificate Page If this instrument is being re-recorded, please complete the following statement, in accordance with ORS 205.244: Re-recorded to correct [give reason] previously recorded in Book or as Fee Number and Page Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.orc MINUTES OF WORK SESSION DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2009 Present were Commissioners Tammy Baney, Dennis R. Luke and Alan Unger. Also present were Dave Kanner, County Administrator; Erik Kropp, Deputy County Administrator; Tom Blust, Roger Olson and George Kolb, Road Department; Peter Gutowsky, Community Development; Katie Whitehall, Project Wildfire; Amy Waltz of The Nature Conservancy and the Deschutes National Forest; and Hillary Borrud of The Bulletin. Chair Baney opened the meeting at 1: 35 p. m. 1. Discussion regarding The Fire Learning Network/Project Wildfire. Amy Waltz gave an overview of the item and a PowerPoint presentation on the mission of The Nature Conservancy, which is the largest private conservation nonprofit in the world. There are 23,000 household members in Oregon alone. The Nature Conservancy is based on science, government and public aspects, is non-confrontational and does not litigate, and tries to bring collaboration to the various issues. They are focusing on restoring fire-impacted areas in conjunction with the Forest Service and others involved in Project Wildfire. All are interested in the management of federal lands, and this can be controversial. Science shows that a lot of forests are not healthy at this time, but there is a lack of common vision to address the issue. There is a variety of objectives from the various groups, but knowledge of ecological processes and functions is missing. The Common Vision is "Principles of Restoration", and having the stakeholders come together to prioritize and restore opportunities. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Work Session Wednesday, August 12, 2009 Page 1 of 6 Pages Developing the Principles of Restoration defines the areas of agreement that exist in public forest management. Principles are an important step towards consensus, resulting in reduced controversy on projects. The group will look at how to collaborate, restore processes within NRV (science-based), landscape scale, prioritize treatments, adaptive management, integrate ecologically, social and economic, plan sustainably, and build local capacity. Commissioner Baney asked if there are restrictions that impact this process. Ms. Waltz said that federal actions apply and whatever they do has to be supported in that regard. The next steps are developing broad consensus, and testing at a project level. Workshop goals for prioritizing would include the values from agencies and stakeholders. Some values overlap, but some do not. Katie Whitehall asked if the Board would want to move forward on approving a letter of agreement in principle at some point. They want the County to be aware of the good work being done in the partnership, and agree to cooperate. There will be a big signing in September of all agencies. Dave Kanner said that the letter could be addressed at a regular business meeting. 2. Discussion of Potential Rescission of Resolution No. 2006-049, Road Maintenance. Mr. Kanner stated that the Board has been requested by at least one special road district to rescind the resolution that holds off on road maintenance, and do maintenance on particular roads. He added that the Board wanted to discuss this further after the legislature had concluded its work. He recommended perhaps adding collector roads back in. Commissioner Baney said her biggest issue about this resolution is that the reasons why it was adopted have changed somewhat. Commissioner Unger said that he wants the legislature to keep trying to find other sources of road maintenance funds. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Work Session Wednesday, August 12, 2009 Page 2 of 6 Pages Commissioner Luke said that he feels that nothing much has changed. Timber funds will continue to decline, and increases in gas tax may not happen. George Kolb added that most subdivisions do not build arterials or collectors. George Kolb said that there are a bunch of roads that are not arterial roads but nevertheless handle a lot of traffic. Tom Blust said that part of the TSP process is to identify new collectors or arterials. Peter Gutowsky added that this might not be decided entirely based on the amount of traffic, but the location as well. There is some need for collaboration with the School Districts in regard to busing students. Commissioner Baney asked what direction the Board should go. Commissioner Unger wants clarity as to why this has to be done now. Mr. Blust said they could come up with traffic values but there could be other local roads that affect a wider area. It is hard to classify some roads as "local". Commissioner Baney asked if there is a legal responsibility to maintain a road. A road district formation and responsibilities may not have been discussed at the time of the purchase of property. Mr. Blust said it involves a right of access. The County can be discretionary and the Board can decide on limitations through a public process. Commissioner Unger said that general funds cannot be spent on road maintenance. Mr. Kanner added that property taxes could not be spent on this unless they are subject to distribution to districts. Mr. Blust and Mr. Kanner will work on defining solutions and how to proceed. Mr. Kanner said the one sure way to save money is to not treat the roads, but that means some may have to return to gravel. Those need to be identified. Commissioner Tammy said that she does not see a dire situation now. Mr. Kanner said that preservation overlay project funding is on a downward spiral, and whatever is available in the future will not cover what needs to be done, considering also the expected higher cost of materials. Mr. Blust said that they have not let roads go back to gravel in the past, but eventually when maintenance is not continued, the pavement breaks up so has to be removed, and gravel added. There is a cost associated with that. The timeline is unknown, as it depends on use, climate and the type of soil. