Town Hall Meeting

Ashland Town Hall 2024

Thank you to all who attended our 2nd Annual Town Hall Gathering on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, in the Rogue River Room in Stevenson Union at Southern Oregon University (SOU). View the DOT VOTING RESULTS on your Ashland favorites! 

AGENDA 
  • 5:30 p.m. - Welcome from Acting City Manager, Sabrina Cotta
  • 5:40 p.m. - Mayor Tonya Graham's State of the City Address (The Address was broadcast by RVTV*) - View the Mayor's script and presentation
  • 6:10 p.m. - Awards presentations (James M. Ragland and Alan C. Bates)
  • 6:30 p.m. - Table Talks 
    • ​AFN (Ashland Fiber Network) 
    • CERT/WRAP Volunteer Opportunities 
    • City Council 
    • Emergency Preparedness, including how to sign up for Citizen Alerts
    • Energy Conservation 
    • Parks & Recreation Volunteer Opportunities 
    • Utility Billing 
    • Water Conservation 
    • Water Rate Information 
  • 7:25 p.m. - Closing comments from Mayor Graham  
The evening included a raffle, and opportunities to vote on City favorites!  Free parking in SOU Parking Lot No. 36 - View the SOU map.

"We are Better Together!"   

*Watch the Address live on Ashland Home Net Channel 9, Charter Spectrum RVTV 180 Prime, or streaming live online by going to rvtv.sou.edu and clicking on the RVTV Prime button. City Council meetings are replayed on Ashland Home Net Channel 9, Charter Spectrum RVTV 180 and 181. View video archives on RVTV. For more information, call City Administration at 541.488.6002.

2023 Town Hall Information and Priorities for the 2023-2025 Biennium Budget 

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: 
  1. Email the Council, council@ashland.or.us
  2. Email the City's Manager office, administration@ashland.or.us 
  3. 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.
 

Online City Services

UTILITIES-Connect/Disconnect,
Pay your bill & more 
Connect to
Ashland Fiber Network
Request Conservation
Evaluation
Proposals, Bids
& Notifications
Request Building
Inspection
Building Permit
Applications
Apply for Other
Permits & Licenses
Register for
Recreation Programs

©2024 City of Ashland, OR | Site Handcrafted in Ashland, Oregon by Project A

Quicklinks

Connect

Share

twitter facebook Email Share
back to top