HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-0104 MIN
ASIILANIJ ('ITY ('OLTNC':IL
JANLiARY 4, 21}()S
I)i\ (1 I:: ! 01' 4
r~INUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
January 4, 2005 - 7:00 p.m.
Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor John rvlorrison called the meeting to order at 7: 15 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers.
ROLL CALI~
Councilor Hardesty, Amarotico, Hartzell, Jackson and Silbiger were present. Councilor Hearn was absent.
Mayor Morrison announced that after consulting with the Council members, it was agreed that additional time
was necessary in order to solicit applications for the Budget Committee. Suggestion was made that this issue
be re-noticed.
Councilor H~utzell/Jackson m/s to move appointment of Budget Committee members to the first council
meeting in Ft:~bruary. Voice Vote: Councilor Hardesty, Hartzell, Jackson and Silbiger, YES. Councilor
Amarotico, NO. Motion passed. 4-1.
MAYOR'S ANNUAL ADDRESS
Mayor Morrison presented "The State of the City" address. The complete address is attached to the minutes.
APPROV AL OF MINUTE~~
The minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of December 21, 2004 were approved as presented.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS (None)
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Minutes of Boards, CODl1missions and Committees.
2. Liquor License Application from Dan McDonley dba Xochipilli, Inc. (295 E Main Street #14)
Councilor Jackson/Hartzell m/s to approve Consent Agenda. Voice Vote: all AYES.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Public Input for 2005/2006 Council Goals and Priorities.
It was noted that the City Council had scheduled the goal setting for January 14 and 15,2005.
Public Hearing Open: 7:39 p.m.
Philip Lang/758 B Street/Spoke regarding public involvement. Mr. Lang submitted a letter along with
attachments to the Council for their information.
Art Bullock/791 GlendowerlThe following is verbatim ofMr. Bullock's testimony:
"Ashland is blessed with many Citizens who are passionate about the city, yet disconnected, discouraged, and
disenfranchist~d by the City's decision processes. The election mandate was a change in direction for the city,
and the foundation for that change is Citizen Involvement. That's Job 1 for 2005. Second, we need to revise
the LID process so that Laurel St LID and future LID neighborhoods don't have to suffer through the difficult
process used in Nevada LID and so many prior LIDs. Third, we need to build in a stronger role for Citizens in
the City Charter. At this point, Charter Review Committee is doing excellent, conscientious work, yet there is
precious little direct Citizen input, even on issues that Citizens have strong opinions on. Fourth, we need to
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JANUA,RY 2005
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make the Citizen Participation Plan more concrete. Citizens in Ashland generally feel that the City is going to
do whatever it wants to do, regardless of what Citizens want. 2005 is the year to turn that around."
Public Hearing Closed: 7:48 p.m.
2. Public H(~aring and Finlt Reading by title only of "An Ordinance withdrawing an Annexed Area
from Jaclkson County Fire District No.5 (Ely Schiess and Krista Johnson Annexation, 3151 East
Main Str~eet).
Community Development Director John McLaughlin briefly eXplained that this was the final step in the
annexation process and would remove the annexed area from Fire District No.5. Mr. McLaughlin stated that
all of the land issues had been addressed.
Public Hearing Open: 7:51 p.m.
Public Hearing Closed: 7:51 p.m.
Ordinance was read out loud in full.
Councilor Jackson/ Amarotilco m/s to approve the first reading of the Ordinance and move to second
reading. Roll Call Vote: Councilor Amarotico, Silbiger, Hardesty, Jackson and Hartzell, YES. Motion
passed.
3. Public Hearing and Rt:~ading by title only of "A Resolution Adopting a Supplemental Budget
Establishing Appropriations within the 2004-2005 Budget and a Resolution Authorizing an Inter-
fund Loan to the Airport Fund from the Water Fund."
Finance Director Lee Tuneberg eXplained the three ways to change appropriations after a Budget had been
adopted and provided a summary of the Supplemental Budget presented.
Public Hearilllg Open: 8:00 p.m.
Public Hearilllg Closed: 8:00 p.m.
Councilor Hartzell/Amarotico m/s to approve Resolution #2005-01. Roll Call Vote: Councilor
Hardesty, Hartzell, Jacksol1l, Amarotico, and Silbiger, YES. Motion passed.
