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Town Hall Meeting

City Attorney Conservation Division Economic Development

City of Ashland Council Member — City of Ashland Councilors, left to right:
Paula Hyatt, Gina DuQuenne, Tonya Graham, Eric Hansen, Bob Kaplan

Thank you to all who attended the Town Hall Gathering on January 30, 2023, voted online and provided public comments! This information will provide valuable input for City Council and the Citizens Budget Committee for next steps with the 2023-2025 Biennial Budget.

View the results and public comments.

Council adopted the below statement at the March 21, 2023, Council Meeting, and will be using these adopted priorities to help guide the 2023-2025 Budget process and into the next six years:

Wildfire risk reduction and CEAP (Climate Energy Action Plan) execution
Economic Development including development of eco-tourism like trails, ensuring City processes such as planning are supportive of attracting new business and supporting those already here
Affordability including attainable housing, and review of our rate structures for progressiveness in their livability

All with the underlying supporting principles of equity of access, and strong supportive City services with a customer service focus.

BACKGROUND:

Together we worked to identify priorities for the City of Ashland for the upcoming 2023-2025 Biennium budget process and the next six years! The City Council established a priority or topic list for the 2023-2025 Biennium and sought feedback from the community. The objectives for each topic are listed below. (The numbering below is for reference purposes only and does not indicate any potential ordering or priority of the topics.)

Public Safety Services
- 1. Wildfire risk reduction programs
- 2. Police Staffing
- 3. Fire Staffing
- 4. Emergency planning, preparation, response, and recovery
- 5. Code enforcement (building safety, public nuisances, neighborhood, and environment infractions)
Infrastructure Issues and Concerns
- 6. Street maintenance and repair
- 7. City facilities repair (Pioneer Hall, Community Center, City Hall)
- 8. Water and wastewater utilities service and infrastructure
- 9. City Parks and facilities maintenance
- 10. Electric grid resilience and upgrade
Planning and Growth
- 11. Protecting the community’s character
- 12. Community land use planning
- 13. Review and approval of development projects
- 14. Limit small wireless facilities (5G cell) ordinance
Social Initiatives or Services
- 15. Severe weather shelter
- 16. Creating social equity and racial justice
- 17. Senior services
- 18. Affordable childcare
Community Investment
- 19. Downtown revitalization and beauty
- 20. Affordable/workforce housing
- 21. Multi Modal transportation/transit (reduce use/need of second car)
- 22. Ashland Fiber Network (AFN) technology updates/expansion
- 23. Implement Climate Energy and Action Plan
Quality of Life
- 24. Open space and parks improvements (trails, wildlife habitat protection, etc.)
- 25. Recreation programs
- 26. Arts and Entertainment
- 27. Water conservation programs
- 28. City culture of customer service
Economic Opportunity/Vitality
- 29. Diversify the local economy
- 30. Expand employment opportunities
- 31. Broaden options for tourism/visitors
- 32. Attract more families to live in Ashland

Feel free to reach out to us at any time in one of the following ways:

Email the Council, council@ashland.or.us
Email the City's Manager office, administration@ashland.or.us
Ask a question via our online Curiosity form, ashland.or.us/Curiosity - Questions and answers are displayed on our home page.

"We are Better Together!"

View our Vision and Value statements, which are the foundation for the 2023-2025 Community Priorities and Objectives.