SW Idaho Resource Advisory Committee

Minutes

February 16, 2005

 

SW Idaho RAC Members:    Phil Davis (Chair), Sandra Mitchell, Lois Van Hoover, Robert Baker, Tom Glass, John Cramer, Ed Mansfield, Dale Hanson, John Gebhards, Scott Stouder and Joe Hinson

Designated Federal Officer:  Doug Gochnour

Others:  Andy Brunelle (Legislative Affairs, USFS), Charlie LaRose (Recorder)

 

v     Chair, Phil Davis called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m.  DFO Gochnour will represent Mountain Home Ranger District for their presentation of the YCC Project

v     Sally Collins, Associate Director of the Forest Service will be in town and wants to meet with the RAC on 9 March.  It was decided to change the next meeting to 9 March.

v     Phil Davis stated that there usually isn’t a meeting in April.  Since the National RAC meeting is scheduled in April.

v     The minutes were discussed. 

 

Ed Mansfield made motion to accept the minutes as written.  Dale Hanson seconded the motion.

 

There was a discussion concerning the minutes. 

In paragraph five on page 8, it states: “John McCarthy stated that Suzanne Rainville, the Deputy Forest Supervisor said that this was not a high priority area for restoration on roads.  So, why are we looking at this now as a priority?  It looks like just a way to get a timber sale.  Ronn Julian stated that the road is used as a utility corridor for power lines and Paradise valley summer homes…..”

 

After reading the minutes, the Deputy Forest Supervisor, Suzanne Rainville stated that she was not at the meeting where ICL appealed the timber sale; therefore she had not spoken with anyone on the priority of the area.  The Forest Supervisor, Richard Smith stated that he had attended the meeting along with John Robison, but that neither John McCarthy nor Suzanne Rainville had not been present.

 

Also, in paragraph seven of page 10, which states: “Scott Stouder stated that because question 12 was marked that there would be merchantable material he could not support the project.”

He wanted to clarify that what he had intended was that he was confused about the issue due to question 12 being marked on the form.

 

            The minutes were accepted as with the above listed changes.

 

v      DFO Gochnour went over the Monthly Expense report for the last meeting:  The meeting notices were $29.26, $153.44 for mileage, and $272.23 for lunches.

 

Tom Glass moved to accept the expense report for the last meeting.  Ed Mansfield seconded the motion and the motion carried.

 

v     DFO Gochnour stated that there was 26 projects submitted this fiscal year.  Two projects have not been reviewed yet, two groups have come back for the second time, they are annotated as A and B on the log sheet.  There were only four projects received for dust abatement.

 

Project Log#:  04027  (Part II)

Project name:  Noxious Weed Virtual Website

Project Sponsor:  Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign

 

They are asking for $80,000.  This is a reduction from $100,000--$40,000 for two different fiscal years.

 

Part 2 Evaluation

Multiple Benefits	Community Stability & Job Opps	Cooperative   Relations	Benefit/ Cost & Affordable	Project Quality & Coord	Matching Funds	Urgency To Implement	Tangible Outcome
5	4	5	5	5	5	5	5

 

 

Part 2 of the Evaluation criteria equaled 39.

 

Tom Glass made a motion to fund Project 04027 with the reduction to include $40,000 for 05 and $40,000 for 06.  Sandra Mitchell seconded the motion and the motion carried.

 

Project Log#:  05018

Project name:  Payette YCC Program

Project Sponsor:  Al Becker, Natural Resource Specialist

 

The Payette National Forest would be a host site for two, five person Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crews.  The program would provide gainful employment for participating youth, complete needed resource conservation projects on public lands and develop in participating youth an understanding and appreciation of the Nation’s natural environment and heritage.

 

Sandra Mitchell made a motion to by pass Part I and II since this type of project has been funded various times before by the RAC and to fund Project 05018.  Ed Mansfield seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

 

Project Log#:  05023

Project name:  Council High School Greenhouses

Project Sponsor:  Murray Dalgleish, Council School District

 

The CSD-FS Greenhouse/Native Plant Cooperative Project is designed to build greenhouses at the Council High School site to benefit forest health and enhance the school’s educational program.  A greenhouse will produce varied native plant species to be planted wherever needed on the Payette National Forest.  Students will collect seed, germinate, grow and plant these native species on the National Forest as part of their FFA program.  These classes will be articulated with Boise State University’s Seland College and expect to offer approximately 20 students per year 8 to 12 college credits. 