Councilor Silbiger/ Amarotico m/s to approve Resolution #2005-02. Roll Call Vote: Councilor Silbiger,
Amarotico, Jackson, Hartz.~II, and Hardesty, YES. Motion passed.
PUBLIC FORUM None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS (None)
NEW AND l'tfISCELLANE,OUS BUSINESS
1. Election of Citizens Budget Committee members (4).
Item was moved to the February 1,2005 Council Meeting.
2. Council ]~Iection of Ch~lir to City Council.
Councilor H~lrtzell/Hardesty m/s to elect Councilor Hearn as Council Chair for 2005. Voice Vote: all
AYES. Motion passed.
3. Mayor's :appointments of council liaisons to various boards and commissions.
List of appointments were presented with no changes.
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JANUARY 4,
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ORDINANCES. RESOLUTIONS AND CONTRACTS:
1. Second r4eading by title only of "An Ordinance Amending the Tree Preservation and Protection
Chapter of the Ashland Municipal Code (Chapter 18.61) by Adding Provisions to Further Protect
Heritage Trees."
Community Development Director John McLaughlin explained that the Ordinance presented was amended
as discussed at the previous Council Meeting.
Mr. McLaughlin eXplained that the County would record a disclosure to any future property owner that the
tree had been placed on the Heritage Tree List.
Councilor Alnarotico/Hart1~ell m/s to approve Ordinance #2915. Roll Call Vote: Councilor Silbiger,
Hartzell, Jaclkson, Amarotko, and Hardesty, YES. Motion passed.
2. Reading by title only of "A Resolution Dedicating Property for Open Space Purposes Pursuant to
Article XIXA, Section 2, of the City Charter." (Burns and Son Property Donation at Pioneer and
Granite)
Parks & Recreation Director Don Robertson briefly explained that Staff had worked closely with the family
and that this property would be beneficial to the City as it contains the TID Ditch Trail and also connects to
another open space city property. He noted that the family was donating this property in the honor of their
deceased children.
Councilor Jackson/Hartzell m/s to approve Resolution #2005-03. Roll Call Vote: Councilor Hartzell,
Jackson, Hardesty, Silbiger, and Amarotico, YES. Motion passed.
3. Reading by title only of" A Resolution Authorizing Signatures, Including Facsimile Signatures, for
Banking Services on behalf of the City of Ashland."
Councilor Alnarotico/Silbiger m/s to approve Resolution #2005-04. Roll Call Vote: Councilor Hardesty,
Amarotico, Ilartzell, Jackson and Silbiger, YES. Motion passed.
OTHER BUSINESS FROl\1 COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilor Hartzell asked to discuss the Demolition Ordinance in regards to the DeBoer Planning Action and
Council agreed to this request.
Mr. McLaughlin clarified that the Demolition Ordinance was designed for all homes and includes conservation
measures that prevent demolition materials from entering the waste stream. Also included in the Ordinance are
higher standards for justifying the demolition of homes that are 45 years or older. Mr. McLaughlin eXplained
that there is a clause in the Ordinance that requires that the demolished home be replaced by a structure that is
at least 1,000 sq. ft. He stated that this was included to prevent the lot from remaining vacant (unless the
purpose of the demolition was to create public open space).
Mr. McLaugh lin explained that the DeBoer's initial application involved art addition to their historic home and
they received a Conditional Use Permit to exceed the maximum house size. The pool and pool house were
more than 6 feet away from the addition, and therefore weren't calculated into the square footage of the
addition. He added that the primary complaint regarding the DeBoer's previous application was regarding lot
coverage.
Councilor Hartzell questioned whether pools and similar structures would be calculated into the overall square
footage for homes regulated by the Maximum House Size Ordinance. Mr. McLaughlin stated that this would
fall under the land use process of determining square footage. He stated that under the Building Code, a pool
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is determined a structure only if it is within 6 feet of the house, and because no one has proposed to have a pool
this close to their home, they have not had to address this issue.
Suggestion was made to discuss this issue further during a Study Session or at the upcoming Council Goal
meetings.
Councilor Jackson stated the she and the City Attorney had attended the Jackson County Planning Commission
public hearing regarding Measure 37, and noted that the hearing would be continued at their February meeting.
