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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Ashland Calendar, Feb. 2, 2016 ... Students want ban on banning students ... What are your favorite places to eat in Ashland? ... Ashland Calendar, Feb. 2, 2016 ... Students want ban on banning students ... What are your favorite places to eat in Ashland? ... ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL Marijuana tax and downtown smoking ban proposed Pot levy would have to be approved by voters; smoking tobacco could be banned downtown Comment By Julie Akins For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Julie Akins For the Tidings Posted Jan. 31, 2016 at 8:43 PM Updated Feb 1, 2016 at 4:27 PM By Julie Akins For the Tidings Posted Jan. 31, 2016 at 8:43 PM Updated Feb 1, 2016 at 4:27 PM Downtown issues top study session agenda --> The Ashland City Council will once again study the “downtown behavior” issue at its study session Monday night.  This comes in the wake of complaints regarding aggressive p... » Read more X Downtown issues top study session agenda The Ashland City Council will once again study the “downtown behavior” issue at its study session Monday night.  This comes in the wake of complaints regarding aggressive panhandling and reports of verbal assaults as tourists and locals travel through downtown areas, especially in front of the Black Swan Theatre by the Chamber of Commerce offices and on and near the Plaza.  At the council study session on Jan. 19, the council heard from public speakers who suggested the city create long-term solutions to homelessness, others who testified that it is not homelessness but aggressive action that is the problem, and two public speakers who self-identified as “home-free” saying responses to downtown behavior constitutes selective enforcement against those who are not housed. Councilors had only a brief time to discuss six options presented by city staff to address the problem before the manadatory meeting cut-off time of 10:30 brought the meeting to a close. Receiving the most favorable response was adding police cadets; hiring outreach workers; and creating a downtown host or ambassador program. The other options were hiring two new police officers; renting two jail beds from Jackson County; and creating education and signage for visitors and residents.  Councilor Greg Lemhouse was the only one at that meeting to support hiring two new police officers at a cost of more than $200,000. No vote was taken on any of the options. Since that study session, the Downtown Streets Team of Palo Alto, Calif., visited Ashland at the invitation of Councilor Pam Marsh to present what they do to work with the homeless and travelers in their communities. The group works on engaging the homeless in community service as a gateway to employment and housing. Richardson suggested the group would be willing to create a team for Ashland if the city is interested. The cost is between $200,000 and $300,000. Much of the money would come through federal block grants, corporate and community sponsorship.  The council will also discuss at the study session the shutting off of Plaza fountains due to elevated levels of barium. The same problem exists at Enders Alley in Lithia Park. They’ll also be hearing more about the process of seismic safety for the City Hall and the cost of building and rebuilding to meet current standards in case of an earthquake. After looking at what it would take to get the building retrofit at a cost in excess of $1.3 million dollars, staff suggested it would be more cost effective to demolish the current building and start over. The remodel would involve removing the roof, the second floor and other major renovations.  The study session starts at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, in the Council Chambers at 1175 East Main St. (4:26 p.m. Monday: Updated to correct meeting start time.) —Julie Akins           » Social News Two weeks after the Ashland City Council passed rules about growing marijuana they will consider asking voters to create a local tax on selling marijuana. And smoking of another sort — tobacco — would be banned altogether in downtown Ashland under terms of another ordinance. The state began taxing recreational marijuana sales at the rate of 25 percent on Jan. 4. The state also allows cities to add an additional 3 percent. The tax does not apply to medical card holders. The proposed ordinance adding the 3 percent local tax would need to be approved by voters of Ashland in the Nov.8 general election. A previous vote by the council to add a local tax on recreational sales was voided by subsequent passage of state law. Many cities in Oregon are making adding the tax to for an obvious reason: money. Taxing on a state level has proved to be a significant revenue stream. Washington state took in $70 million its first year. With marijuana sales of $11 million the first week it was legal in Oregon, it’s likely the Beaver state will also see significant tax revenues statewide. The council will also consider smoking of another substance and where that can be allowed. They’ll be looking at banning smoking in downtown Ashland. The definition of downtown Ashland would be the same as in the persistent violator ordinance — basically the area bounded by Lithia Way on the north, Hargadine Street on the south, Gresham/Third streets on the east and Church Street on the west. Under the proposal, bars and restaurants could apply for exceptions to the ban on smoking outside their establishments, but smoking, in general, in downtown would not be allowed. Smoking in Lithia Park and all city parks is already banned. If approved, Ashland would be one of many municipalities creating such bans. New York City recently passed it as did New Orleans. There are mixed views on whether smoking bans in outdoor public spaces are helpful regarding second-hand smoke. In a 2006 study conducted the California Air Resources Control Board the effectiveness of an outdoor ban comes into question. Among its findings: outdoors, second-hand smoke levels vary widely and quickly depending on the smoker’s distance from non-smokers, how confined the outdoor area is, the concentration of smokers and the impact of the weather at the time. As the argument plays out in public health circles, some arguing any second-hand smoke is too much and others who claim the effects of outdoor smoking on others is negligible, the city of Ashland will consider its possible ban. The council will also review the plastic bag ban one year after passing it and consider endorsing the “Healthy Climate” bill in the state senate which essentially puts teeth in a 2007 measure laying out pollution reduction goals. The meeting is set to start at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Ashland City Council chamber, 1175 East Main St. Proceedings are cablecast live on Channel 9 (or 180) and streamed online at rvtv.sou.edu . Email Ashland freelance writer Julie Akins at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ @julieakins. By Julie Akins For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Julie Akins For the Tidings Posted Jan. 31, 2016 at 8:43 PM Updated Feb 1, 2016 at 4:27 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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