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--> --> Council to study smoking ordinance; passes monument resolution By Myles Murphy Ashland Daily Tidings The Ashland City Council has taken the first step toward developing an anti-smoking ordinance in the city. Councilors Tuesday decided to look at a proposed ordinance at a council study session in August. "This is a very serious matter and I think the council should take it under consideration," Councilor John Morrison said following the testimony of Ashland High School students addicted to tobacco. Kaaren Borsting of Healthy Ashland - an ad hoc Committee of Tobacco Free Jackson County - presented a suggested ordinance which she hopes will curtail the availability of tobacco to minors and provide smoke-free working environments in Ashland businesses. The ordinance calls for special city licenses to tobacco vendors - which could be revoked if they sell to minors - and an end to advertising of tobacco products at levels below 36 inches in stores. "You shouldn't see a cartoon picture of a camel at the level a six-year-old can see," AHS student Carson Clover said. Clover smoked cigarettes from fourth grade through his sophomore year in high school. He and other students testified as to the ease of obtaining cigarettes for children in Ashland. The ordinance would also prohibit smoking in public places, including restaurants, bars, lobbies and taxicabs. Michael Donovan, owner of Chateaulin restaurant, spoke in favor of an ordinance. "There really is no downside to this - there's adjustment and transition," he said. "My only regret if we adopt the ordinance is that we didn't do it sooner." City staff will make minor adjustments to the ordinance and bring it back to the council for discussion at a noon Aug. 8 study session. MONUMENT RESOLUTION The council approved 3-1 a resolution to endorse the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in its present form and to request the immediate release of the Medford District Bureau of Land Management draft plan for the monument. Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton is considering whether boundaries of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument - set by former President Clinton - should be shrunk. Jackson County residents speaking at a series of public meetings planned by the Jackson County Natural Resources Committee to gather input on the monument for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners have been largely in favor of the monument, according to Morrison, who also serves as the facilitator of the meetings. The BLM draft plan has been delayed by Norton following a request by Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., last April. Walden suggested the delay because management plans are difficult to alter after they have been published. Councilor Cameron Hanson voted against the resolution - which was placed on the council agenda by Councilor Cate Hartzell Friday - because he had not had enough time to study the issue. Mayor Alan DeBoer objected to the resolution as "outside the purview of the city." In other business, the council: · approved a rate mitigation agreement with Bonneville Power Administration that is expected to cut electricity use in Ashland by about 10 percent; · approved a conservation augmentation contract with BPA that would supply the city with an extra $860,000 over five years for power conservation programs; · approved a second reading of an ordinance levying taxes of $7,078,000 for assessed property in the city. · recognized Jim Olson of the Public Works Department for 30 years of service. · confirmed appointment of Roberta Stebbins to the Audit Committee; and Douglas Morrison, Paul Nicholson and Daniel Jackson to the Hospital Board. · approved a liquor license for Franco and Jennifer Minniti of Vineria Italia Wholesale Wine Distributors. · approved a modification of an encroachment easement for the Cadbury Cottage at 353 Hargadine St. · renewed the Ashland Fire & Rescue ambulance license. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing