WEEKLY BUSINESS SESSION May 1, Anne G. Basker Auditorium 604 N.W. Sixth Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526

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1 APPROVED ON MAY 15, 2013 BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT THE WEEKLY BUSINESS SESSION WEEKLY BUSINESS SESSION May 1, Anne G. Basker Auditorium 604 N.W. Sixth Street, Grants Pass, OR , 9: 00 a.m. Present: Cherryl Walker, Vice- Chair; and Keith Heck, Commissioner( Commissioner Hare attending out- of-town meeting); Kim Kashuba, Recorder These are meeting minutes only. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker' s exact words. For complete contents of the proceeding, please refer to the audio recording. Pursuant to notice through the media and in conformance with the Public Meeting Law, Cherryl Walker, Vice- Chair called the meeting to order at 9: 01 a.m. Items discussed were as follows: 1. RECOGNITION OF EMPLOYEES: The Board recognized the following employees for longevity with the County: Christopher Wytcherley Surveyor' s Office: 5 years Christopher Larson Building Maintenance: 15 years Michael Marshall Sheriff' s Office: 20 years Roy Lichtenstein Public Works Department: 15 years Mr. Lichtenstein thanked the Board for the recognition and accepted a 15- year pin and Certificate. Rob Brandes, Public Works Director, spoke highly of Roy as an employee and friend. 2. PROCLAMATIONS: a. In the Matter of Proclaiming the Day of May 2, 2013 as National Day of Prayer Commissioner Heck read the Proclamation and the Board presented it to Mr. Ron Ruby. Mr. Ruby thanked the Board and stated he has organized a National of Day Prayer at the Courthouse for the last two years. He announced this year' s event would take place at noon tomorrow and encouraged citizens to participate. b. In the Matter of Proclaiming the Week of May 12 18, 2013 as National Police Officer Memorial Week Commissioner Heck read the Proclamation and the Board presented it to Sheriff Gil Gilbertson. Sheriff Gilbertson thanked the Board and announced that a memorial service honoring fallen officers was scheduled for May 14, 2013, beginning at the Methodist Church across the street and ending at the flagpole in front of the Courthouse. BOARD DECISIONS UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS WERE MADE AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT WAS RECEIVED 3. ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS IN CONSIDERATION OF: a. Approval of Position Requisition: Replace Existing Classification: Sergeant to Corporal Sheriff Gilbertson explained this Requisition downgraded a position as another result of inadequate funding for the Sheriff' s Office. Commissioner Heck confirmed that the demotion was purely an economic decision and not due to the employee' s performance. b. Approval of Transition Plan for Alcohol and Drug Fund 250 and Prevention Programs Commissioner Heck stated this Transition Plan was a good example of how County Departments can work together to maintain a needed program in the midst of drastic changes in the healthcare system. 4. REQUESTS/COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS: David Everist displayed two rocks from his mining claim, alleging they demonstrated the value of his claim. He then submitted and read a statement( Exhibit A) advocating the establishment of June 14 as" Betsy Ross Day." Dale Matthews, Grants Pass, asked for the whereabouts of the political signs hung at the airport and the airport security tape allegedly capturing the person responsible for putting them up. Rycke Brown, Grants Pass, displayed a piece of tree branch she claimed was from a pile of landscape debris left by County workers. She also submitted Exhibit B, a commentary on gardening. Barbara Gonzales, Grants Pass, stated that elected officials were there to represent and serve the citizens and should therefore allow more public participation in their decision making processes. Judy Ahrens, Grants Pass, echoed Ms. Gonzales' comments and urged the Board to consider the economic proposal submitted by Michael Klein.

