Klamath Falls Sustainable Communities
Meeting Minutes
Minutes for KSC Annual Meeting
May 19, 2008 from 7:15 pm-9:03 pm at Nightfire Natural Foods Daywater Cafe
23 people in attendance; the most at an annual meeting in 13 years:
Members: Allan and Leslie Lowe, Ralph
Opp, Juanita Hodges, Art Martin, Ronda Norris, Dwight Long, Anita Ward,
Guests:Members: Eve Oldenkamp, Eric &
Alison Andrews, Dennis Taugher, Cassie Defillipo, Carrie Wittmer, Cristina
Negoita, Ann Michael, Robert Vogel, Carrie Ganong, Ralph Eccles, Teresa &
John Wilson, Paris Roussos, and John & Peggy Federhart.
A wonderful dinner and the opportunity to socialize was enjoyed from 6:15 - 7:15 pm. It was a great celebration of 13 years of sustainability education and the opening of Nightfire's new restaurant.
Meeting started at 7:15 pm. Introductions were made, and Art Martin was thanked for his work on the KSC web site.
Dwight collected dues from members to cover the cost of annual newsletters (approx. $110 /issue). This formerly was paid, in part, by our recycling of printer ink cartridges, but this source has become meager, at best.
March, 2008 minutes approved.
Treasurer's Report: Dwight reported that we began the year with: $3619.51 and that after an income of $529.77 and expenses totaling $1081.00, we have a balance of $3068.18. Juanita moved to accept; Ralph seconded; motion passed. Leslie encouraged members to consider grant writing, etc. to help increase our bank account to help with accomplishment of our goals in the community.
A slate of officers was presented: Leslie-president; Juanita-vice-pres.; Allan-secretary; Dwight-treasurer. No one volunteered from the floor. Annie moved to accept, Ralph seconded; all officers accepted.
Compost Demo Project will be moved to Mountain Valley Gardens by June 1. Please go see it on Washburn Way just over the rise from Wal-Mart and on your right, heading toward the airport.
First Grader Recycling Awareness program is in process throughout Klamath County. There was a discussion regarding first graders getting fast food coupons to reward their efforts for entries.
Strawbale Construction training will be on August 11, 16 and 17. People are starting to send in their $100 down payment for the training. Must be received by June 6.
Green Welcome Wagon website continues to proceed under Jerry Haugen's expertise. This is a collaboration with KCEDA. We need helpers on this project. Contact Leslie. Discussed possible "Green Business Coupon Book": should we try to "build one"??
OIT committee working on sustainability at OIT and in the community. Carrie Wittmer & Cristina Negoita discussed the goals and objectives of the program and passed out an outline. We will look at ways to work together.
Jeff Ball (City mgr) asked KSC to be an umbrella organization to pull together other organizations to help clean up graffiti and litter, among other efforts, around town to help build community pride. We could partner with Kiwanis/Rotary/etc. to "put us on the map" with other community organizations. "Bucky", a potential coordinator, is really motivated! (He was with the Boy Scouts for 25-30 years doing such things.) Leslie, Ralph and Dwight will meet on Friday morning to further this discussion with City representatives.
Eve Oldenkamp, local attorney and Klamath County planning commission member, gave a presentation on the County planning process in order to answer the question, "Can it be done in a democratic way?" During the discussion she reviewed the "County Comprehensive Planning process", and distributed a "Goal 1: Citizen Involvement" handout, which is one of 14 goals in the entire document. She helped folks understand that anyone can be on the planning advisory committee, and encouraged folks to get involved with government advisory committees. She also made it clear people on the committee were responsible for knowing the laws by which they must approve or disapprove of various code changes, developments, etc. but the laws were frequently somewhat vague, for example, in defining what a community "need" might be. So development in our community is partially controlled by who gets involved with government operations. She also reminded us the elected County Commissioners have the last word on what the advisory board does.
New Business: None.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:03pm.
