05/09/1988 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e economic aspects of the management of the Willamette National Forest as proposed in preferred Alternative J is at a balance. He said he is not interested in seeing the forest be managed solely for the industry, but the issue is balance and long-term vision. Councilor Holmer said the minority report asks the council endorsement of a specific set of objectives. He did not think the council should be asked to vote on these as they are all part of preferred Alternative J, and he said the majority report avoided getting into that sort of detail. Councilor Holmer said all that is appropriate to do at this point is to request the forester to give careful review of the data and points of view expressed in the report, with closer attention to the economic considerations that the CCED majority did not feel was given sufficient weight. He did not feel that the council should ask staff to prepare formal comments and findings. Coun- cilor Holmer said that adoption of the report would not, as suggested by the minority report, threaten Oregon's finest outdoor and tourist attractions, irreparably harm critical fish and wildlife habitat, reduce hunting and fishing opportunities, degrade domestic watersheds, and foreclose many of the State's opportunities for growth and economic diversification. Councilor Wooten said the review process had been interesting, although she had not originally supported it. She noted the City of Salem decision stat- ing the preference for the lowest allowable sale quantity or cut of the nine alternatives on the basis of their findings that logging debris and sedimen- tation would harm their water supply. Councilor Wooten thought those com- ments were well-taken. She said she had read the comments coming from the governor's office, and no where in the comments did they specify any number of board feet or cut. Rather, they have asked the forest service for a delay in a final decision to allow more sophisticated and technical information on a variety of issues, including timber production, water purity and flow, and wildlife management. Councilor Wooten suggested that the council support the forest service's preferred Alternative J. She believed it was a balanced position creating an allowable cut 17 percent higher than has been allowed in the last ten years, and takes into consideration other forest values such as public land and recreation opportunities. Councilor Wooten said these have economic considerations as well. Unanswered questions remain regarding technical data that might affect the range of alternatives, but they do not preclude the council from considering a middle of the road, balanced propos- al. Councilor Wooten said the comparisons in the minority report came from the forest service plan itself and were not interpreted by her. While Councilors Holmer and Rutan did not specifically align themselves to alternative B, their proposal is closest to that for comparison purposes. She suggested that the council take a long-term look at the value of the forest rather than contemplate a 40 perc2nt drop-off after 15 to 20 years at the allowable cut levels supported by the majority report. Councilor Wooten said the forest service report suggests it will be necessary for the 13 local municipalities to spend extra money for water treatment as a result of sedimentation and debris in the local streams and surface water sources under preferred alter- native J. She recommended that the council adopt the forest service's pre- MINUTES--Eugene City Council May 9, 1988 Page 14