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Home My WebLink AboutEarly Learning Minutes 04.02.2026 ASHLAND GENERAL AD HOC COMMITTEE ON AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING MINUTES April 2, 2026 Siskiyou Room - 51 Winburn Way- 10:30 AM I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 10:33am. Present were committee members John Love,Nancy Seward,Anne Sebanc,Joanie Keller-Hand,and Lisa Verner. Also present was staff liaison Kerrick Gooden. 1. Confirmation of quorum present Quorum reached at 10:40am 2. Approval of draft minutes of 3/5/26 meeting (see agenda packet) Seward moved to approve the minutes.Sebanc seconded the motion. All in favor.Motion Passed. 3. Suggested additions to today's agenda no additions 4. Brief announcements The committee discussed local provider engagement with Business Oregon's CCIF grant program. II. Public Forum none III. Continuation of Business from Previous Meetings 1. Review edits needed for City's Childcare Affordability Grants application process (suggested edits in agenda packet). a. Are there goals we would prioritize? b. Process for reaching out to potential applicants The committee discussed suggested edits to the program announcement as included in the agenda packet. Discussion included the difficulty in finding local median income data and reviewed Love's research and calculation of 200%of Jackson County median income (see attachment). Love moved to approve changes included in the agenda packet with an updated 200%of Jackson County median income numbers as included in the minutes,and ask Gooden to send to the City Manager's Office to update the program.The motion was seconded by Keller-Hand.All in favor.The motion passed. 2. Brief update regarding potential partnering with the Ashland Schools Foundation Love reported on his meeting with Erica Thompson,Executive Director of Ashland Schools Foundation (ASF). Thompson clarified that ASF's charge is to support K-12,which can only change with a change to its charter. Love reported that Hyatt will arrange to meet with School District Superintendent Joseph Hattrick,Deputy City Manager Rooklyn and key partners to explore this potential. 3. Business engagement work plan a. Who are the key business leaders we should engage? b. What do we want to learn? c. What is our ask? Nothing to report at this time IV. New Business 1. Review the committee's charge; what do we still need to do? (see agenda packet) The committee discussed its short and longer-term goals as included in the packet.Sebanc pointed out that the committee's original charge included strengthening ASD enrollment.The committee considered evidence of declining local K-12 enrollment,that childcare needs for infants/toddlers may be mostly met through home-based programs,and discussed the benefits and challenges associated with the national trend of lower licensing requirements / standards. Discussion included recent State- mandated changes to allow childcare in all zones,and considered developing a recommendation to the Planning Commission regarding childcare use within the Ashland Mills (formerly Croman Mills) development. Verner agreed to draft a letter of recommendation to Staff and Planning Commission accordingly for committee consideration,and Seward agreed to work with Hyatt and Love to update the assessment of local childcare slots. V. Anticipation of May 7, 2026 Meeting and Adjournment 1. Continue discussion of potential with the Ashland schools. The committee discussed that: • Hyatt will meet with Hattrick and Rooklyn regarding any potential to work with ASF • Therkelsen will develop a strategy to invite businesses to discuss local childcare needs • Verner will work up a draft letter of recommendation from the ad-hoc committee to Staff and Planning Commission • Seward will work on updating the snapshot of local childcare slots. 2. Business engagement 3. Committee members' suggestions for other topics 4. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 11:26 AM €.rid Vicw;Table 819119-Census Reptmct hllpa;JlcCnsusnsptrCtcraargldatytahleJ'�lah1 1319119&gea�ds 50!},.. Census Reporter Swrch for plages.tables.topics,orglasswies Search Median Family Table Map 31strlbution Ugriaload data Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-adjusted Dollars) by Family Size Table B19119 Chx)•v a ACS 20241•year Add data for more places Table universe:Families Click arowto highlight below;visnaliM or dowTdoad this data with Column Jackson Ccunty,4$ controls at right_ Midi: $93,001 ob Sidectedgeographles 2-person families $"567 t$8•414 n4 1 t� Jackson Ccrunty.OR 3-person families $97,328 t316.629 l4Li,G 3F Add ageogrophy 4-Personfamilies $129,W tf3B.789 LS41t t'14 S-persgnfamilies $77,108 t$39.931 154, fit¢ 6-personfamilie5 $123,574 t532.W3 �r t Addallcountkmin.,. 7-oF"more-person families $1422818 t$72,104 ? � Oreguo ? United States Qivide Jackson County,OR Into— cour}ty su tadivisians census tracts htnck t_rovus PLa§_ .0 grC4i.analdisirirts. Lwf hovS_f5.(uurgwr) statehouses fl_lsul ZIP€odes zh*ldlstricts(elementary) %&woldlstricts(secondaty) XhC!9.r-dislrixts-1UWf&d) Citation:U.S.CvnSttS Bureau(2024).Median Famrly1=mein the Past 12Mo,nths(In 2024 inffatlwt-adjusted Llwlar4 1 42 3116126,1239 PM