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Work Session Wednesday, August 12, 2009 Page 3 of 6 Pages Mr. Kolb said that local improvement district roads, paid for by the residents, need to be kept up, as this was a promise to those people when they paid for it. Mr. Kanner said that some kind of priority list needs to be established. Commissioner Luke stated that professionals who deal with the roads need to make recommendations, which the Board may want to support. Commissioner Baney said that many citizens might question the County's support and funding for 19th Street if it is not a road they would use. Choices have to be made, and returning any road to gravel is a choice to be made as well. By investing in 19th Street, the County may end up with additional gas tax revenue. She is not sold on the fact that roads need to be turned back to gravel. If some roads are identified that fit this, she would like to hear about them. Commissioner Luke said there needs to be a priority list and they need to figure out what makes sense. Commissioner Unger added that through the TSP process it may be easier to see how the roads fit together. Mr. Blust explained that the TSP would not get into the smaller details on local roads; this would require a separate analysis. The language is about not accepting new roads and which ones can demand priority for maintenance dollars. Commissioner Baney said that if the gas tax is repealed, the fund will be upside down. Commissioner Luke said that there needs to be widespread support throughout the County as they go forward. Mr. Kanner stated that over the course of the next two or three years, it might be wise to forgo maintenance on some roads until it is known whether some future funding source may become available. Staff will produce a priority list for review. A resolution revising the previous one will address the funding that is expected to offset some provisions in the previous resolution. In regard to administrative review of a bridge in a special road district, they were aware of possible objections to the work being done and there have been issues in the past. Normally if there is opposition, it would go before a hearings officer. Commissioner Luke said that the County does not have jurisdiction over special road districts. There are State agencies that have a say in how wide a culvert can be, the potential impacts on the river and fish, etc. Commissioner Baney would like the district members to take the lead and work it out as a district first. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Work Session Wednesday, August 12, 2009 Page 4 of 6 Pages Commissioner Baney attended a meeting in Tumalo regarding ODOT's suggestions and residents' concerns about traffic issues there. The biggest point seems to be that they want people to slow down when going through the area, whether or not there is a light. Commissioner Luke said that ODOT has several preferred solutions but none have been selected yet. Some people will not be satisfied with the decision no matter what it is. Eventually there would be an overpass, but this is years out. There are some possible traffic calming solutions if the money can be found. Commissioner Baney said they offered one main option, which might not have set well with the community. This would be a short-term option; no long-term solutions have been firmly identified. Commissioner Luke stated that there is a long-term solution but the location of that solution has not been identified. Some people think a signal light can be done for $200,000, but it was pointed out that a similar intersection in La Pine cost over $1 million. They did talk about ways to slow traffic through visual impacts. Commissioner Baney said the comprehensive plan update should address uses that can impact traffic flow, and how existing businesses might be impacted by these changes. Commissioner Unger stated that since there is no funding for long-term solutions, some short-term solutions should be put in place. Commissioner Luke pointed out that this is an investment that may not make sense for the long-term. 3. Other Items. 4. Executive Session, under ORS 192.660(2)(h), Pending or Threatened Litigation. The Board went into executive session at 3:05 p.m. 5. Executive Session, under ORS 192.660(2)(i), Review/Evaluation of Employee Performance. This item will be addressed at 1: 00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9. Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Work Session Wednesday, August 12, 2009 Page 5 of 6 Pages 6. Executive session, under ORS 192.660(2)(d), Labor Negotiations. After executive session, the Board reconvened to take action. LUKE: Authorize Counsel to handle the vested rights cases if appealed, as appropriate. UNGER: Second. VOTE: LUKE: Yes. UNGER: Yes. BANEY: Chair votes yes. LUKE: Authorize staff to furnish the bargaining unit with a contract for consideration, based on discussions during executive session. UNGER: Second. VOTE: LUKE: Yes. UNGER: Yes. BANEY: Chair votes yes. Being no further items addressed, the meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m. DATED this 12th Day of August 2009 for the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners. ATTEST: Recording Secretary Tammy Baney, Chair /l Dennis R. Luke, ice Chair Alan Unger, Commissioner Minutes of Board of Commissioners' Work Session Page 6 of 6 Pages Wednesday, August 12, 2009 i Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org WORK SESSION AGENDA DESCHUTES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1:30 P.M., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2009 1. Discussion regarding The Fire Learning Network/Project Wildfire - Joe Studer; Amy Waltz and Garth Fuller 2. Discussion of Potential Rescission of Resolution No. 2006-049, Road Maintenance 3. Other Items 4. Executive Session, under ORS 192.660(2)(h), Pending or Threatened Litigation 5. Executive Session, under ORS 192.660(2)(i), Review/Evaluation of Employee Performance 6. Executive session, under ORS 192.660(2)(d), Labor Negotiations PLEASE NOTE: At any time