Suggestion was made to hold a Study Session to further explore the City's options regarding Measure 37
claims. City Administrator Gino Grimaldi stated that there hasn't been much activity regarding Measure 37
claims and stated that it may be best to wait on the Study Session until a claim has been filed.
Mayor Morrison noted that the Council Goal Session would be held January 14th and 15th in the Community
Development Building. He also noted that the evaluation of the City Attorney would be held at the Executive
Session scheduled for January 18th, 2005.
ADJOURNlVlENT
Meeting was adjourned at 8:39 p.m.
~tt7L~~AJ
Barbara Christensen, City Recorder
~
ASHLAND
STATE OF THE CITY -2005
By
Mayor John Morrison
Good evening to my fellow citizens of Ashland, my colleagues on the council and city staff
members.
Tonight, we stand on the thn~shold of a New Year, a year which, if history tells us any thing at all,
is likely to bring us a number of new challenges.
It is customary that each year at this time, the Mayor deliver a State of the City address in which
we look at the accomplishmt~nts of the past year, the expectations for the coming year, and
present an assessment of hovv well prepared the city is to carry out its responsibilities to you, the
citizens of Ashland.
As your newly I~lected Mayor, I am honored to have this first opportunity to present you with the
State of the City for 2005.
Before I begin, I'd like to ask us all to reflect for a moment as we sit here in this building, set in
this most beautiful and liveable of small cities, to think about how tenuous such comfort and
safety and even life itself can be.
Hardly a week ago, the world stopped and watched in horror as a natural disaster of
unprecedented proportions hit a part of the world we seldom think of. A tsunami with waves of
up to thirty feet deep slid with deadly and inexorable force upon the shores of a number of nations
around the Indian Ocean, cn~ating a scene of death and destruction the world has seldom seen.
And the world has rushed to help. Many of us here in this room may already have pitched in in
whatever way you could. I didn't bring up the horrible disaster to urge you to help (although of
course I do) but to point out that sometimes the unexpected, even the unthinkable, does happen,
and we as citizt~ns and members of government must be prepared to address it to the best of our
abilities.
Although a natural disaster of such proportions has never been visited upon Ashland, and
hopefully it never will, we have experienced times of fire and flood.
Many of you may remember that, just eight years ago, at nearly this exact time of year, we were
digging our Plaza free of mud and silt left by the flood waters that raged through our beautiful
Lithia Park and downtown area ... many of you had no water or sewer service...homes went
unheated ... businesses were closed for weeks and even months. Though we experienced no loss
of life, the life of our city was severely interrupted. The economic hardship was great.
That flood, though in no way on the scale of the disaster in Asia, provided us with both a
challenge and an opportunity. The challenge to rebuild better than ever and the opportunity to
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conduct that reconstruction in a way that leaves us today less vulnerable than we were then ...
with better creek channelization and a better flood preparedness plan than before. And that
terrible disaster in Asia provides us with an opportunity for perspective ... that no matter how bad
our problems may appear, they pale in comparison to what the children, women and men of those
faraway Asian shores have gone through.
It is my sincere wish that as \ve face the inevitable irritations and frustrations of day to day living
in the coming Y1ear we keep our good fortune in mind as well, our good fortune to be living in
such a blessed place as Ashland.
Each year, as in past years, our department heads have been asked to note the important events of
the previous 12 months and provide us with a bit of a look into the year to come as well.
Under the leade:rship of Dick Wanderscheid, the Electric and Telecommunication Department
made a number of strides forward in 2005.
Telecommunications continued to make progress toward turning the Ashland Fiber Network
vision into a reality. Navigant Consultants was hired to help develop a better understanding of
what is needed to build a marketable AFN. 2004 saw the implementation of many ofNavigant's
AFN recommendations and 'we are continuing to implement the remainder.
New performance measures were developed for the Ashland Fiber Network, to help us better
measure the service's growth and development. A plan for refinancing AFN's debt was
implemented which will smooth its financial operation as it works toward profitability.
In the Electric I)epartment, an electric rate reduction to Ashland citizens and businesses was
implemented. j\.nd the department continued to convert the City's street lighting system to dark
sky fixtures.
We saw the implementation of the Ashland/Bonneville Power Administration Power Shift Pilot
program on the Ashland Fiber Network. This program will eventually yield far more efficient use
of electricity to all Ashland users.
We also successfully launched the 'Earth Advantage' Program, the City's new home Energy
Efficiency Program which "re will be promoting in 2005.
In the Human Ftesources Department, Tina Gray was kept very busy this past year with
recruitments, new employee orientations and general benefits administration as a number of our
long-term employees retired. Among those retiring were:
· Scott Fleute:r, Police Chi1ef, after 7 years
· Larry Murphy with the VV aste Water Treatment Plant, after 19 years
· Robert Pope, with the Waste Water Treatment Plant, after 12 years
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· Robert (Robo) Robustelli, with the Street Department, after 15 years
. Mike Vincent, with the Vi aste Water Treatment Plant, after 19 years
· Richard Marshall, with the Waste Water Treatment Plant, after 25 years
. Paul Nolte, City Attorney, after 13 years, and
· Stu Smith, \vith the Cons~~rvation and Building Department after 22 years.
We applaud them for their m,any years of dedicated service to the community.
On the horizon 'we have threl~ labor union contracts that expire this June (International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers-Electrical, International Brotherhood of Electrical W orkers-
Clerical/Technical and Laborers). In order to better fit with our budget cycle and to facilitate
bargaining three contracts at once, we have requested cooperation from the unions in beginning
our negotiations earlier. Instead of settling in June when the budget has already been set, we are
going to begin negotiating in January and have a much better handle on how the contracts might
impact the budget. This allows for more accurate budget development.
Under the direction of Fire Chief Keith Woodley, the City's Fire & Rescue Department:
Continues to work toward averting wildfire catastrophes by securing a $250,000 National Fire
Plan Grant to assist private landowners with wildfire fuel reduction work on their lands located in
the urban-wildland interface. Work is currently ongoing.
They secured an Oregon Ho]meland Security Grant to help design and install a radio repeater
system to improve emergency communications for the fire department. Specifications for this
system are curr1ently being developed.
They secured a Federal Emergency Management Administration grant to prepare a wildfire
evacuation plan and install evacuation route signs in the City of Ashland.
An AM radio e:mergency broadcast station was installed at the Fire Department to provide
emergency response information at 1700 MHz on the AM radio band to the community in the
event of a comtnunity-wide emergency.
The Community Emergency Response Team program and its capabilities was expanded. The
Community Enlergency Response Team (CERT) continues to attract new members and provides
an important support for the community in the event of an emergency. If anyone is interested in
becoming a CER T member they should contact the Fire Department for information.
Fire and Rescw~ provided staff support for the development of the Ashland Community Wildfire
Protection Plan and submittt~d it to the Forest Service.
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They successfully planned and implemented a 183 acre commercial thinning project and
helicopter timbe:r sale on City-owned forest lands to remove dead, diseased, dying timber and to
thin overstocked timber stands to improve forest health.
They conducted a community-wide emergency management exercise for city staff training in
connection with the Hosler I)am Emergency Response Plan.
The department also applied for and won an Assistance To Firefighters national grant for the
construction of a trailer-mounted house which will be used to teach fire safety education to school
children. This unit will serve all of Jackson County and should be delivered in March 2005.
It should also be noted that the department is completing its first year in the new fire station, for
which both fire staff and the city are very grateful.
In the Planning and Community Development Department, 2004 the City of Ashland saw 19 new
housing units added to its affordable housing stock.
Community Development Director John McLaughlin and his staff have tackled our affordable
housing needs in a number of ways.
By working with the Ashland Community Land Trust to develop a six-unit apartment complex on
Garfield and to acquire three additional units with the use of Community Development Block
Grant funds awarded by the City.
The Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation has applied $635,000 in City CDBG
funds to purchase property tc)r the development of 15 affordable housing units for home
ownership. These units are to begin construction in 2005.
The City of Ashland dedicat,ed the proceeds from the partition and sale of surplus property
(Strawberry and Westwood) to further the development of affordable housing.
The City of Ashland passed a minimum density ordinance in multifamily zones in an effort to
ensure that such land is used efficiently and provides for a needed housing type, apartments.
The City is exploring the process to make a downtown parking lot available for the development
of up to ten affordable rental units and has issued a Request for Proposals for the development.
