Agendas and Minutes

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Study Session

Agenda
Monday, April 17, 2017

MINUTES FOR THE STUDY SESSION

ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
Monday, April 17, 2017
Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way

 
Mayor Stromberg called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room.    
 
Councilor Morris, Darrow, Slattery, and Lemhouse were present.  Councilor Seffinger and Rosenthal were absent.
 
Council moved agenda item #3. Discussion of process for upcoming executive recruitments to the May 16, 2017 Council meeting so the Mayor and a full Council could participate in the discussion.  Council went on to discuss moving Study Session topics to the regular business meeting on Tuesday.  Opposing comments supported having Study Sessions separate and possibly as needed.  City Administrator John Karns would add the topic to a future Study Session.
 
1.   Public Input 
Huelz Gutcheon/POB 754 Ashland/Crunched numbers on the climate, costs, and realities and concluded it was bad.  Carbon momentum was out of control.  The US was getting gas from war zones.  Electricity was now a need.  Japan recently stated it would take forty years to clean up Fukushima and cost hundreds of billions of dollars.  France and Russia had dumped their nuclear waste into the ocean.  Wind and solar needed to take precedence.  The City needed to hire people already trained in renewable energy that drove electric cars or used solar. 
 
2.   Discussion of joining International Cities of Peace
David Wick and Irene Kai from the Culture of Peace Commission provided background on Ashland becoming an International City of Peace.  Currently, there were 161 International Cities of Peace globally.
International Cities of Peace promoted peace, peace building, and the consciousness of the culture of peace.  The mission was, “Foster peace as a consensus value in cities of peace around the world.”   It spread the value of honoring others within the community.  The United Nations defined International Cities of Peace as “A community that endeavors to make progress against violence and foster a culture of peace.  A culture of peace is determined by the citizens of each community.”  Ashland had the base for this already through the Culture of Peace Commission.  It was an association, no monetary requirements from the City was necessary beyond saying yes and supporting it through a proclamation. 
 
It would brand Ashland as a City of Peace.  The World Monument would become a draw for tourists.  The Culture of Peace Commission was currently discussing ways to minimize the carbon footprint of the Peace Flame.
 
Fred Arment, the executive director of the International Cities of Peace was interested in doing a case study on Ashland for other cities.   
 
Council supported becoming part of the International Cities of Peace and having a proclamation read at a future Council meeting.  Mayor Stromberg noted Councilor Seffinger had some questions that needed answered.  Ms. Kai and Mr. Wick would meet with her to resolve them prior to the proclamation coming to Council.
 
Mr. Wick was anticipating launching Ashland as an International City of Peace during a Green Show at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival June 16, 2017.
 
 
3.   Discussion of process for upcoming executive recruitments
Postponed to the May 16, 2017 Council meeting.
 
4.   Look Ahead review
Interim City Administrator John Karns reviewed items on the Look Ahead.
 
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
 
 
Respectfully submitted,                                                                                                          
Dana Smith
Assistant to the City Recorder 
 
 

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