Ashland State of the City Address
January 2004

This will be the fourth opportunity that I will have to report on the City of Ashland during 2003 and comment on the future. This year has started on a chilly note, snow, rain and wintry conditions in town and for those trying to leave via the Siskiyous or northbound over mountainous areas. I would urge you all to slow down, and arrive safely.

I would like to take this time to thank the citizens of Ashland for the experience and education that being your Mayor has provided for me.

Over two hundred citizens volunteer for the various City commissions, committees and boards. There are currently 16 active boards and commissions and these hardworking volunteers spend many hours advising the Council and staff on policies and operations of the city. There are also numerous ad hoc committees that form from time to time and we are grateful to all the commissioners who selflessly volunteer their time. Their dedication and commitment is extraordinary.

CERT (the Certified Emergency Response Team) now has almost 200 graduates and the program is expanding. It will provide support if an emergency befalls our area. This use of volunteers who have attended training and graduated will be of immeasurable benefit to the citizens and will be a group we would prefer to never use! CERT classes are held regularly and orientation for upcoming sessions will be held January 7th. If anyone is interested in becoming a CERT member they should contact the Fire Department for information.

The year 2003 provided us with a new City Administrator and leader, Gino Grimaldi. Gino came to us after 14 years as Assistant City Manager with the City of Springfield, and has in essence returned to Southern Oregon after working many years ago for Jackson County. Paul Nolte, our City Attorney, is retiring after 12 years of service to the City of Ashland. We will miss him after he completes the first half of this year and wish him well with his future endeavors. A second attorney, Mike Franell, has recently joined the legal department.

We also welcome Mike Bianca to the job of Chief of Police, one of our own officers who came up through the ranks to lead our Police Department. One year ago we were recognizing Mike for graduation from an FBI academy on the east coast.

Ken Mickelsen resigned from the Parks Department after almost 30 years and moved to accept a position in Washington. Don Robertson is the newly appointed Director of the Parks & Recreation Department and we would also like to take the time to welcome him and his family to Ashland.

I would like to thank all the Department Heads for their service to our city.

Our Citizens employ almost 200 people; they keep your water flowing, lights working, the streets clean and safe and keep the City in great working order. Please take the time to thank them, not only for their work, but for the caring attitude that each and everyone has to be part of a great City.

The completion of the Fire Station marks a major improvement in the City infrastructure and completes the last construction under previous voter approved bonds. The facility is a change for the better, and provides amenities more in keeping with the demands placed upon our Fire Department.

The remodel of our historic Carnegie Library was marked by the return of the Ginko tree in the form of a wonderful work of art in the form of a butterfly and book. I thank Tom Hopkins for his creativity and design. The library is a busy and vibrant place and teems with people on a day-to-day business.

After a year of construction, Siskiyou is all but completed, with new pavement expected in the Spring. Additions of lights, signals and redesigned medians are a credit to both Public Works and the committee that spent hours on the final design. This project, including the Ashland Street section is a $5 million dollar project - 55% funded by ODOT funds. The project will significantly improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicle users, as well as improve the storm drain system, undergrounding the electrical wires for the street lights and visually improving our main artery and entries into our City. The delay in final asphalt will allow a winter on the old and fresh pavement in the Spring.

The final construction bill has been paid on the waste water treatment plant upgrade, ending five years of extensive reconstruction on the waste water plant. The final price tag was $30 million - resulting in a project that is the pride of Oregon and providing clean water into Bear Creek and setting the standard for water quality.

With the completion of the Hosler Dam warning system you may have recently been hearing the test warning sirens. These sirens are located at the Bowmer Theater, at the Upper end of Granite Street in Lithia Park, the Dog Park near the waste water treatment plant, and Mike's Muffler. A safety analysis has been completed on the dam and the dam has proved to be structurally sound.

Our challenges for the next year will be to provide AFN (Ashland Fiber Network) with solutions for long-term viability. This is a resource that is saving the residents of Southern Oregon millions of dollars by providing competition not enjoyed in other parts of the State. The active construction phase of AFN has been completed and the City has instituted new electric conduit construction procedures and standards for new residential developments in Ashland.

The potential loss of students in our public schools will force us to look at family-friendly housing options and the cost of living in our City. The challenges in this country and the world in general should make us thankful that our major problems may be a complaint of a five-minute traffic delay.

The Youth Activities Levy again passed muster with the citizens of Ashland and will provide numerous youth activities conducted at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Activities such as the Fresh Start Program, drama club, band, orchestra, athletics, brain bowl and so much more would not be possible without the passing of the Youth Activities Levy. We are privileged to live in a community with so many committed people supporting and cherishing our youth.

Our thoughts are with the soldier overseas, their families and turmoil around the planet. I ask us to be thankful for what we have, do what we can for others and the areas around us. Be tolerant with others, pick up around you, park your car when you can to ride our free bus, and recycle all you can…. Thank you, I wish each and every one of you a happy New Year!

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