Work underway to shape budget for next biennial, fill gap in fire safety enforcement options
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
City staff will offer background to the community and the Citizen’s Budget Committee on the city’s accounting at Monday evening’s City Council study session. A new ordinance prohibiting hazardous fires is among items on tap during the council’s business meeting Tuesday.
During the Monday study session, Finance Director Mariane Berry will present a series of budget related items for council discussion, including an overview of the structure of the city’s funds, according to the agenda item.
“Overall governmental expenditures for the City of Ashland continue to rise more quickly than revenues,” notes the staff report prepared by City Manager Sabrina Cotta and Berry. “From 2015 to 2023, revenues increased, on average, by 4% annually, while expenses increased, on average, by 6% annually.”
In conjunction with other city staff, Berry will also present a review of existing fees on utility bills supporting wildfire and public safety and the utility assistance program newly restructured to expand from qualifications limited to age to those based on household income, the staff report says.
“Looking forward, if the desire is to maintain the current level of parks and move forward with the development of the East Main Park and the current level of senior center services, the establishment of a parks fee is necessary,” according to the staff report.
Ashland and Grants Pass currently do not have parks fees, notes the staff report; Medford, Central Point and Talent have monthly fees of $5.35, $6 and $8.43, respectively, the report says.
Business meeting Tuesday
Police Chief Tighe O’Meara will present the first reading of an ordinance Tuesday to prohibit hazardous fire to improve protective enforcement “in light of escalating fire risks in recent decades,” according to a staff report.
The ordinance is the result of a City Council request for information on the effectiveness of existing ordinances at the state and city level for these kinds of violations, the agenda item said. The potential new ordinance would be an amendment of Ashland Municipal Code 10.30 hazardous fire use violation, filling an identified gap for fires that wouldn’t make the cut for the existing reckless burning charge under ORS 164.335.
“The amendment provides an enforcement tool to address small but dangerous fires — particularly in high-risk areas — before they escalate into major fire events,” the staff report says.
In other council business Tuesday, Community Development Director Brandon Goldman will present a first reading of an ordinance to annex land into the city in order to proceed with a new development on Clay Street.
The Planning Commission recommends approval of Rogue Planning & Development’s application for a 29-lot (37 dwelling unit) subdivision on a 4.8-acre property at 300 Clay St.
Annexations require at least 25% of the base density be affordable housing. The application proposes eight affordable housing units at 80% area median income to meet this requirement.
Public Works Director Scott Fleury will present the proposed capital improvements plan for the years 2025 to 2031, including itemization of and time lines for improvements to city streets, water infrastructure (including a new water treatment plant), wastewater, and a dam safety project.
Fire Marshal Mark Shay will present the second reading of an ordinance to improve enforcement of noxious weeds for wildfire mitigation and Deputy City Manager Jordyn Rooklyn will also present a discussion on the use of Transient Lodging Tax funds to promote tourism.
The study session Monday begins at 5:30 p.m., while the Tuesday business meeting begins at 6 p.m. The meetings will be held in the council chamber at 1175 E. Main St.
Both meetings can be attended in person or watched remotely through Channel 9 or Channels 180 and 181 (Charter Communications) or live streamed via rvtv.sou.edu (select RVTV Prime).
Public testimony will be accepted and can be delivered either via Zoom, in person, or as written comment. To sign up for public comment, fill out the public testimony form.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at morganr@ashland.news. Ashland.news editor Bert Etling contributed to this report.
