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Meals tax hike on hold By Myles Murphy Ashland Daily Tidings Ashlanders will not vote any time soon on a proposed increase in the city's meal tax. Citing concerns over tax increases in general, the need to explore alternative sources of funding, and possible competition in the May vote on a new Youth Activities Levy, the council Tuesday decided to wait before putting the issue to a vote. "I don't want to pit voters against voters," Ashland City Councilor John Morrison said. "In this case we need to take a position and demonstrate leadership. There are a lot of dynamics going on here." "Our dreams of more open space may be deferred," Morrison added. The Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission was hoping the proposal to raise the city's prepared food and beverage tax from five cents per dollar to six cents would bring in more funds to support its new 10-year park, trail and open space acquisitions plan. Increasing the tax would bring in an additional $330,000 per year for land purchases, according to City Finance Director Lee Tuneberg. The meals tax is set to expire in 2010, but nearly all of the future receipts are committed to funding past park land purchases. Currently, a penny per five cents of the meals tax goes to fund park land purchases, while four cents goes to the city's wastewater treatment plant. Business owners and even some parks supporters spoke out against the proposal. "I don't want to get rid of the meals tax by any means," Alex's Restaurant owner Alex Reid said. "But please don't add to it." Wild Goose Cafe and Bar Restaurant owner Dal Carver echoed Reid. "I don't agree (parks funding) should be funded on the backs of restaurants," Carver said. "I think it could be better served through a retail tax." Councilor Chris Hearn agreed. "I don't want to single out a single industry," Hearn said. Ashland Tree Commissioner Bryan Holley believes the tourism-loaded tax is appropriate to fund parks and sewage costs. "They leave more than just dollars here," Holly said. Resident Jack Hardesty said he's tired of the high cost of dining out in Ashland, and partially blames the tax. "A lot of people other than tourists eat out in restaurants." Hardesty said. "It simply isn't fair. I'm getting tired of these single issues being put forward as if the life of the community depends on them." A committee will be formed to look into alternate funding options and brainstorm other aspects of the issue. In other business, the council: approved first reading of an ordinance allowing theaters and similar entertainment uses as a conditional use in the E-1 zone; approved reading by title only a resolution establishing 7-percent increase in cable television rates and a $3 monthly increase for residential cable modems, and a $5 increase for business cable modem service for the Ashland Fiber Network; decided not to consider at this time the sale of the city-owned Lithia Springs property, which is now leased to the Ashland Gun Club; reviewed a draft of the 2003-2004 council goals; decided to wait for more information before continuing discussion of this year's citizen survey, a $15,000 telephone survey the city performs every two years to get a picture of residents' attitudes and understanding of city and government issues; approved a request for co-sponsorship of Ashland Independent Film Festival; approved reading by title only a resolution supporting the Oregon Department of Transportation grant application for $580,000 for construction of a multi-use path from Hersey Street at the railroad tracks to Jackson Road, the city will pay about $60,000 of the estimated $868,000 project; approved reading by title only a resolution authorizing the issuance of water reserve bonds not to exceed $2,943,000; approved proclamation of Feb. 28 as Peace Corps Day in Ashland; approved liquor license applications from Gary Mallicoat for Ashland Hills Shell at 2495 Ashland St., and from Steve Apted for Good Times at 1951 Highway 66; confirmed mayor's appointment of Pam Hammond to the Traffic Safety Commission for a term to expire April 30, 2003; and, approved minutes of the Feb. 5 council study session, the Jan. 8 Forest Lands Commission, the Jan 15 Public Arts Commission and the Jan 14 Planning Hearings Board and Planning Commission meetings. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -