HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 14 BLM Forest Lands
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date:
Meeting Type:
Department:
Staff Contact:
Staff Phone No:
Estimated Time:
October 15,2007
Regular Session
City Manager's Office
Jeff Towery ~
3627
5 Minutes
SPRINGFIELD
CITY COUNCIL
ITEM TITLE: BLM FOREST LANDS
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Adopt/Not Adopt the following resolution: A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF OREGON'S PUBLIC FORESTS.
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
The BLM is proposing to revise existing plans to replace the Northwest Forest Plan
land use allocations and management direction. Four alternatives (including a No
Action Alternative) have been proposed and are currently under review and
comment. The corhment period is open until December 10, 2007, On September
24, 2007 Anna Morrison, on behalf of Citizens for Sustainable Forests and
Communities, made a presentation about the options and requested that the Council
consider adopting a resolution that supports both sustainable forest practices in
general and the BLM recommended alternative (No.2) specifIcally.
At the conclusion of the presentation Council requested staff to prepare a resolution
and carry it to Council Leadership for a review and recommendation. Council
Leadership discussed a draft resolution on September 27, 2007 and asked for the .
item to be brought to the full Council for consideration. Legal Counsel has also
reviewed the resolution
ATTACHMENTS: Attachment I: Resolution
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL
IMPACT: None.
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF OREGON'S
PUBLIC FORESTS.
WHEREAS, many Oregon counties once depended on the shared
revenue generated from timber harvests on public forest lands to
fund many basic services; and
WHEREAS, shares of this timber revenue all but disappeared in
the 1990s as litigation and legislation caused changes to
management practices allowed on public forests; and
WHEREAS, on several occasions Congress has provided a safety net
funding; and
WHEREAS, the latest safety net program is set to expire in
September of 2007, leaving Oregon counties with no financial
stability or certainty; and
WHEREAS, many Oregon counties are preparing to, or already have,
reduce.or eliminate basic services affecting libraries, public
safety, health and welfare, and road systems, as well as layoff
employe~s; and
WHEREAS, implementing sustainable forest management practices on
our public lands will help to provide a stable and consistent
long term funding solution for these Oregon counties; and
WHEREAS, sustainable forest management practices will provide a
much needed boost to the local economy; and
WHEREAS, sustainable forestry can improve the health of our
overgrown public forests, help prevent catastrophic forest
fires, preserve wildlife habitat, protect air and water quality,
and sequester carbon.
NOW THEREFORE BASED ON THE FOREGOING FINDINGS IT IS HEREBY
RESOLVED AND ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
1. The City of Springfield supports the implementation of
sustainable forest management practices on our public
lands in order to help fund critical county services,
improve the health of our public forest and protect
wildlife and their habitat.
ATTACHMENT 1 - PAGE 1
2. The City of Springfield encourages reestablishing the
connection between local communities and the resources
that previously provided secure and stable funding.
3. Of the three alternatives being considered by the Bureau
of Land Management, alternative 2 is the best management
approach to meet the immediate funding needs of local
communities, while simultaneously protecting,our
environment.
4. This Resolution shall take effect upon passage by the
Council and approval by the Mayor.
Approved on this 15th day.of October, 2007 by a vote of
favor and. opposed.
in
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Recorder
. F[EVIEWHJ & flPPROVED
A~ TO FORM
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DATE: ---L-~uJ Cl-
OFFICE OF CII Y ATWRNEY
ATTACf.IMENT 1 - PAGE 2