2 Weekly Business Session May 1, 2013 Page 2 Board Action on Agenda Item 3( a): Commissioner Heck made a motion to approve a Position Requisition: Replace Existing Classification: Sergeant to Corporal, seconded by Commissioner Walker. Upon roll call vote, motion passed 2-0: Commissioner Heck yes and Commissioner Walker yes. One original Requisition signed and returned to Human Resources. Board Action on Agenda Item 3( b): Commissioner Heck made a motion to approve the Transition Plan for Alcohol and Drug Fund 250 and Prevention Programs, seconded by Commissioner Walker. Upon roll call vote, motion passed 2-0: Commissioner Heck yes and Commissioner Walker yes. 5. CONSENT CALENDAR: Commissioner Walker briefly explained the items on the Consent Calendar, stating they had all been reviewed and vetted at last week' s Administrative Workshop Meeting. Commissioner Heck offered further justification for Public Works' request to purchase a bucket truck. a. Approval of Minutes County Administration Workshop April 18, 2013 County Administration Workshop April 11, 2013 Staff Meeting April 11, 2013 General Discussion April 11, 2013 Weekly General Discussion April 9, 2013 Business Session April 10, 2013 County Administration Workshop April 4, 2013 Weekly Business Session April 3, 2013 b. Approval of Rogue Workforce Partnership Workforce Investment Board Appointment c. Approval of Purchase of Used Bucket Truck( Public Works)($ 13, 000) One original Report and Recommendation signed and retained for recording. d. Approval of Report and Recommendation to Declare Vehicle Surplus( Transit) One original Report and Recommendation signed and retained for recording. e. Approval of Order No : In the Matter of Declaring County- Owned Personal Property Not in Use for County Purposes as Surplus ( Fleet)($ 1, 500) One original Report and Recommendation signed and retained for recording. f. Approval of Amendment# 3 to ODOT Agreement No One original Amendment signed; electronic copy to Transit to obtain State signature. g. Approval of Resolution : In the Matter of an Appointment to the Josephine County Board of Health One original Resolution signed and retained for recording. Board Discussion& Action: Commissioner Heck made a motion to approve Consent Calendar Items 5( a) through 5( 0 as listed, seconded by Commissioner Walker. Upon roll call vote, motion passed 2-0: Commissioner Heck yes and Commissioner Walker yes. 6. OTHER: Commissioner Walker explained that Order was being presented for approval as part of the Transit Department' s efforts at declaring a vehicle surplus and donating that vehicle to a local non-profit organization as allowed by the Local Public Contract Review Board Rules. ( See Item 5( d) above.) Board Discussion& Action: Commissioner Heck made a motion to approve Order : In the Matter ofdeclaring County- Owned Personal Property Not in Use for county Purposes as Surplus. seconded by Commissioner Walker. Upon roll call vote. motion passed 2-0: Commissioner Heck yes and Commissioner Walker yes One original Order signed and retained for recording.

3 Weekly Business Session May 1, 2013 Page 3 7. MATTERS FROM COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Walker elaborated on her earlier comments on Public Meeting Law and the Board' s amount of public comment allowed at public meetings. decision as to the Weekly Business Ses ion was adjourned at 9:46 a.m. Entered into record: Exhibit A: " Proclamation" by David Everist Exhibit B: Commentary by Rycke Brown 7A) 7 4/4".. GKim Kashuba, Recorder

4 Wald) 4 I 5- Exhibit A David D Everist 7447 Thompson Cr Rd Applegate OR Keeper of the Republic Secretary of Mining for Twin Cedar Placer Mining District Date PRESIDENT Eisenhower on the Flag propose Betsy Ross Day for June 14. When the concept for Independents were born. When the Declaration of Independents was debated by Continental Congress On June for 20 days and ratify on July the birth of a Nation was born. I David D Everist Propose Declaration, Proclamation and proclaiming Betsy Ross Day for being The first Flag Maker, a Keeper of the Republic and any Citizens born on June 14 is a Keeper of the Republic and born under the birth of a Republic, has duties of trust to keep all of U. S. a Republic. Everlasting for the Republic forever by ever is to be Everist and always is a keeper of the Republic. iitaitz1) sibeij eeper of the Republic Secretary of Mining for Twin Cedar Mining District