during this meeting, an executive session could be called to address issues relating to ORS 192.660(2) (e), real property negotiations; ORS 192.660(2) (h), pending or threatened litigation; or ORS 192.660(2) (b), personnel issues Meeting dates, times and discussion items are subject to change. All meetings are conducted in the Board of Commissioners' meeting rooms at 1300 NW Wall St., Bend, unless otherwise indicated. Jf you have questions regarding a meeting, please call 388-6572. Deschutes County meeting locations are wheelchair accessible. Deschutes County provides reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. For deaf, hearing impaired or speech disabled, dial 7-1-1 to access the state transfer relay service for TTY. Please call (541) 388-6571 regarding alternative formats or for further information. N aJ 4 7 cp ,0,~ ,z d 1x~ ~ ~f l s ~ N (J ` 00 CD M M N K) N N N ~ U- V N L ^ C u C C 4 57 d o 40 Q) a , o .=r ✓ r Alfi Upper Deschutes Basin Fame Learning Network: ~_-Washi t ~ Project and updates n9 on Tapash . ..ti t 0 I Deschutes P Malheur Ore 0 n Sprague! j Applegate Lakeview i r Cr - C a l i f o r n i a N e v a d a U Abut us Our Deschutes Fire Learning Network (FLN) is one of five landscapes in the Northwest FLN with the overarching goal of accelerating natural fire regime restoration through collaborative strategic planning. Shared vision encourages stakeholders to manage their landscapes and find solutions that lead to restoration and fuel treatments at appropriate scales. In the United States and many other parts of the world, fires are behaving differently now than they have throughout history, largely as a result of human actions. An estimated 53 percent of U.S. forests and rangelands have altered fire dynamics. The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and others developed the Northwest FLN as part of a joint effort to restore fire adapted ecosystems. The network is one of nine regional groups across the country that makes up the national FLN. The national FLN is engaging dozens of multi-agency, community-based projects in a process that accelerates the restoration of landscapes that depend on fire to sustain native plants and animals. Fire Learning Networks are funded through the Fire Lands and People Cooperative Agreement between U.S. Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, and the Department of Interior. Document Reproduces Poorly (Archived) Pvoj ac a and upd as a summary: per Ds(z [h aas Basin FL Deadlog project planning unit: The Upper Deschutes Basin Fire Learning Network was introduced to the Deadlog project by a forester on the Bend/Ft. Rock District of the Deschutes National Forest. This site contains beautiful old-growth pon- derosa pine trees, some of the last remaining remnants within the national forest. These stands have been altered by fire exclusions and are now at risk of being killed by fires occurring today with uncharacteristic tree densities and fuel loadings. The question: can this project ne included in FLN restoration efforts? The project area fit within with the Upper Deschutes Basin's restoration priority stands map and was identi- fied as a high need area. After collaborative work, data gathering and research, the FLN team and crews from the national forest are moving forward together with restoration plans. Prioritizing landscapes: Determining the collaborative landscape's common condition involved several recent steps: increasing our technical data available across all ownerships (2006 and ongoing), developing a restoration priorities map highlighting ponderosa and dry mixed conifer stands in need of restoration (completed in 2007) and accumulating stakeholder values to identify and prioritize project areas in need of restoration and/or wildfire risk reduction. What attributes or values on our 2.4 million-acre landscape are at greatest risk and/or irreplaceable to uncharacteristic loss? We held two facilitated workshops in February and March of 2009 to help answer that question. After identifying values on the Deschutes landscape (like location, old-growth, advanced mid-sera) stands, riparian areas, recreation areas, and the safety of communities) and those at-risk of loss due to uncharacteristic disturbance (fire and insects), we produced a draft map of restoration areas of interest. Web site and communications: We continue to strive to improve communication by providing a common sharing space for key messages, collaborative updates, journal article sharing and a data depository. In 2008, we were able to initiate the development of a neutral space on a collective science site that our individual collaborative can "own". Check it out at www.conserveonline.ora/worksi2aces/nw.fln.workspace. This year we have continued that process by focusing on function and aesthetics. The Northwest FLN ConserveOnline Web site provides a unifying hub with information pertaining to the overarching purpose as well as a section for each project site. The space for the sites provides a description of where and how we are working, and it provides a forum for the sharing of resources among stakeholders and others interested. We are now working with site developers at The Other Firm to enhance the ConserveOnline site and to help it serve our FLN more effectively. Restoration principal guidelines: Stakeholders in Central Oregon have multiple visions for forest management. Discussions at the FLN workshop and subsequent meetings generated the following restoration principles: • Collaborate with diverse stakeholders at the front-end of project planning in an open, transparent process. • Restore natural processes and function within the biophysical setting's natural range of variability. • Plan restoration projects with landscape scale objectives, with project treatments placed on the landscape in a strategic way. • Prioritize treatments so that placement can benefit multiple values; incorporate fire risk and threats, biodiversity, old-growth maintenance and development and wildlife attributes. • Incorporate lessons learned into adaptive management strategies as validated by monitoring. • Integrate ecological restoration with public