The Planning ))ivision proct:~ssed over 150 planning applications, creating opportunities for new
homes and businesses throughout the community. Key approvals include a new mixed-use multi-
story hardware and apartment complex on Ashland Street and continued investment in Ashland's
downtown through new mix,ed use developments. The Planning Commission also reviewed and
approved the first new dormitory housing on the SOU campus in approximately 40 years, meeting
the housing nee:ds of a changing student population.
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This has been a good year for the Public Works Department. I want to share with you some of
the highlights accomplished by Director Paula Brown and her able staff:
All of the operations groups have really engaged in an aggressive and diverse set of maintenance
accomp lishments:
The GIS program has fully integrated the base maps to the utility system mapping (electric, water,
sewer, storm drains). This enables the crews to have current information and make better
decisions for maintenance and replacements. In addition, the link of the GIS system to the water
and wastewater flow models will help to anticipate the needs for growth and let staff test different
app Ii cati ons.
The carte graph computer program for pavement management is in full swing and provides great
information that improves the street maintenance program for slurry seals, crack maintenance and
overlays. This analysis helps to reduce costs of full replacements and extends the useful life of
our street network.
The carte graph program has also been extended to include building maintenance and wastewater
piping to better anticipate a five-year maintenance and repair plan to effectively manage the
financial responsibilities.
We have effectively looked at our equipment and fleet purchases to purchase smaller vehicles for
the non-crew vf~hicles, and are continuing to look at the dual fuel or alternative fuel options. Bio-
diesel is being tested in several of the fleet vehicles.
Infiltration and inflow in the city's sewer lines has been further reduced through an aggressive
sewer mainline evaluation and repair program. This includes televisioning the lines to locate root
problems or lin~~ breaks then fixing or replacing those lines. Smoke testing has also been
completed in several areas to decrease illegal connections. This has also helped to reduce the
number of seWf~r related claims.
We have operated the "new'~1 wastewater treatment plant's membrane facility for two full years
and have streanllined that process for better efficiencies in staffing and maintenance.
On the Capital Improvements side efforts have shifted from transportation projects to water:
Siskiyou Boulevard and Ashland Street were fully completed in the early spring of 2004, but
there are several significant street projects to complete this year including:
· Beginning Vvater Street Bridge replacement in March 2005;
· Completion of the 2004 Street Project which includes the right turn lane at Walker Avenue
and E. Main (completed), curbs and sidewalks on the north side of Hersey, widening a section
of Tolman Creek Road from Ashland Street to E. Main, and reconstruction ofE. Main from
Dewey to N. Mountain;
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· Completing the miscellaneous concrete project which includes some downtown curb
extensions and crosswalks for safety, sidewalks on Nevada (LID) and other sidewalk sections
throughout town; and
· Beginning the design of the Central Ashland Bikepath extension to the north end of town
along the railroad tracks.
Replacements D)r the old 1909 water main transmission pipelines from Hosler Dam to the plant
and on into town have been designed and will be constructed next year at an estimated $1.75
million. That ,,,ill reduce the: potential for system failures from aging infrastructure.
The preliminary design for the Talent/Ashland/Phoenix Pipeline extension is nearing completion
and the next steps are to secure land for the receiving reservoir, complete final design and
determine the best timing for construction and water rights approvals.
The Ashland Municipal Airport has seen several improvements to taxiways, 14 new T - Hangars,
and a nearly cotnplete Master Plan. Funds for the taxiway improvements have come from the
F ederal Aviation Administration and Oregon Aviation Administration. The T -hangar building
was funded through a conventional loan to be repaid through rents.
Next year's 20015 focus for Public Works is to:
Complete the fiscal year '05 construction program and find innovative ways to effect change so
that we are bett~er able to tackle the projects that come up;
Focus on training for in-house construction and maintenance projects to better respond to our
customers;
Find new ways to use emerging technology and equipment to improve efficiencies without
compromising quality and safety;
Review options for the pending temperature regulations at the wastewater treatment plant and
focus on the "right water for the right use" which includes options for even more conservation
practices with our potable water use and backyard irrigation systems;
Continue to look at options and solutions to improve safety at our railroad crossings, and funding
availability; and
Continue our traffic safety programs to improve neighborhood safety, school links for bicycling
and pedestrian use, and downtown pedestrian safety projects.
In the Police Dt~partment, Police Chief Mike Bianca and his staff have seen an improvement in
police technology this past year with wireless data connection to police cars.
