HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-02 Study Session W
�s Council Study Session Meeting Agenda
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION AGENDA
Monday, February 2, 2026
Council Chambers, 1175 E Main Street
Live stream via RVTV Prime at rvtv.sou.edu or broadcast on Spectrum 180.
Public comment is welcome on agenda items.
To speak electronically during the meeting or to submit written comments in advance, please complete the
online Public Comment Form by 10 a.m. the day of the meeting.
5:30 p.m. Study Session
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
a. Potential Charter Updates
III. ADJOURNMENT
If you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact Alissa Kolodzinski at
recorder(W-ashlandoregon.qov or 541.488.5307(TTY phone number 1.800.735.2900). Notification at least three
business days before the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility
to the meeting in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
***Agendas and minutes for City of Ashland Council, Commission and Committee meetings may be found at the
City website,ashlandoregon.qov,
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VIALIS Council StudySession
D February 2, 2026
Agenda Item Potential Charter Updates
Department City Manager's Office
Prnm Sabrina Cotta
TIME ESTIMATE
20 Minutes
CATEGORY
Staff Direction - provide direction to staff on the body's desired next steps.
SUMMARY
Over time, changes in City operations and state law have created a need to review and modernize certain
provisions of the Ashland City Charter. Staff have identified two areas where updates would improve clarity,
consistency, and transparency in City governance: ordinance notice requirements and qualifications for elected
officials.
Staff recommends that Council consider placing two ballot items on the upcoming spring ballot to address these
issues by:
1. Updating the language in Article X, Section 2, Mode of Enactment, subsection (c)to align ordinance notice
requirements with current Oregon state statute; and
2. Clarifying the language in Article III, Elective Officers, Section 2, Qualifications to more clearly define eligibility
requirements for individuals seeking elected office.
Together, these proposed Charter amendments are intended to modernize outdated provisions, reduce
ambiguity, and support effective and accountable local governance.
POLICIES, PLANS &GOALS SUPPORTED
• Excellence in governance and City services by ensuring Charter provisions are clear, current, and legally
consistent.
• Sustainability through creativity, affordability, and right-sized service delivery by reducing administrative
inefficiencies and minimizing the risk of procedural errors or legal challenges.
BACKGROUND AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
1. Ordinance Notice Requirements (Article X, Section 2(c))
Benefits of the Proposed Change:
• Aligns the City Charter with current state public meeting laws, reducing the potential for conflicts between
local and state requirements.
• Improves administrative efficiency by allowing the City to rely on a single, consistent legal standard rather
than maintaining outdated or duplicative notice procedures.
• Enhances transparency and public access by ensuring ordinance notice practices continue to meet state-
mandated public meeting standards.
• Reduces legal risk by minimizing the chance that ordinances could be challenged due to noncompliance
with evolving state law.
This amendment does not change the City's authority to adopt ordinances; it solely updates procedural language
to reflect current law. Many Oregon cities have updated noticing requirements to align with state regulations and
to ensure compliance, as print newspapers are not available in all areas.
Not putting this charter update on the ballot maintains the current charter language, requiring that three copies of
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VIALIS Council StudySession
an ordinance be available for public inspection in the City Recorder's office at least one week before first reading,
and that notice be posted at City Hall and published in a newspaper of general circulation.
2. Qualifications for Elected Officials (Article III, Section 2)
Benefits of the Proposed Change:
• Provides clear, objective eligibility criteria for candidates, reducing uncertainty for prospective candidates,
election officials, and voters.
• Promotes informed and representative governance by ensuring elected officials have an established
connection to the community they serve.
• Supports election integrity by clarifying residency verification and ongoing residency requirements.
• Helps prevent disputes or challenges related to candidate qualifications by defining expectations in the
Charter rather than relying on interpretation.
Most city charters require some period of residence in the city prior to seeking elected office, with one year being
the most common. Here is a sampling of other Oregon cities with residency requirements: Portland, Eugene,
Beaverton, North Bend, Gladstone, Corvallis, Salem, and Newport.
Not putting this charter update on the ballot would leave the current Charter language unchanged, which
generally requires elected officials to be residents and qualified voters of the City but does not define a minimum
residency period or explicitly require continued residency throughout the term of office.
FISCAL IMPACTS
1. Ordinance Notice Requirements (Article X, Section 2(c))
As print newspapers have come and gone in our region, the City has provided notices through several
organizations, including RV Times, Grants Pass Daily Courier, and Ashland/Medford Daily Tidings. The cost of
noticing from 2021 to the present is about$25,300. The city has spent about$3,890 on ordinance notices so far
this fiscal year.