values and funding feasibility. • Incorporate best science to ensure biodiversity is restored and ecosystem resilience and resistance to natural disturbances is sustainable. • Make by-products of forest restoration treatments available for utilization in ways that support local businesses and workers and that build local capacity to implement further restoration work. Upper Deschutes Basin Fire Learning Network Letter of Agreement and Principles of Restoration This Letter of Agreement represents the interest of Fire Learning Network Participants, a non-chartered group, to advance the mission of the Upper Deschutes Basin Fire Learning Network and to honor the agreements that are collaboratively developed. Participants include federal and state agencies, local community groups, conservation organizations, and forest products industries. Mission: Operating under the self directed mission of Accelerating the restoration of fire-adapted systems while protecting communities from fire, the team has developed 2 general goals; 1) Implement ecosystem restoration strategies and fuels reduction at ecologically meaningful scales: and 2) Foster innovation and transfer lessons learned to other projects, scientists and decision makers. As a fundamental step in achieving these goals the Upper Deschutes Basin team wants to develop a common vision or desired condition for the entire Deschutes Basin Landscape utilizing the best available science and incorporating values through collaborative partnerships. What participation means: The Fire Learning Network incorporates the interests of multiple stakeholders, and uses the best available science to try to find a balanced desired condition that promotes the resilience and sustainability of our fire-adapted forests. Fire Learning Network participation and involvement on federal projects does not necessarily reflect endorsement of that project by all participants. We agree to: • Work collaboratively on multiple phases of forest restoration projects: o Develop a common desired condition and vision for our forest. o Identify priority areas for forest restoration. o Participate in federal project planning in priority areas. o Engage and support multiparty monitoring. • Actively participate in the Fire Learning Network Collaborative through its meetings, committees, field tours and other activities. Together, we have developed these Principles of Restoration: • Collaborate with diverse stakeholders at the front-end of project planning in an open, transparent process. • Restore natural processes and function within the biophysical setting's natural range of variability. • Plan restoration projects with landscape scale objectives, with project treatments placed on the landscape in a strategic way. • Prioritize treatments so that placement can benefit multiple values; incorporate fire risk and threats, biodiversity, old-growth maintenance and development and wildlife attributes. • Incorporate lessons learned into adaptive management strategies as validated by monitoring. • Integrate ecological restoration with public values and funding feasibility. • Incorporate best science to ensure biodiversity is restored and ecosystem resilience and resistance to natural disturbances is sustainable. • Make by-products of forest restoration treatments available for utilization in ways that support local businesses and workers and that build local capacity to implement further restoration work Stakeholders: Upper Deschutes Basin Fire Learning Network Terminology Appendix: Principles of Restoration Terminology: Adaptive Management :A type of natural resource management in which decisions are made as part of an ongoing process. Adaptive management combines planning, implementing, monitoring, research, evaluating, and incorporating new knowledge into management approaches based on scientific findings and the needs of society. Results are used to modify future management methods and policy. (AZ Guiding Principles) Biodiversity : The variety of life forms and processes including complexity of species, communities, gene pools, and ecological functions (Rickleffs, 1986, Ecology). Biophysical Settings (BpS): Represents the vegetation that may have been dominant on the landscape prior to Euro-American settlement and is based on both the current biophysical environment and an approximation of the historical disturbance regime. It is a refinement of the Environmental Site Potential layer; in this refinement, we attempt to incorporate current scientific knowledge regarding the functioning of ecological processes - such as fire - in the centuries preceding non-indigenous human influence. hLtp://www.landfire.gov/NationalProductDescriptions20.ph]2. Ecologically sustainable :Emphasizing and maintaining the underlying ecological processes that ensure long-term productivity of goods, services, and values without impairing the productivity of the land. (Source: ICBEMP Draft EIS) ALSO: Meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Ecological sustainability entails maintaining the composition, structure and processes of a system, as well as species diversity and ecological productivity. The core element of sustainability is that it is future-oriented. (Committee of Scientists Report, 1999.) Economic feasibility: (MTGP) The ability to obtain the financial resources necessary to conduct restoration projects on the ground. It is anticipated that these resources may come from congressionally appropriated funds, the commercial value of byproducts removed during restoration, and/or private philanthropy. An assessment of economic feasibility will include both a project budget and anticipated sources of funding to carry out the work proposed. Ecosystem Function :The process through which the constituent living and nonliving elements of ecosystems change and interact, including biogeochemical processes and succession. Ecosystem Process :The actions or events that link organisms and their environment, such as predation, mutualism, successional development, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, primary productivity, and decay. Natural disturbance processes often occur with some