Commission agrees to share Mark Ward's turtle-tracking and habitat materials with city staff for recreation grant

During "other business," the Chair (S1) reported that Mark Ward had been asked by city staff (Eric) to provide turtle-tracking reports and mapping the commission commissioned and used in prior conservation work. "He'd received an email from, from Eric, wanting to get turtle tracking information and all the stuff that Mark has done," the Chair said, describing the request as part of an environmental screening form for a potential recreation grant tied to trail development near Clifford Park.

Mark Ward's reports and mapping were described as materials the commission had previously received or handed to GIS. Chair and commissioners discussed whether it was appropriate for Mark to send those materials directly to Eric without commission consultation; Mark preferred that the commission authorize any sharing. S2 (planning staff) said that any study done for the city with city funds is a city record and therefore public.

Committee member S5 moved to authorize sharing the commission's materials with Eric; S2 seconded the motion. The motion passed on voice vote; S2 confirmed that many of the files were already filed with GIS or in planning files and could be forwarded for the grant application. Commissioners noted the request appeared to come from the Recreation Commission's pursuit of trail-development funding and that future trail or parking proposals near Clifford Park should be weighed against habitat concerns discussed earlier in the meeting.

The commission did not attach conditions to the data-sharing motion beyond confirming the files would be shared via staff; the motion's outcome was recorded as affirmative by all present.