HomeMy WebLinkAbout4_29_22_memo_Joe_Lessard
Memo
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMINISTRATION
20 East Main Street
Ashland, Oregon 97520
www.ashland.or.us
TO: Gina DuQuenne, City Council Member
FROM: Joseph Lessard, City Manager
DATE: April 29, 2022
RE: Social Equity and Racial Justice (SERJ) Commission Recommendations
I am writing in response to your request for an update on any actions taken by the City related
to requests from Social Equity and Racial Justice (SERJ) Commission. I apologize for being tardy
responding to your request, but budget issues and labor agreement negotiations have
intervened to delay my response.
The requests I am aware of from the SERJ Commission include the following items:
1. Fund and hire a full-time Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Manager for the City of
Ashland organization
2. Engage a conciliatory service to interface with the DEI Manager
3. Provide future funding for a Juneteenth street banner
4. Add calendar dates for religious holidays to the City of Ashland master calendar
Updates
Each of items 1-3 are requests for currently unbudgeted items. I am holding each of these
items for future consideration following the upcoming special called City Council business
meetings scheduled for May 23rd and 24th to discuss the current budget deficit. I am in the
process of reviewing the current budget and financial forecasts to determine a course of action
to address the deficit. As you are aware, on April 1st I issued direction to all General Fund
departments that included the following:
• All current and future vacant positions will remain vacant unless otherwise approved by
the City Manager
• All personnel savings to-date in the current 2021-2022 budget year are not available for
department expenditures unless otherwise approved by the City Manager
• Organizational travel and training, other than that required to maintain professional
certifications or operational readiness, is restricted unless otherwise approved by the
City Manager
• Each department director is directed to prepare budget reduction plans for the 2022-
2023 fiscal year as follows:
o Public Safety Departments 5% budget reduction plans
o Other General Fund Departments 5% and 10% budget reduction plans
Memo
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMINISTRATION
20 East Main Street
Ashland, Oregon 97520
www.ashland.or.us
My review of the budget will include looking at the submitted departmental budget reduction
plans and at departmental operational deficiencies for potential service delivery risks.
Additionally, I will be looking at the potential impact of budget reductions on future labor
agreement negotiations.
Item 3 may be somewhat addressed with the possible flying of Juneteenth flags at the City
Hall/Plaza and The Grove. I understand these two locations previously flew Juneteenth flags
and I have requested that Public Works facilities staff make the flags available again for this
year’s commemoration.
Item 4 has been addressed by adding holiday notice on the master calendar for Christian,
Jewish, and Islamic religious days of commemoration/celebration.
Please know that I have not forgotten your and the SERJ Commission’s interest in advancing
Ashland as an open, welcoming community for all individuals. I understand the importance of
this vision for our community and will assist as best I can as City Manager.