OPRD Commission Meeting, April 13

SALEM, Oregon — The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission will convene April 13-14 via conference call. On April 13, commissioners will attend a virtual work training session from 9-10:30 a.m. On April 14, commissioners will convene an executive session at 8:30 a.m. to discuss real estate and legal issues. Executive sessions are closed to the public. A business meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and will be open to the public. Anyone may listen to the business meeting; instructions on how to attend will be posted on the commission web page prior to the meeting. The agenda also includes a time for public comment. Registration is required to speak at the meeting, and is available online at bit.ly/registeraprilcommission. Time per speaker is limited to three minutes. Please submit written public comments by 5 p.m. April 12 to chris.havel@oregon.gov. The full agenda and supporting documents are posted on the commission web page. Notable requests: Approve plans to solicit bids for a forest thinning project at Silver Falls State Park to improve safety and forest health on 103 acres (about 1 percent of the park’s 9,000 acres). The ground-based logging operation will remove pockets of fire-damaged trees that burned in the 2020 Beachie Fire, as well as remove trees around the youth camp buildings and area where volunteer park hosts camp. Accept a $70,000 donation from View the Future to replace a temporary bridge along the Oregon Coast Trail near Yachats. Adopt amendments to OAR 736-024-0015 that restrict motor vehicles on two sections of beach in southern Tillamook County. Distribute $9.3 million in grant funding to 35 applicants that qualify for the All-Terrain Vehicle Grant Program. Approve a rule that would create an advisory council to the Office of Outdoor Recreation. Anyone needing special accommodations to join the meeting should contact Denise Warburton, commission assistant, at least three days in advance: denise.warburton@oregon.gov or 503-986-0719. People who plan to present oral testimony are asked to email a copy of their statement to Warburton in advance. The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission promotes outdoor recreation and heritage by establishing policies, adopting rules and setting the budget for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The seven members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon Senate. They serve four-year terms and meet several times a year at locations across the state.