Mayor Graham's Ashland E-News: January 12, 2024
Welcome to my Ashland E-News! January 12, 2024
Happy New Year! Mt. Ashland has finally received the snow it needs to open for the season and I hope you are finding many ways to enjoy the winter weather. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is right around the corner - I hope to see you at the Armory!
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration - January 15
Join community members for Southern Oregon’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday Celebration from noon to 1:30 p.m., at the Historic Ashland Armory in downtown Ashland. The event is free and open to the public.
Come celebrate Dr. King's legacy and our diverse and vibrant community. Seating is limited and available on a first come basis. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. This is a family event and all ages are welcome.
The show will also be live streamed at SOMLK.org. The celebration and online simulcast are sign-language interpreted. More info is here.
Meet the City’s Staff Leadership Team
Over the past year and a half, the City has worked to build the Leadership Team, which is now complete. Many of these important roles were filled internally.
The City’s Leadership Team is comprised of nearly a dozen individuals, in addition to the City Manager, the Deputy City Manager, and the City Attorney. The leaders represent the following City departments: Community Development, Electric and Conservation, Finance, Fire & Rescue, Innovation & Technology, Parks & Recreation, Police and Public Works.
Each leader brings a high level of skill and professionalism, while supporting the City’s Vision and Values and the Council’s priorities. Strong leadership is vital in implementing policies that improve the lives of the citizens of Ashland.
Emergency Homeless Shelter to Remain Open through
March 31
On Tuesday, January 9, 2024, the governor’s office announced that Governor Kotek signed Executive Order 24-02, which will maintain added capacity for the state’s shelter system, rehouse those experiencing homelessness and prevent homelessness. In 2023, Kotek signed Executive Order 23-02, which declared a homelessness state of emergency, and secured emergency funding that allowed the City of Ashland to purchase the emergency homeless shelter property at 2200 Ashland St. More info is here.
On November 1, 2023, the Emergency Homeless Shelter opened. EO 23-02 provided funding for the shelter to operate through January 10, 2023. Working with local provider, OHRA (Opportunities for Housing, Resources and Assistance, Inc.), the City was able to house up to 30 individuals at a time. OHRA offers wrap-around services to residents of the shelter, with the goal of mov ing them from crisis to stability.
“By the Governor signing EO 24-02, the ability to keep the Emergency Homeless Shelter open through the end of March is now possible," stated Acting City Manager, Sabrina Cotta. “During this time, our Housing & Human Services Advisory Committee will focus on developing a homeless master plan. The City is committed to keeping the 24/7 emergency shelter open until March 31st. ”
The facility is also the site for the City’s severe weather shelter, which has been open since January 5 and will remain open through at least January 15 as we work our way through these winter storms. Details are here.
January City News
The January edition of the City News is here.
Social Service Grant Proposals
Due January 31
The City of Ashland is making funding available to support social service activities. The application for Social Services Funding is a one year funding cycle for 2024. Consequently, the funding will be available beginning in 2024 and ending in 2025. The grant application and instructions are here.
For questions regarding this application please contact Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist, by phone at 541.552.2043 or by email.
Community Development Block Grant Proposals Due February 16
The City of Ashland is presently accepting proposals for Activities and Projects, which benefit low and moderate-income people. Applicants must be a non-profit 501(C) (3) charitable organization or a unit of government.
The City of Ashland is expecting approximately $179,575 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to be made available to eligible projects for Program Year 2024. The primary purpose of the CDBG Program is to fund community development projects and programs, which benefit low and moderate-income people.
The RFP is available here. Printed copies of the RFP are available at the Community Development and Engineering Services building at 51 Winburn Way. Responses to the RFP must be received by 4:30 pm on Friday, February 16. More info is here.
City Employees Recognized with Employee of the Year Awards
As December drew to a close, the following City employees were honored with Employee of the Year Awards:
Tara Kiewel - Ashland Parks and Recreation
Racheal Nelson - Finance
Dana Smith - Legal
Regan Trapp - Community Development
Ty Haggard - Ashland Fire & Rescue
Dave Arnold - Public Works
Robert Halbritter - Public Works
Cobi Glick - Electric
Steve MacLennan - Ashland Police Department
Chad Sobotka - Innovation and Technology
Congratulations and thank you for your dedicated service!
Town Hall January 24
The Ashland City Council will host the second annual January Town Hall on January 24 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Rogue River Room at Southern Oregon University. I will offer the State of the City Address, followed by award presentations for the James Ragland Volunteer Spirit Award and the Alan C. Bates Award.
Join City Council and staff for an evening of connection. You will be able to vote on what you love most about Ashland, learn about volunteer opportunities, talk to council members, and win prizes! Free parking will be in SOU parking lot 36 on Mountain St. View the SOU map.
I hope to see you there!
Ashland Fire and Rescue Volunteers Honored at
Annual Award Dinner
Ashland Fire & Rescue held an award dinner in mid-December 2023, to honor those who volunteer for CERT and WRAP. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is the City’s volunteer disaster preparedness program. Nearly 1,700 community members have been CERT trained since the program began in 1999. Volunteers learn how to be better prepared to survive a disaster and help those in need.