periodicity (From Webster's dictionary, adapted to ecology). Ecosystem Resilience: The ability of a system to respond to disturbances. Resiliency is one of the properties that enable the system to persist in many different states or successional stages. Ecosystem Resistance: (same as resiliency?) an ecosystem does not change dramatically in the face of a natural disturbance. Ecosystem Restoration: (MTGP) The intentional process which initiates the recovery of an altered ecosystem to a state of ecological integrity. Ecosystem/Ecological Integrity :The completeness of an ecosystem that at multiple geographic and temporal scales maintains its characteristic diversity of biological and physical components, spatial patterns, structure, and functional processes within its approximate range of historic variability. These processes include: disturbance regimes, nutrient cycling, hydrologic functions, vegetation succession, and species adaptation and evolution. Ecosystems with integrity are resilient and sustainable. Forest Ecosystem Health: A condition where the parts and functions of an ecosystem are sustained over time and where the system's capacity for self-repair is maintained, allowing goals for uses, values, and services of the ecosystem to be met. Historic Range of Variability: The range of variability of a given metric (for example, tree density, grass and forb diversity, insect outbreak levels) during a time when natural processes were intact. Landscape Scale: The scale, or size of a landscape, that incorporates the natural processes, function and biodiversity at a sustainable level. This ecologically relevant scale is dependent on the user and questions being asked - the size of the landscape is determined by the variables, factors or processes being measured. Example: landscape scale assessments for wildlife habitat need to incorporate the range of the wildlife species in question and incorporate all habitat types; landscape scale assessments for natural processes, such as fire, need to be large enough to incorporate naturally occurring fire sizes; landscape scale assessments for water flow and availability need to encompass entire watersheds. 2 e w aONIes , } Tieton~ r Landscape Northwest Fire Le ar n in Network g Pr oj ects ~PPe Desrhutes. Basin f Sprague i Applegate Watershed Watershed ` 1 . The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and others devel- oped the Northwest Fire Learning Network as part of a joint effort to restore fire adapted ecosystems. The Northwest network is one of nine regional groups across the country that make up the national Fire Learning Network fast facts • Every terrestrial ecosystem on Earth has evolved with fire and can rely on it to stimulate growth, curb non-native plants, minimize pests and disease, and keep plant and animal communities healthy. • The Conservancy estimates that to restore fire-prone forest conditions on public lands in Oregon, we need to increase three to five times the current annual treatment levels for the next 20-25 years. • In Oregon, 21.1 million acres of forests and woodlands are moderately or highly modified from historic conditions due to fire suppression, grazing, logging and other land uses, and 13.4 million of these acres are on public lands. Pacific Northwest DocumE'- Poorly Fire Learning Network (Aruuved) fire, biodiversity and community safety For millennia, fire has played an important role in shaping the composition, structure and processes of most native ecosystems in Oregon. Since the late 1800s, grasslands and forests have been changed due to wildland fire suppression and practices such as livestock grazing and logging. As a result, fires now burn differently across natural landscapes - less often, more uniformly or with greater intensity. Unnatural fire behavior has severe effects. Ecosystem changes resulting from either fire suppression or unnaturally severe fires threaten native species and ecological systems - especially species and systems already in decline due to other land use pressures - and also put communities at risk Over the past 10 years, federal agencies have treated forests to reduce fuels through the use of thinning, prescribed fire and wildland fire. Local communi- ties across the West have completed Wildfire Protection Plans. However, despite these efforts, its generally agreed that conditions in untreated fire- prone wildland forests and woodlands are continuing to worsen. The Northwest Fire Learning Network a network of collaborative partnerships, seeks to foster partnership, planning and innovation to accelerate the restoration of fire-adapted forests throughout the Pacific Northwest (continued on back) A prescribed burn at Sycan Marsh, Preserve in the Sprague Watershed. C Charlie QuinnirNC science in action The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior, together with state and local agencies, businesses, landowners, scientists, community groups and conservationists, created a national Fire Learning Network to catalyze fuel reduction and restoration projects across the country. The Upper Deschutes Watershed in Oregon was one of the pilot project sites in the first phase of this national network The Northwest Fire Learning Network was formed in 2005 to expand pilot efforts in the Deschutes and to bring national efforts closer to home. The Northwest network now comprises over 3,500,000 acres, including: • The Upper Deschutes Basin, the network's 2-million-acre anchor project, where teams in central Oregon are developing new vegetation maps, forest condition maps and action maps prioritizing treatable areas. • The Sprague watershed in south central Oregon, where updated vegetation maps have been completed, and network collaborators are now looking at different treatment models and opportunities to implement thinning and burning pilot projects. • The Applegate watershed in southwest Oregon, where partners including the Applegate River Watershed Council, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and Applegate citizen groups will develop conservation action plans involving forest restoration. • The Tieton River Canyon in central Washington, where the