2. Qualifications for Elected Officials (Article III, Section 2): No fiscal impact.
2026 Spring Election Cost: No fiscal impact on the City of Ashland. When a ballot measure is included in a
Primary or General Election in even-numbered years, the County Clerk budgets and pays for election costs.
SUGGESTED ACTIONS,AND/OR OPTIONS
Council Direction to Staff
If Council agrees, direct staff to prepare the necessary resolutions to place the proposed City Charter
amendments on the upcoming spring ballot.
Staff shall bring the draft resolutions, ballot titles, and explanatory statements to the February 17 business
meeting for Council consideration and possible action. To meet the County filing deadline, Council action is
required at the February 17 meeting.
REFERENCES &ATTACHMENTS
1. Reso 2026-XX Notice requirements
2. Reso 2026-XX Qualifications
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RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS
AT THE MAY 199 2026, PRIMARY ELECTION A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
ARTICLE III OF THE ASHLAND CITY CHARTER
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OREGON,
RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council submits to the qualified voters of the City the question of
approving or rejecting an amendment to the Ashland Municipal Charter to update the ordinance
notice procedure to conform with Oregon Public Meeting Law.
SECTION 2. The City Council refers this question to the ballot of May 19, 2026.
SECTION 3. The City Recorder shall cause to be delivered to the Elections Officer of Jackson
County, Oregon, the attached ballot measure notice, not later than 61 days prior to the election.
The Election Officer is requested to give notice to the electorate of the City that the election shall
be conducted by mail, pursuant to Oregon law;
SECTION 4. The City Recorder shall give notice of the election as provided in the laws of the
State of Oregon and the Charter and ordinances of the City of Ashland.
SECTION 5. The ballot title for this measure is set forth in Exhibit A, attached.
SECTION 6. The proposed amendment to the city charter is set forth in Exhibit B, attached.
SECTION 7. The City Attorney is authorized to alter the language of the ballot title only for the
purpose of complying with any rules, procedures, and practices of the Election Officer of
Jackson County to implement the requirements of Oregon law, but shall make no changes to the
Charter amendment language in Exhibit B without the consent of the Council.
This resolution is referred to the electors of the city of Ashland for approval at the Primary
Election in Jackson County, set to occur on May 19, 2026.
This resolution is effective upon signing by the mayor.
ADOPTED by the City Council this day of
ATTEST:
SIGNED and APPROVED this day of , 20261
Alissa Kolodzinski, City Recorder Tonya Graham, Mayor
Reviewed as to form:
Johan Pietila, City Attorney
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EXHIBIT A
(Ballot Title)
Amending Ashland City Charter Ordinance Notice Requirements
Shall the Charter be amended to update ordinance notice procedure to conform with Oregon
Public Meeting law?
A"Yes"vote amends the Ashland City Charter to update the notice requirements for the
enactment of city ordinances. The amendment revises Article X, Ordinances, Section 2, Mode of
Enactment, subsection (c), to provide that notice of ordinances shall be given as required by
Oregon law, including Oregon Revised Statutes 192.640. ORS 192.640 governs public notice
requirements for meetings at which ordinances are considered or adopted. The amendment does
not change the City's authority to adopt ordinances but aligns the Charter's notice provisions
with current state law.
"No"vote retains existing Charter provisions requiring that three copies of an ordinance be
available for public inspection in the City Recorder's office at least one week before first
reading, and that notice be posted at City Hall and published in a newspaper of general
circulation.
(Explanatory Statement)
A"Yes"vote amends the Ashland City Charter to update the notice requirements for adopting
City ordinances to align with current Oregon public meeting law. The amendment revises Article
X, Ordinances, Section 2(c), to require that notice of ordinances be given as required by Oregon
law, including Oregon Revised Statutes 192.640, which governs public notice for meetings
where ordinances are considered or adopted. This change does not alter the City's authority to
enact ordinances.
A"No"vote retains the existing City Charter notice requirements, which require that three
copies of an ordinance be available for public inspection in the City Recorder's office at least
one week before the first reading, and that notice be posted at City Hall and published in a
newspaper of general circulation.
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EXHIBIT B
The following amendments are proposed to the Ashland City Charter. Only these articles and
sections as delineated herein are amended by this Resolution. Except for otherwise proposed
amendments to the Charter by separate resolution and Ballot Title , all other language in the
Charter shall be unchanged.
Annotated to show deletions and additions to the Ashland Municipal Code sections being
modified. Deletions are , and additions are bold underlined.
ARTICLE X Ordinance
Section 2. Mode of Enactment.
