SENATE COMMITTEE ON

AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

February 26, 2003 Hearing Room B

8:30 a.m. Tapes 24 - 26

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. Frank Shields, Chair

Sen. Roger Beyer, Vice-Chair

Sen. Tony Corcoran

Sen. Bill Fisher

VISITING MEMBERS: Sen. Ken Messerle

Rep. Susan Morgan

STAFF PRESENT: Judith Callens, Committee Administrator

Patricia Nielsen, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: Informational Meeting

Forest Legacy Program Overview

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 24, A
005	Chair Shields	Calls meeting to order at 8:37 a.m. Opens informational meeting.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING Forest Legacy Program Overview
010	Jimmy Kagan	Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Oregon State University (OSU) Institute of Natural Resources. Presents slides giving overview of the Forest Legacy program (EXHIBIT A). Discusses history, legislation and intent of program. Provides assessment report and booklet “Forests Farms and People” (EXHIBITS B, C).
110	Rep. Morgan	Asks about percentage of land classified as forest land which has been converted to other uses.
115	Kagan	Discusses. Continues presentation: · Forest losses in Oregon · Identification of forest legacy areas · Site selection criteria
235	Hillary Abraham	Oregon Forest Lands Coordinating Group. Discusses activities of the group, and projects to be undertaken under the Forest Legacy Program. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT D). Discusses selection criteria for projects.
315	Ted Lorensen	Assistant State Forester, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). Presents slides and discusses Forest Legacy Program status in Oregon (EXHIBIT E). Submits written testimony (EXHIBITS F, G). Discusses policy objective: Maintaining the forestland base by conserving forestlands threatened with non-forest development so as to continue forest commodity production while enhancing non-commodity resource values. Addresses specific issues: · Consistency with local government land use plans and compatibility with statewide land use goals
TAPE 25, A
025	Lorensen	Continues discussing specific issues: · Maintaining working landscape involving forestlands with high conservation values · Impacts to local government tax base and taxes · Environmental nexus with respect to federal laws · Maintaining forestland in private ownership · Monitoring conservation easements and implementation of management plans
110	Chair Shields	Asks about monitoring of easements to prevent abuse.
120	Dr. Jim Cathcart	OSU Department of Forestry. Discusses monitoring of conservation easements.
135	Chair Shields	Asks about conservation easements in other areas of the nation.
145	Cathcart	Explains legal structure of conservation easement entity. Describes models for interaction between Forest Legacy Program and easements.
190	Sen. Beyer	Asks about funding for the program.
195	Lorensen	Responds the funds come from the cooperative forestry grant from the U.S. Forest Service.
200	Sen. Beyer	Asks about number of full-time equivalent positions (FTE) working on the project.
205	Cathcart	Explains he has worked one-third time for a year. Describes federal funds.
215	Sen. Beyer	Discusses struggle with urban-rural interface, and efforts of private landowners trying to reduce Forestry Department involvement. Asks about policy for interaction.
225	Lorensen	Responds and discusses issues of scope for the Forest Legacy Program. Describes potential conflicts with land uses for urban forest areas.
275	Sen. Beyer	Asks about the origins of the program in Oregon during the early 1990s, when it was decided that land use laws adequately protected forest land. Asks whether that position has changed and who decided to reconsider the policy.
280	Cathcart	Describes entities which approached the Governor in 2001 asking for an assessment of need for the program.
290	Chair Shields	Asks about other states which are involved in the program.
295	Lorensen	Responds there are thirty states with operational programs.
355	Sen. Messerle	Asks about funding the program from federal and state budgets, as well as what matching funding will be required from participants.
380	Abraham	Defers to upcoming presenters to explain specific funding.
390	Cathcart	Discusses federal funding available and matching requirements.
TAPE 24, B