Conservancy, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service have adopted a conservation action planning process and a formal agreement to facilitate collaboration to restore fire across federal, state and private ownerships boundaries. Over the next year, the Northwest network will work collaboratively with partners at each of the network sites to complete a vision for desired for- est conditions and develop a prioritized restoration action map, a com- munication plan, on-the-ground demonstrations, and implementation and monitoring plans. working together Since its inception, more than 18 agencies, organizations, tribes and community associations have been involved in the Northwest Fire Learning Network for more information Contact Amy Waltz, fire management officer Phone: (541) 388-3020 E-mail: awaltz@tnc.org Ponderosa pine in the Upper Deschutes East of the Cascade Range in Oregon's ponderosa pine forests, a fire-dependant ecosystem has been starved of fire for decades. Historic photos show towering trees with large park-like open spaces where shrubs, wildflowers and grasslands thrive. Fire history studies indicate that these forests had low-severity ground fires every eight to 15 years. About 100 years ago, these historic fires were halted to promote livestock grazing, logging and other activities. Today these forests are much more dense; few old-growth trees remain, and in many places grasses and wildflowers are scarce. These forests are now at risk of unnaturally severe wildfires that can explode into the crowns of the trees, killing entire stands and destroying habitats. Current land managers are working to restore the open ponderosa pine habitat and its resilience to fire. Thinning stands to reduce the overall density makes it possible to reintroduce low-severity prescribed fire. These controlled surface fires open the forest floor and recycle nutrients, renewing the native diversity grasses, shrubs and wildflowers. The Upper Deschutes Fire Learning Network is assisting these efforts by working with partners to provide scientific tools and a public forum to engage local communities in planning and implementing effective forest restoration strategies. The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. In Oregon, the Conservancy owns or manages 46 nature preserves and has helped protect over 494, 000 acres of important habitats, with support from about 23,000 member households. Learn more at nature. ora/oreaon. (OW07) Fire Learning Network workshop O Craig Bierv/rNc our mission The Nature Conservancy preserves plants, animals and natural communities represent- ing the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. sources of support Gifts from individuals support 66 percent of the Conservancy's daily operations. Corporations and foundations also provide significant support to our projects and programs. We contract with public agencies to provide services related to planning and management of natural areas and also receive grants dedicated to critical habitat protection and restoration. efficiency and effectiveness In Fiscal Year 2008, the Conservancy devoted 80 percent of income to land and water conservation programs, including research and restoration, earning high marks for effectiveness from charity watchdog organizations. For example, The American Institute of Philanthropy has awarded The Nature Conservancy an "A-" rating. Additionally, the Conservancy rates as the most trusted organization in a poll by Harris Interactive,as reported by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. FACTS . 2009 troduces Poorly (Archived) how we work The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. Working with individuals, businesses, communities and partners, we take a cooperative, non-confrontational, market-based approach. We use a scientific analysis to identify places large enough in scale and rich enough in plant and animal life to ensure meaningful, lasting conservation results. We buy land from willing sellers, accept gifts of land, restore habitats, and work with partners to improve public land conservation. The Nature Conservancy is a private, non-profit membership organization operating in all 50 states and in over 30 other countries. Working in Oregon since 1961, the Conservancy protects 46 preserves and managed areas in Oregon, including some of our state's best-loved places: Tom McCall Preserve in the Columbia Gorge, Cascade Head Preserve on the Oregon Coast, the Table Rocks near Medford. Among other major conservation and restoration projects are the Sycan Marsh and Williamson River Delta Preserves in the Klamath Basin, Zumwalt Prairie Preserve in Northeast Oregon, Boardman Grasslands in Morrow County and Willow Creek Preserve in West Eugene. For more information, visit nature.org/oregon and click on "places we protect." The Conservancy has helped state and federal agencies protect key public lands such as Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, Tillamook Head, Neskowin Marsh, Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Ladd Marsh Wildllife Area. (continued on back) From left Researchers at Williamson River Delta Preserve ® Rick McEwan; The endangered Fenders blue butterfly ® Matthew Benotsch/TNC; Juniper Hills Preserve ® Jason Seivers/TNC Document Reproduces Poorly (Archived) partnerships in conservation We work extensively with private and public landowners to develop pragmatic solutions that will protect Oregon's rich natural heritage. For example, we work with farmers and ranchers, counties and other partners to control invasive species, which take an enormous toll on Oregon's environment and economy. We also work with federal and state partners to restore natural fire patterns in forests and grasslands. Other examples: The 250,000-acre plateau, Zumwalt Prairie (pictured at right), in Northeast Oregon above Hells Canyon, is a rolling expanse of bunch grass prairie with one of the highest concentrations of nesting birds of prey in North America. At our 33,000-acre preserve and with willing partners, Conservancy scientists are improving prairie, stream and aspen habitats, controlling invasive species, restoring