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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Hottest Galleries: October 19, 2007 Council narrows options for street funds By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings Using a portion of Ashland's restaurant meals tax and expanding the tax to cover snack items are off the table as possible revenue sources to close a $2 million yearly shortfall in street maintenance funding. "It may open up, along with a bag of chips, a can of worms," Mayor John Morrison said. Revenues from the meals tax are already designated for the city's sewage treatment plant and parks. But other funding options are still under consideration, including a possible property tax increase and a gas tax. On Tuesday night, the Ashland City Council winnowed down a list of funding options recommended by the Transportation Financing Task Force. The task force met from March through August to develop recommendations for closing the funding gap. City staff will continue to research funding options the council earmarked as possibilities. The council began by unanimously endorsing the task force's proposal to reduce maintenance standards to save money. The previous goal was for all city streets to average a 78 on a 100-point scale that measured street condition. City streets now average 78. Councilors agreed that main streets should be kept in good condition at an average score of 75. The primary streets that feed into those main routes can fall to an average score of 70, while neighborhood streets can dip to an average of 60. Councilors also quickly agreed not to impose a bicycle registration fee to help pay for bike lane maintenance costs. "We should probably be giving incentives to ride bicycles rather than taxing them," Councilor Eric Navickas said. Bicycle owners can continue to pay a $3 fee to register their bikes with the Ashland Police Department. Registration helps police return stolen bikes to their owners. Councilors unanimously agreed to lobby for a gas tax that would cover all of Jackson County, or even Jackson and Josephine Counties. "Every city and the county is facing the same problems"¦. The time is right for a county or even two-county solution," Councilor Russ Silbiger said. While motorists are feeling pinched at the pump by high gas prices, governments are seeing rising street and highway maintenance costs. Asphalt is a petroleum-based product, and construction equipment is powered by gas. The city already places a street fee on utility bills. Councilors agreed that increasing those fees should be a last resort since the fee is regressive and hits residents whether they drive or not. Other funding options include Oregon Department of Transportation funding and grants, federal funding, increased fees on development, continuing to use Local Improvement Districts, using a portion of lodging taxes, an Ashland vehicle registration fee, a fee on businesses that use many vehicles, encouraging walking and biking to school, selling carbon credits to people with large vehicles and forming an Urban Renewal zone. The council also voted unanimously to form an Ashland Transportation Committee to tackle transportation and public transit issues. Councilor David Chapman said the focus of the city's existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission and Traffic Safety Commission is too narrow. Ashland Public Works Director Paula Brown agreed the city should have a goal to look at broad transportation issues. "We're missing the transportation link. The Transportation Committee would look at the whole picture," she said. Current Comments: Stop the bus! This problem just cropped up overnight? And then the council got involved with paving streets? Now a committee is being established? Aren't we paying people to look over the horizon to make sure we don't get these types of overnight problems? Why is my council involved in street maintenance? Sounds like we should have staff to perform this sort of housekeeping. By the way if you plant trees they'll grow. So don't start a tree trimming committee 10 years from now. Solar Z - Ashland - October 19th, 1:32 PM **** the Ashland City "Council!" This band of criminally negligent buffoons strangle revenue-producing businesses, blow money on every conceivable boondoggle, break their own procurement laws, ignore threats to drinking water safety, and raise taxes at every whim. Put 'em on a chain gang with their fellow citizens whipping a little motivation into them. Potholes, gone. Teamwork, learned. "Doctor" Kirshner the only loser. It's time to put the SERVANT back in "public servant." TaxedBeyondRecognition - Ashland, OR - October 19th, 1:46 PM Another absolutely disgusting non-performance of this City administration. They can't balance a budget by making cuts, and just contemplate socking yet another ta! Can't wait to get out of here - Ashland OR - October 19th, 1:50 PM A chain gang is actually pretty feasible -- all we need is some civil fraud charges, a judge who wants to set an example, and some orange jumpsuits for our newly found "road crew" (we might have to custom order, since I don't think any of the standard sizes would fit the inflated ego and hubris). Legal fees: $118,372.41. CNN puff piece on "Council Serves the Community": Priceless. Richard Cranium - Ashland OR - October 19th, 2:47 PM Jumpsuits? Navickas does his best work nekkid! TaxedBeyondRecognition - Ashland, OR - October 19th, 3:48 PM Unlike Councilors, highway workers are required to wear safety equipment -- if not for themselves, then for the children. Nobody needs to see that on the side of the road. Richard Cranium - Ashland OR - October 20th, 9:44 AM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Security Systems Debt Relief New Hampshire Primary Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us