5 de# Soin Asses; 57./ 3 Ex tt 3 Spring Weeds Are Easy to Pull Commentary to the Grants Pass City Council, Honorable Council, Mayor, and Manager, The annual weeds that I brought for show and tell at the meeting this week were easy to find in your parking lot, and easy to pull. The ground is moist, their stems are tough, and their roots are small, since their roots shrink as their flowers grow. They are not easily killed or controlled by any other means, except in light, loose gravel or soil with a hula hoe. Spraying spring weeds with glyphosate doesn' t kill them fast enough to stop seeding; usually they are already seeding by the time they are sprayed, so other chemicals fail to stop the next generation as well. Cutting them only keeps them making seed below the cut. Weed control is seed control; pull them before they make seed, and they won't return to plague us next year. Our city code forbids mature and seeding weeds. Our City Charter demands that the Manager enforce all city codes, something that has not been done since probably the 1970' s. Most of the weeds I showed you are fairly benign, not having burrs or tacks, nor flying on the wind. But there are mature weeds seeding right now that are a distinct nuisance to neighbors, not just ugly and disorderly when seeded out. These are the ones that should be enforced against first. They are easiest to kill just before they become irritating or dangerous, as they flower. For instance, there is groundsel, flying on the wind all over town. It is an ugly miniature wild lettuce whose flowers never open completely, but nod half-opened until they make seed, when they straighten up and let it fly. They have been spreading like crazy all over town the last two years. They are easily pulled from soft soil. The other day, I saw a yard that was covered in nice nugget bark inside its chain-link fence, and covered with heron' s bill a foot high outside that fence along the street, gone to seed, not yet ripe. Heron' s bill has seed pods shaped like the name until they ripen; then they split into two sharp burr seeds that catch in your pet' s fur and can drill themselves into its skin when they get wet. It is easy to pull when the ground is moist. This weed is all over town in neglected yards and portions of yards that the owners disown. The median in the entrance to the All Sports Park has been maintained by spraying for years, and it shows in the plentiful weeds there now, the missing ground cover and the missing bushes at the ends ofthe beds, killed out by fine bark and herbicide long ago. It appears that none of your landscape contractors employ any weeders, despite their contracts and city code. Leaves are the best defense against weeds, but your contractors generally clean up all the leaves and encourage weeds. Now you need weeders to pull them. Please start demanding that your contractors employ them. And start telling our police to start policing and tell people maintain their properties to code. It' s one law that can be enforced without a jail, if only you would ask us to obey it. It will bring order to our city. Rycke Brown, Natural Gardener rycke gardener.com An idea on which attention is peculiarly concentrated is an idea which tends to realize itself.--charles Baudouin

6 How to Grow Big Tomatoes, peppers, melons, and other heat-lovingplants There are three elements to growing productive tomato plants: a young plant good soil; and warm soil. The first is key; if you buy a plant that is blooming in its pot, it won't grow for you, even if it is in good, warm soil. Annuals like tomatoes stop growing and start blooming and making seed when their roots wrap around inside the pot and touch each other. A root-bound plant that is blooming probably won't grow much even if you bury the stem in soil; you'll end up with a few fruit on a stunted plant It's nearly impossible to find a gallon plant in the stores that is not already blooming, and ifyou find one, a 4 inch plant will usually at least catch up with it. Even 6- pack plants will beat gallon plants, which are grown for people who don't know any better than to buy a big plant Ifyou want to grow a big tomato plant, buy a small one. Good nutrition is important; ifyour flowering weeds are not bountifully large, you should put down about 6 inches of compost on top of the soil and plant into it Do not mix it into the soil; worms will do it for you. It will suppress weeds, and nutrients from the compost leach downward to the roots as they become soluble and available to the plant 6 inches of good compost at least 3 feet wide will grow a big tomato plant even on bare rock or concrete. A foot of leaves will do the same; just set the plant into the leaves. Warming the soil can be important if the summer is cool, and always helps the plant grow early in the season. Covering the soil with mid-sized, relative flat river rock, of a size to easily move with one hand, will prevent evaporation from the compost, keeping it moist and preventing cooling; prevent weeds everywhere the soil is covered; and soak up and conduct heat during the day and release heat at night when it helps root growth. I used to use 3 larger rocks around each plant, but now I've moved to a circle of the smaller rock at least 2 feet wide, after great results with watermelon last year. Covering a whole bed with such rock will prevent cats from digging as well. The rules for tomatoes also apply to peppers, particularly not using plants that are already blooming in the pots. These are harder to find with peppers; this week, I was having a hard time finding 4 inch plants that weren't at least budding, but the large 6- packs were good. When it comes to the squash and melon family, as well as corn and beans, seed is the only way to go. They really don't like their roots messed with or any degree of rootbinding. If the soil is warm, they pop right up; if it is not, a started plant will just suffer in the cold. If the bugs eat your plants, or the seed doesn't sprout, the soil was too cold; replant Published at Yahoo Voices under Rycke Brown, Natural Gardener rycke gardener.com