fire, studying grazing impacts, and sharing research on the complex dynamics of this vast and unique ecosystem. The model West Eugene Wetlands partnership brings together the City of Eugene, Bureau of Land Management'and The Nature Conservancy, using the best available science, strategic acquisitions, targeted restoration and local volunteers to protect a vital 2,500-acre network of wetlands and scarce native prairie remnants in a rapidly developing region. On the Sandy River east of Portland, intensive efforts to control knotweed - an aggressive introduced species threatening riverbanks and salmon habitats across the Northwest - are paying off with cooperation from over 300 private landowners. With many partners, we are sharing knotweed control strategies with watershed councils, agencies and communities from Oregon to Alaska. volunteers on the land The Nature Conservancy was founded in 1951 by volunteers. Today, more than 800.Oregon volunteers help restore natural areas, research native wildlife and plants, maintain trails, teach visitors about Oregon's natural heritage, record and manage data and assist in our offices. A volunteer board of trustees including business and community leaders across Oregon oversees and helps implement our conservation work. for more information about the Conservancy Visit The Nature Conservancy's Web site at nature.org or nature.org/oregon. Ask for a complementary copy of Nature Conservancy magazine or the Oregon Biannual newsletter; call (503) 802-8100 or E-mail oregon@tnc.org Membership inquiries: Kate O'Neill (503) 802-8100 koneill@tnc.org Media inquiries: Stephen Anderson (503) 802-8100 standerson@tnc.org Other inquiries: 821 SE 14th Avenue Portland, OR 97214 (503) 802-8100 oregon@tnc.org The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. In Oregon, the Conservancy owns or manages 46 nature preserves and has helped protect over 494,000 acres of important habitats, with support from over 23, 000 member households. Learn more at nature. ora/oreaon. (01/09) Zumwalt Prairie Preserve O Mck McEwan TES a 2 Department of Administrative Services p rA~ Dave Kanner, County Administrator 1300 NW Wall St, Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 www. co. deschutes. or. us August 6, 2009 TO: Board of Commissioners FROM: Dave Kanner, County Administrator Tom Blust, Road Department Director RE: Potential rescission of Resolution No. 2006-049 Background Earlier this year, the Board of Commissioners requested that, following the end of the legislative session, we hold a discussion of whether to rescind Resolution No. 2006-049, which we commonly refer to as the moratorium on accepting new roads into the County maintenance system. This resolution was adopted on July 5, 2006, in response to the projected loss of the federal timber payments that had been supporting the County's road maintenance program. The resolution "suspends the establishment of new County roads until the Forest Safety Net or similar funds have in the judgment of the Board been adequately restored." The resolution further states, "[T]he County will not accept petitions for the creation of any new Local Improvement Districts until the Forest Safety Net or similar funds have in the judgment of the Board been adequately restored." The 2009 Oregon Legislature approved a six-cent-a-gallon increase in the state's gasoline tax (to be fully implemented after two consecutive quarters of employment growth or January 1, 2011, whichever comes first) as well as increases in various motor vehicle fees. Under the state's motor vehicle revenue-sharing formula, these tax and fee increases will bring an additional $3 million to Deschutes County in the first year of full implementation. (That's greater than the amount lost from the cessation of the federal timber payments program.) There is no move afoot that we're aware of to refer these tax and fee increases to a popular vote. As such, this presents a predictable new revenue stream for road maintenance. (Note that we were originally told the new tax would mean $4 million per year for Deschutes County, but, as explained below, that number appears to be high.) Unfortunately, we do not believe the increased state motor vehicle revenue will allow us to fully fund a preservation program. In our report to you on road maintenance funding needs last year, we estimated the annual need for preservation and overlay projects at $4.6 million. With the decline in oil and materials costs, that number is now closer to $4 million. If Forest Highway Program roads are removed from the mix, the need is likely Enhancing the Lives of Citizens by Delivering Quality Services in a Cost-Effective Manner about $3.6 million annually. In addition, there are a number of County maintained roads that will eventually be annexed into the cities of Redmond and Bend and become the cities' maintenance responsibility. This has not been factored into these calculations. Attached are some spreadsheets that illustrate the dilemma we face. Although the gas tax will increase, people are driving less, resulting in less-than-budgeted motor vehicle revenues in FY '10 and a lower projection for motor vehicle revenues in the outer years. We had budgeted $8 million in motor vehicle revenue in FY '10, but it now appears that our actual collection will be closer to $7.8 million. The spreadsheet titled "Five-Year Resource/Requirement Projections" shows that even with the increased gas tax, the amount of funding available for preservation and overlay projects will once again begin declining in FY '13. (Note, too, that this projection assumes that the transfer from Solid Waste will continue into the future.) Other assumptions that went into this spreadsheet can be discussed with you at the August 12 work session. Staff Recommendation We do not believe a rescission of Resolution 2006-049 can be justified at this time. We recommend that effective with the full implementation of the new gas tax, the County resume accepting new roads into the County road maintenance system, but that such acceptance be limited to arterial and collector roads only. At the same time, we recommend that we identify County local roads that can be returned to gravel and local roads that can be removed from the County road system and converted to local access roads (non-county maintained). This is, we believe, the most effective means of achieving long-term cost savings in the road maintenance program, with these cost savings used to increase available funding for the preservation program. We look forward to further discussion of this recommendation at the August 12 work session. Attachments: Resolution No. 2006-049 Five-Year Resource/Requirement Projections Motor Vehicle Revenue Forecast Road Department Revenue Projection Road Revenue per Vehicle REVIE D ~DESCHUTES COUNTY OFFICIAL RECORDS CJ X006.688 NANCY BLANKENSHIP, COUNTY CLERK cONNISSIONERS' JOURNAL 07/09/2006 03;49;46 PM ALGAL-COUNSEL IIII rur AMWILIHIg auiiuN v111y BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON A Resolution Declaring a Suspension on the Establishment of New County Roads. RESOLUTION NO. 2006-049 WHEREAS, Deschutes County receives approximately $3.0 million annually under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 ("Forest Safety-Net") for the improvement and maintenance of County Roads, and WHEREAS, the Forest Safety-Net funding constitutes over 27% of Deschutes County's annual dedicated road fund revenue, and WHEREAS, the Forest Safety-Net legislation sunsets in federal fiscal year 2006, and WHEREAS, reauthorization of the Forest Safety-Net and receipt of any associated federal funding is uncertain, and WHEREAS, without Forest Safety-Net funding, Deschutes County will not have adequate resources to maintain the existing County Road system, and WHEREAS, Deschutes County's Transportation System Plan, section 5.2, policy 8.b. states: Deschutes County shall not add any miles of new road to the system unless the following issues are satisfied:... b. the county can financially absorb the additional maintenance requirements; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON, as follows: Section 1. That the County hereby suspends the establishment of new County Roads until the Forest Safety-Net or similar funds have in the judgment of the Board been adequately restored. This suspension is subject to the exceptions outlined in Sections 2, 3, and 4. Section 2. That the County will not accept petitions for the creation of any new Local Improvement Districts until the Forest Safety-Net or similar funds have in the judgment of the Board been adequately restored. Roads improved to county standards by local improvement districts already initiated by Board resolution as listed on attached Exhibit "A" will be accepted into the county maintained system. PAGE 1 OF 2- RESOLUTION NO. 2006-049 Section 3. That the County will not consider acceptance of any roads created by new development into the County maintained system until the Forest Safety-Net or similar funds have in the judgment of the Board been adequately restored. Proposed roads in developments with land use applications that have been accepted by the County prior to the date of this Resolution as listed on attached Exhibit "B" will be considered for acceptance into the county maintained system upon completion of those roads to county standards. Section 4. That the Board may consider the establishment of roads offered to the county for acceptance by other governmental entities, either through agreements prior to the date of this Resolution or through jurisdictional transfers. Dated this 5i of , 2006 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTF,"OUNTY, OREGON LUKE, C ATTEST: (&Uw,;, $AkZA1_1 Recording Secretary BEV CLARNO, COMMISSI NER I AE . ALY, 7 MISSIONER PAGE 2 OF 2- RESOLUTION No. 2006-049 Exhibit "A" List of Initiated LIDs Year LID Length miles 2006 Mail poll passed Harper 0.76 Harrin ton 0.76 Choctaw 1 0.54 Choctaw II 0.63 Manzanita 0.94 Total Miles 3.63 LID's yet to be voted on Parkway Dr. and Cornell Dr. 1.78 Skidgel 0.74 Cagle 1.24 Apache 1.61 Sunrise Blvd. 1.59 Whittier and Wolf 2.90 Pumice Butte 0.60 Rancho El Sereno 1.00 Tuscarora 0.40 Total Miles 11.86 Total potential miles of road added to system: 15.49 Exhibit "B" Date Annlleatinn nnvelnnmsn+ AJJ--__ 5/1512006 4/11/2006 4/14/2006 FPA0618 (TP06967) TP-06-969 TP-06-970 BADLANDS RANCH ELK HORN LAND DEVEL LA PINE VILLAGE /1YN1 F.7.7 52200 HUNTINGTON RD, LA PINE MU. Of LOTS 7-LOT SUBDIVISION 289-LOT SUBDIVISION Status IN PROGRESS IN PROGRESS Miles 2,650 I.f. (.5 miles) 15,780 I.f. (3 miles) 103-LOT DECISION TO 6,000 I.f. SUBDIVISION BE WRITTEN IN (1.1 miles) 4/25/2006 TP-06-971 MCLEAN/HARTY 40-LOT 1-2 WEEKS HRG 7/18/06 4,600 I.f. 5/19/2006 TP-06-973 ARROWOOD 19200 SUBDIVISION CASCADE IN PROGRESS (.87 miles) 12,500 I.f. DEVEL CENTURY DR, HIGHLANDS (2.4 miles) BE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT 6/12/2006 TP-06-974 DAVID HURTLEY 69090 13-LOT NOT ASSIGNED No road HURTLEY SUBDIVISION YET information to RANCH RD,SI date Total Miles: 7.9 Cw C Q a W 0 D O z D O U Cl) W I cn w 0 z O U uj 7 O w a F- z w 2 W w D LU LU U D O N LU W LLJ LL z O a O C7 z Q z LL Li w 0 z LL 2 O C) w w 11- o m O M O to O O co co O O O co T 04 '4t 0 - 0 c 0 co 0 'Ili N O Ln o 0 0 N O O N C y - 00 0 OD to N Lo o T O 6 co M LO O t- ~ o O of U') O 0) IV N N P- - M t` O LO G> N N 01 a a N T at w a T M O t0 0 00 0 0 0 0 LA co O O ~ to r' lU Itt N 0 1- 0 00 00 N O O O N N Ln m 0 O O N CD 0 N f- O O d' N CD P- N O O LLi 00 Lt") O of O O T O O O - T O O) t,- N dO 01 CO O LO 00 Oi N ` ' Lo - M t` O LO to " co ti N to } a o ter LL r T T T cm v M O m O r- O O wm O O O O O r- O O O M O O M M M Co O O M W 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 t- r- O O LO h T tU O O d' O M Lo tpL(j O> d P.: O M 0 0 0 M ~ MN 1` O LO ti N It O - N T M r~ wN T r to O T } a N O h T N N T h LL - - - - - - - - - - - r T r T - - - - - i T 'Q 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N Lo O r- O- O O M O - O O O ~ O O MW T M O O O t` T o ~ M O V O V 0 0 00pl O> O O O O O Of T y M O M O O Lo O t` t0 N M O O O O N O w O m O tl- t- O o M N O O m O co N N 0 rl~ O . 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NQ NN. Nr. 16 16 8/3/2009 FISCAL YEAR Note: 92-93 thru 07-08 actual revenue Assumes 3% annual inflation rate