WRAP is the City’s Wildfire Risk Assessment Program that began in 2021 and was recently merged with the CERT program as an additional operations team for community emergency preparedness for wildfire. WRAP volunteers are an invaluable asset in AF&R’s community engagement efforts for creating a more Fire Adapted Ashland.
Thank you to the many award winners, and all CERT and WRAP volunteers, for your service to our community!
Snowy Roads In Ashland
The City has four trucks equipped with snowplows and trained staff to operate the plows. Snowplowing will be done according to pre-established priority routes. For example, routes to the Ashland Hospital and major arterials will take precedence over collector streets and neighborhoods. View the Snowplow Route Map. See these winter driving safety tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to learn more about how to navigate snow and ice on the roads.
Marking Ashland Places
The Public Arts Advisory Committee and Historic Preservation Advisory Committee are collaborating on a historic marker and wayfinding project to provide a connection to the history of Ashland on today’s landscape. Marking Ashland Places will help create a sense of place and pride by establishing distinctive landmarks within each of the City’s four National Register-listed Historic Districts: Railroad, Downtown, Siskiyou-Hargadine, and Skidmore.
Four medallions were placed in the Railroad District in December to join the first medallion in the district, which was placed as part of the Golden Connections public art installation.
APRC Winter/Spring PlayGuide is Here!
The APRC Winter-Spring 2024 PlayGuide is now available! Visit the registration page to sign up for classes.
Project Feeder Watch & Annual Seed Swap
Help count birds that visit the feeders at North Mountain Park while learning to identify species with expert birders. The information collected will be submitted to Cornell University’s FeederWatch project, a nation-wide, citizen science bird monitoring effort. The program is hosted by our partners at Rogue Valley Audubon Society. Meet at the North Mountain Park Pavilion (620 N. Mountain Ave.) from 9-10 am. Ages 9 and up are welcome - minors must be accompanied by an adult. Remaining program dates: February 3 & 17 and March 2 & 16.
Bring your vegetable and flower seeds to trade at the annual, free, Seed Swap. Join Nature Center staff at the North Mountain Park Nature Center on Friday, February 16 from 2-4 pm. Seeds should be sorted from plant material. Please bring containers or envelopes to take seeds home. Pre-registration is not required. Call 541.488.6606 for more information.
Transportation Advisory Committee Seeks Input on
Bike Parking Inventory and Improvement Project
The City of Ashland Transportation Advisory Committee is working on a bike parking inventory and improvement project within the public right of way. The Committee is asking for public input on areas lacking appropriate bicycle parking, specifically within the public right of way.
Please use the following form to provide recommendations to the Committee. The Committee has been working on developing a full inventory of existing bicycle racks within the right of way and will use public input along with the inventory data to find gaps in bike parking availability. Once the gaps are determined the City will work to install additional bike parking racks. The Committee will be taking input now through the end of January 2024.
City Offers Business Beautification Grants
The City of Ashland has created a pilot grant-matching program that is aimed to encourage private investment in renovating and rehabilitating existing business properties, both lodging and commercial, within Ashland City limits. The goal of this program is to enhance the appearance of the City and achieve compliance with current regulations where necessary.
The City has up to $175K available per fiscal year (July through June) in the 2023-2025 Biennium. The grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, and distributed until funds are exhausted.
Grant applicants are eligible for up to $20K in matching grant funds. Businesses can apply for more than one grant; however, funds must be expended from their first award, before applying for another. Learn more and apply for grant matching funds.
How You Can Engage in Council Meetings
Meetings are currently being held in hybrid format. The Council Business Meeting will be held in Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street. Written and oral testimony is accepted for public input.
For written testimony, email public-testimony@ashland.or.us using the subject line: Ashland City Council Public Testimony. For oral testimony by Zoom, fill out a Speaker Request Form and return to the City Recorder (recorder@ashland.or.us).
For in person testimony, you can fill out a Speaker Request Form at the beginning of the meeting and hand it to the City Recorder. Also, feel free to send messages to the entire council at council@ashland.or.us.
You can watch the meetings on local channel 9 or channels 180 and 181 for Charter Communications customers. You can also stream the meeting via the internet by going here and selecting RVTV Prime.
Latest Links
There will not be a study session this upcoming week because of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Council Business Meeting: January 16. Agenda is here.
Main Topics Include:
Second Reading - 3226- An ordinance establishing Hours of Parks Closure
Selection Process for City Manager
AFN Pilot Program Update and Contract Approval
Chair of the City Council Election
Purchase Request of Networking Equipment
Resolution - Ballot Language for City Recorder & Sergeant at Arms.
Briscoe Roof Replacement-Award of Construction Contract
Community Wildfire Protection Plan Contract Approval
The Council Look Ahead is here.
Citizen Alert - Sign up for the City of Ashland’s Community Alert System here.
Thanks for reading my E-News!
If you know a local friend or family member who would like to receive it, they can sign up on the front page of my website: www.TonyaForAshland.com.
Tonya Graham, Ashland Mayor, Ashland, OR., United States
Powered by Squarespace