(a) Except as the second and third paragraphs of this Section provide to the contrary, every
ordinance of the Council shall,before being put upon its final passage, be read first fully and
distinctly in open Council meeting and then on a different date by title only, unless a Council
member or the public requests that it be read in full for a second time, and it shall then be read
fully and distinctly. (b) Provided all conditions set forth in Paragraph (C) have been met, an
ordinance maybe enacted at a single meeting of the Council by unanimous vote of all Council
members present upon being read first in full and then by title. (c) The first reading may be by
title alone if no Council member present at the meeting, or the public, requests to have the
ordinance read in full, and if a copy of the ordinance is provided for each Council member and
To
provide that notice of ordinances shall be given as required by Oregon law, including
Oregon Revised Statures 192.640. ORS 192640 governs public notice requirement for
meetings at which ordinances are considered or adopted. An ordinance enacted after being
read by title alone may have no legal effect if it differs substantially from its terms as it was thus
filed prior to such reading,unless each section incorporating such a difference is read fully and
distinctly in open Council meeting as finally amended prior to being approved by the Council.
(d)Upon the final vote on an ordinance, the ayes and nays of the members shall be taken and
entered into the record of the proceedings. (e) Upon the enactment of an ordinance, the Recorder
shall sign it with the date of its passage and his/her name and the title of his/her office, except as
provided in Article IV.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND SUBMITTING TO THE VOTERS
AT THE MAY 199 2026, PRIMARY ELECTION A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
ARTICLE III OF THE ASHLAND CITY CHARTER
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OREGON,
RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council submits to the qualified voters of the City the question of
approving or rejecting an amendment to the Ashland Municipal Charter to require Ashland
elected officials to be city residents for 12 months before election and while in office.
SECTION 2. The City Council refers this question to the ballot of May 19, 2026.
SECTION 3. The City Recorder shall cause to be delivered to the Elections Officer of Jackson
County, Oregon, the attached ballot measure notice, not later than 61 days prior to the election.
The Election Officer is requested to give notice to the electorate of the City that the election shall
be conducted by mail, pursuant to Oregon law;
SECTION 4. The City Recorder shall give notice of the election as provided in the laws of the
State of Oregon and the Charter and ordinances of the City of Ashland.
SECTION 5. The ballot title for this measure is set forth in Exhibit A, attached.
SECTION 6. The proposed amendment to the city charter is set forth in Exhibit B, attached.
SECTION 7. The City Attorney is authorized to alter the language of the ballot title only for the
purpose of complying with any rules, procedures, and practices of the Election Officer of
Jackson County to implement the requirements of Oregon law, but shall make no changes to the
Charter amendment language in Exhibit B without the consent of the Council.
This resolution is referred to the electors of the city of Ashland for approval at the Primary
Election in Jackson County, set to occur on May 19, 2026.
This resolution is effective upon signing by the mayor.
ADOPTED by the City Council this day of
ATTEST:
SIGNED and APPROVED this day of , 20261
Alissa Kolodzinski, City Recorder Tonya Graham, Mayor
Reviewed as to form:
Johan Pietila, City Attorney
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EXHIBIT A
(Ballot Title)
Amending Ashland City Charter to update qualifications for elected Officials
Shall the Charter require Ashland elected officials to be city residents for 12 months before
election and while in office?
A"Yes" vote for this measure amends the City Charter to state Article III Elected Officers,
Section 2. qualifications of an elected official shall be a resident who has lived in Ashland for at
least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the election and is registered to vote in
Ashland, with residency verified by Jackson County.An elected official must remain a resident
of Ashland for the duration of their term in office.
A"No" vote means the existing language in the City Charter remains stating that the
qualifications of elected officials shall be residents and qualified voters in the City.
(Explanatory Statement)
A"Yes"vote amends the Ashland City Charter to require that candidates for elected City office
have lived within the City of Ashland for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before the
election, be registered to vote in Ashland, and have their residency verified by Jackson County.
The amendment also requires elected officials to remain residents of Ashland for the entire
duration of their term in office.
A"No"vote retains the current City Charter language, which requires elected officials to be
residents and qualified voters of the City of Ashland, without specifying a minimum length of
residency prior to election or requiring continued residency for the full term of office.
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EXHIBIT B
The following amendments are proposed to the Ashland City Charter. Only these articles and
sections as delineated herein are amended by this Resolution. Except for otherwise proposed
amendments to the Charter by separate resolution and Ballot Title , all other language in the
Charter shall be unchanged.
Annotated to show deletions and additions to the Ashland Municipal Code sections being
modified. Deletions are , and additions are bold underlined.
ARTICLE III Elective Officers
Section 2. Qualifications.
All elective officers except the Municipal Judge shall be '
��a resident who has lived in Ashland for at least 12 consecutive months immediately
precedinu the election and is registered to vote in Ashland, with residency verified by
Jackson County.An elected official must remain a resident of Ashland for the duration of
their term in office.
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