HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
Clean Water, Air, and Soil, and Retention of Some Natural Wildlife Habitat

Memorial Middle School, 11/12/98; North Albany Middle School, 11/17/98

• City needs a formal policy recognizing open space as a significant resource (not just for parks and boat landings).
• Integrate open space/storm water/bikepath plans.
• Recognize and educate regarding long term value of natural, open spaces for wildlife habitat, clean water, and enjoyment of future generations.
• Develop some creative mechanisms for implementing open space policies.
• Acknowledge unique qualities of North Albany concerning forest and habitat for wildlife.
• Greater restrictions of tree removal numbers on property in North Albany and remaining woodlands in Albany in general.
• Identify potential green space areas and inventory natural resources within Urban Growth Boundary. This could be first step in natural resource asset accounting-i.e., trying to assess "value" of open spaces to a better Albany.
• Develop creative options that "compensate" landowners for dedicating open space.
• Clearly define what open space is to Albany.
• Plant more trees in the already developed portions of the City.
• Promote mitigation banking concept for all resources of concern-not just wetlands (e.g., forested upland banks).
• Develop a ranking system for the remaining natural resources in the UGB that recognizes that not all areas are of equal "value."
• Provide a "conservation subdivision" template that allows increased density in return for designed-in open space.

Calapooia Middle School, 11/19/98

• Open space-everybody wants it, but what is it? Size? Location? Appropriateness to neighborhood?
• Calapooia-one of most polluted rivers and in Oregon (cattle and urban storm water).
• Periwinkle Creek-trash.
• All creeks in Urban Growth Boundary form good skeleton of Open Space network: Waverly Lake and old log ponds.
• Canal
• Albany-Lebanon Sanitation hazardous material days-increase.
• More frequent trash collection in City parks.
• Storm water management-Bioswales, filter strips, wet ponds, etc.
• Open Space without stewardship is just another bad hangout. How do you pay for it?

1. Buffers/noise.
2. Provides recreational opportunity for "non-athletic" activities.
3. Is it private property? Does it have to be? Is it public property?
4. Some areas dedicated to habitat, not recreation.
5. Minimal development.
6. Someone takes care of it-stewardship.

• Increase Albany's Beauty-murals, pollution-free rivers and streams

1. Willamette, Calapooia, Santiam Rivers are too polluted to swim in or eat frish from; point-source; industrial to non-point source residential, commercial, etc.
2. Use more natural methods for high users of fertilizers such as golf courses.

• Get children/schools involved in river health.
• Take advantage of resources such as National Heritage Rivers Program to generate funding for local river cleanup projects-Corvallis Environmental Center.
• Use Governor's Commission on Rivers Report to address pollution of local rivers.