 

Mary Farnsworth, Council District Ranger stated the students would start with wild rose willow shoots, etc before they move on to more complex plantings.

 

Bob Baker suggested they project advance to Part I.

 

Part 1 Evaluation

Matching   Funds	Multiple Benefits	Affordable	Completed in One Year or    Annual Increments	Long-term  Benefits	Finite Project	Admin  Costs
Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N

 

Lois Van Hoover made a motion to move to Part 2.  Ed Mansfield seconded the motion.

 

Part 2 Evaluation

Multiple Benefits	Community Stability & Job Opps	Cooperative   Relations	Benefit/ Cost & Affordable	Project Quality & Coord	Matching Funds	Urgency To Implement	Tangible Outcome
5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5

 

 

Part 2 of the Evaluation criteria equaled 40.

 

Sandra Mitchell made a motion to fund Project 05023.  Ed Mansfield seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

 

Luncheon Speaker:  Andy Brunelle spoke about the upcoming National RAC Workshop April 14, 2005 in Reno, Nevada.  He handed out a sheet on the website information.  Go to www.fs.fed.us/payments, which will direct you to http://www.notes.fs.fed.us:81/r4/payments_to_states.nsf follow the links to the workshop and registration form.  The registration deadline is March 15, 2005.  One of the projects that will be on the agenda is the South Fork Salmon River and Roadwork/Trails.  Andy stated that RAC would need a representative to present the project.    At present, Lois Van Hoover, Scott Stouder, Ed Mansfield, Doug Gochnour, and Sandra Mitchell are thinking about attending the conference.

 

Public Forum:  There were no public comments.

 

There were four dust abatement projects:  It was decided to look at the projects together and decide how the funding ($146,000) would be distributed.

 

Project Log#:  05019

Project name:  Dust Control and Road Stabilization

Project Sponsor:  Mountain Home Highway District—Carl Phares

 

This proposal includes 11 miles of the South Fork Road, which is adjacent to the South Fork of the Boise River.  This is used extensively by rafters and tubers, begins at Anderson Dam and goes as far as Danskin Bridge.

 

Project Log#:  05020

Project name:  Mann Creek Dust Abatement

Project Sponsor:  Washington County Commission—John Baglien

 

This was to cover 12 miles of road in Mann Creek.  The total Title II funds requested was $18,000.

 

Project Log#:  05021

Project name:  Boise County Dust Abatement

Project Sponsor:  Boise County—Bill Jones

 

This project covers 36 miles of road that serve the Boise National Forest.

 

Project Log#:  05022

Project name:  Valley County Road Stabilization Project

Project Sponsor:  Valley County Road Department—Gordon Cruickshank Superintendent

 

This road system provides access to the Yellow Pine Area and West Mountain Area, access to telephone and power utility corridor, as well as accesses numerous dispersed campsites and private property.  This road system crosses several tributaries of the South Fork Salmon River and Lake Cascade.

 

Tom Glass stated that he didn’t see any reason to try and prioritize these roads since the county had already prioritized them by submitting them.  He felt that each project should receive 66% of their requested funds.

 

Lois Van Hoover stated that she felt the RAC should fund completely or use the percentage of 66%.

 

Sandra Mitchell made a motion to fund all the projects at the 66% level.  John Gebhards seconded the motion.

 

Bob Baker said he felt that the abatement was a real need, but not a permanent lasting fix. 

 

There was discussion on if everybody who brought in a project would expect to get a certain percentage of the funding; therefore they would come in with large amounts being requested.

 

Sandra Mitchell stated that the rules the RAC used for funding could be changed in the future.

 

Joe Hinson wanted to know if the counties would do any of the work without the RAC funding.

Phil Davis stated that once a county does this for a road, it will always be expected from them.

DFO Gochnour wanted to ask would the county be held to completing the full project even though they did not receive the full funding.