020	Rep. Morgan	Refers to written email submitted (EXHIBIT G), and discusses ODF position on Forest Legacy program participation. Asks for clarification.
035	Lorensen	Discusses federal funding.
040	Cathcart	Responds further.
065	Chair Shields	Comments on legislative decision not to pursue some projects.
070	Cathcart	Clarifies.
075	Lorensen	Responds further.
085	Chair Shields	Comments on differing support of the program.
095	Rep. Morgan	Discusses policy implications of participation in the program. Refers to submitted written statement discussing issues to be addressed (EXHIBIT H).
115	Sen. Messerle	Asks for specific information about application from the City of Gresham.
120	Cathcart	Discusses Hogan Butte project application.
135	Edward Miesen	Landowner, South Eugene Hills Forest Legacy project. Testifies and describes the project. Discusses his goals as a conservation-minded developer. Describes reasons for participating in the program.
215	Chair Shields	Asks how the $1 million remained in the federal budget.
220	Miesen	Responds.
240	Sen. Beyer	Asks about regulations of the property.
245	Miesen	Discusses zoning issues.
300	Sen. Beyer	Comments that many landowners face the same issues.
335	Larry Smith	Jacksonville Woodlands Association. Discusses his involvement in the voluntary conservation association. Submits written testimony and maps (EXHIBITS I, J, K). Discusses association activities in Jacksonville area.
TAPE 25, B
005	Smith	Continues discussing Jacksonville Woodlands area and economic support from tourism. Describes participation in the Forest Legacy Program.
070	Leonard Goodwin	City of Springfield. Testifies in support of participation in the Forest Legacy Program. Submits written testimony (EXHIBIT L). Discusses potential project in Springfield with the Jaqua farm.
150	Sen. Corcoran	Asks about current zoning.
155	Goodwin	Explains.
160	Sen. Corcoran	Asks whether there is a flood plain issue.
165	Goodwin	Describes flood plain area.
170	Bob Keefer	Wilamalane Parks and Recreation, City of Springfield. Testifies in favor of participation in the program with the Jaqua farm project.
220	Chair Shields	Asks about responding to public opposition.
230	Keefer	Explains.
255	Andrea Riner	Division of Parks and Open Space, City of Eugene. Discusses voter support in the city for acquisition and renovation of city parks, as well as acquisition of open space within the city. Describes acquisition program developed in Eugene. Testifies in support of participation in Forest Legacy Program with local land parcels.
380	Rob Fussell	City Manager, City of Gresham. Appears and testifies in support of participation in the legacy program with Hogan Butte property. Describes community master plan and public support.
TAPE 26, A
005	Fussell	Continues and responds to Rep. Morgan’s evaluation regarding the interaction between Oregon’s land use system and the Forest Legacy Program. Encourages accepting the program for use in Oregon.
055	Adam Novick	Landowner, Eugene. Testifies in support of participation in the program. Discusses perceived costs and benefits of program: · Protect private landowners from financial harm from regulations under land use laws and Goal 5 and the Endangered Species Act · Allows accomplishment of stated goal to preserve wildlife · Potential loss of tax revenue is not significant, because most land is under reduced tax assessment · Bringing dollars to Oregon through not forcing local entities to purchase property themselves Concludes and expresses support for the program.
145	Chair Shields	Summarizes and concludes. Closes informational meeting. Adjourns the committee at 10:40 a.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – Informational, Forest Legacy Program slides, Jimmy Kagan, 16 pp

B – Informational, Forest Legacy Program assessment report, Jimmy Kagan, 120 pp

C – Informational, Forests Farms and People booklet, Jimmy Kagan, 51 pp

D – Informational, written testimony, Hilary Abraham, 2 pp

E – Informational, written report, Ted Lorensen, 5 pp

F – Informational, written testimony, Ted Lorensen, 5 pp

G – Informational, written testimony, Ted Lorensen, 1 p

H – Informational, written testimony, Rep. Susan Morgan, 3 pp

I – Informational, written testimony, Larry Smith, 5 pp

J – Informational, map, Larry Smith, 2 pp (oversized exhibit)

K – Informational, map, Larry Smith, 1 p (oversized exhibit)

L – Informational, written testimony, Leonard Goodwin, 2 pp