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The police department continues to have successful management of major events, such as the 4th
of July celebrations, the Children's Halloween parade and New Year's Eve festivities. They also
solved three hornicides and rwo bank robberies.
We saw Rich Vlalsh promoted to Deputy Police Chief, and said goodbye to Officers Kevin Flynn
who was with the city for 9 years, and Joe Gagliano, with the city for four years. J enette
Bertocchi from the front office moved on after six years with the police department.
And we bid fan::well to Donna Daniels who retired after 20 years of service to the Community
Service V olunte:er Program.
The Finance Department was again presented with the Budget Award which it has now won 12
times and the Comprehensiv1e Annual Financial Report award 13 times.
The amount allocated during 2003-2004 for the Ashland Low Income Energy Assistance Program
(known as ALIEP) was $67,000 with an amount distributed to citizens of$53,720. There remains
a balance at the end of the program of over $6,000.
102 Senior Citizen households, 25 Disabled, 1 Military and 150 low income households benefited
by the ALEIP program for a total of 278 households.
The Payroll department has been asked to be on the advisory committee for PERS. A work-study
group has been established and will meet with several government entities on a quarterly basis.
In the Legal Department, following Paul Nolte's retirement, Assistant City Attorney Mike Franell
was appointed the City AttoIney in July. Mike Reeder joined the Legal Department as the
Assistant City J\ttorney in October. The Legal Department has been busy this past year handling
the usual lawsuits, claims, appeals and now, with the enactment of Measure 37, is gearing up for
potential land use claims.
The Administration DepartInent oversees our Sister City Committee, and ties with our sister city,
Guanajuato, continue to thrive. We have been sister cities with this delightful city for the past 33
years and hope for many more. This last year saw the dedication of the Guanajuato Room at the
Ashland library and a visit fi'om the Mayor of Guanajuato, Arnulfo Vazquez Nieto and the
Governor of Guanajuato, Juan Carlos Romero Hicks.
Each year the City sends two high school representatives to Guanajuato to celebrate the Presa de
la Olla festivities; last year Sylvia Van Ausdal and Holly Brooke Milligan were chosen for this
honor. Guanajuato in turn sends its Queen and other dignitaries to Ashland during the July 4th
celebrations.
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Our own Senora Chela Kocks was awarded the prestigious EI Pipila de Plata while in Guanajuato
earlier in the year. Chela Kocks has been a constant source of energy contributing to our
successful relationship with our sister city.
Ashland and Guanajuato enjoy a warm relationship, due to our many student, city and
professional exchanges that have served to produce so many bi-lingual persons.
The Parks & Rf:creation Department has continued its fine partnership with the City in providing
us with beautifully maintaint~d parks and a constantly expanding proven recreation department
reflecting our changing comJmunity needs. We would also like to note that Don Robertson
celebrated his first anniversary this week as Director of the Parks & Recreation Department.
In 2004 the Charter Review Committee was formed. The committee has been meeting a couple
of times a month since October to review the existing charter to determine if it will adequately
serve the commlUnity well into the future, and if necessary, the committee will prepare a draft
charter for the City of Ashland. The proposed charter will ultimately be reviewed by the city
council for placement on the: ballot for the voters of Ashland.
For the 19th year in a row Ashland was again named A Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day
Foundation to honor its commitment to its community forest. It shows that trees are very special
to Ashland, as i~shland hosts it own annual Tree of the Year selection process. Residents are
invited to select their favorite tree in Ashland. The winner of the Tree of the Year for 2004 for
Ashland was the Monterey Cypress located at the comer of Scenic and Wimer. That marked
Ashland's 17th Tree of the Y"ear contest.
The James M. H.agland Menlorial Volunteer Spirit Community Service Award for 2004 was
awarded to local community access TV personality Pete Belcastro. I would also like to take this
time to thank aU of our countless volunteers who devote hours and hours of their time to the city.
In closing, I would like to welcome our new City Councilors, Jack Hardesty and Russ Silbiger,
and congratulate Cate Hartzlell on her relection. I would also like to salute Alan DeBoer, who
served very ably as mayor over the past four years, and Don Laws, who served on the city council
for 30 years. Thank you.
I would also like to express my thanks to all the city staff for their continued hard work and
dedication.
And that concludes my first State of the City speech. I wish you all a happy and peaceful new
year.
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