 

It was discussed that it wouldn’t be fair to expect them to complete the full project without total funding.

 

Lois Van Hoover made a motion to approve these projects at 66% of the request project, with the counties being able to use the money at their discretion on dust abatement on specified roads listed on the presented project.   seconded the motion.  The vote was called for and one individual  (Bob Baker) was opposed.

 

The committee broke into their groups.

 

A revote was called for and the projects were unanimously approved for funding as stated in the above motion.

 

Project Log#:  05015B (Reconsideration of 05015)

Project name:  South Fork Wildfire Road Improvements

Project Sponsor:  Ronn Julian, Cascade Ranger District, Boise National Forest

 

DFO Gochnour asked for the project to be reconsidered.  He stated that he had been approached by committee members to bring the project up for reconsideration.

 

Bob Baker stated that the RAC could not vote on a project where two of the people who were opposed are not present at the meeting.

 

Sandra Mitchell stated that it was inappropriate to bring up when Randy Harrison and John McCarthy were not available to vote or comment.

 

Phil Davis stated that the project could not be voted on.

 

Lois Van Hoover made a motion that the project be removed from consideration.  Ed Mansfield seconded the motion and the motion carried.

 

Project Log#:  05009B

Project name:  Paradise Valley Protection Project

Project Sponsor:  Ronn Julian, Cascade Ranger District, Boise National Forest

 

The RAC had asked for more information concerning this project.  They wanted a better display of the Forest Service costs and wanted to know if the homeowners were willing to pay part of the money.

 

Ronn Julian stated that it was safer and more effective for the Forest Service to fund the cost than asking the homeowner to pay a portion or to try and do the work themselves.  He stated this was a priority on the Valley County Mitigation Plan for public safety and fire through the area.  If a fire starts in this area it would sweep through disbursed campsites, homes, etc.  Ronn Julian also stated there is no volunteer fire department in the area.

 

Lois Van Hoover stated that the Fire Mitigation Plan responsibilities should be included in the leases in the future. 

 

Part 1 Evaluation

Matching   Funds	Multiple Benefits	Affordable	Completed in One Year or    Annual Increments	Long-term  Benefits	Finite Project	Admin  Costs
N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N

 

Sandra Mitchell made a motion to move the project to Part II.  Lois Van Hoover seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

 

Part 2 Evaluation

Multiple Benefits	Community Stability & Job Opps	Cooperative   Relations	Benefit/ Cost & Affordable	Project Quality & Coord	Matching Funds	Urgency To Implement	Tangible Outcome
5	4	5	5	3	0	5	5

 

Part 2 of the Evaluation criteria equaled 32.

 

Sandra Mitchell made a motion to approve Project 5009B for funding.  Joe Hinson seconded and the motion carried.

 

Project Log#:  05024

Project name:  Mountain Home YCC

Project Sponsor:  Larry Tripp, District Ranger, Mountain Home Ranger District, BNF

 

Dale Hanson made a motion that since the RAC approved other projects just like this one, the committee dispense with Part I and II and just fund the project.  Ed Mansfield seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

 

Phil Davis brought up the fact that Sally Collins wanted to visit on March 9, 2005 and wanted to know if the committee would like to reschedule the regular meeting on March 9, 2005 instead of March 16.

 

Lois Van Hoover made a motion to reschedule the meeting from March 16, 2005 to March 9, 2005 due to the visit of Sally Collins, Associate Chief of the Forest Service.  Ed Mansfield seconded the motion and the motion carried.

 

v     Decisions made during this meeting:

- To accept the minutes with the enclosed comments and the financial report as written

- To fund Project 04027, Noxious Weed Virtual Website

- To fund Project 05018, Payette YCC Program

- To fund Project 05023, Council High School Greenhouses

- To fund all four Dust Abatement Projects 05019,05020, 05021, 05022 at 66% of the requested funding for the project

- To remove from consideration 05015B, SF Wildfire Road Improvements due to two members being absent who had opposed the project

- To fund Project 05009B, Paradise Valley Protection Project

- To fund Project 05024, Mountain Home YCC

 

Phil Davis stated the next meeting would be Wednesday March 9, 2005.  The meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.