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CITY COUNCIL Vacation rentals, Welcome Center up for consideration tonight Comment By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Apr. 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Apr. 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News A pair of controversial issues — where and under what conditions short-term vacation rentals are allowed and a state Welcome Center on Interstate 5 just south of town — come back before the Ashland City Council at its meeting tonight, Tuesday, April 7. The vacation rental issue, also known as accessory travelers’ accommodations, is coming back for the second of two readings of a proposed ordinance which could be adopted tonight in its final format. At the first reading on March 17, changes were made to eliminate single-family residential areas from area where such rentals are allowed. Instead, they’ll only be permitted in areas zoned for multi-family use. The Oregon Department of Transportation wants to build the Welcome Center by the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 just south of the Crowson Road crossing and just outside city limits. The state wants to use city water and sewer services. Neighbors concerned about possible impacts on crime, water use and fire safety asked the city not to go ahead with an agreement to provide those services, but councilors, with only one nay vote, agreed to go ahead with negotiations, partly to have more influence over how and when the project goes forward. Up for discussion tonight are terms under which the city will provide those services. The state, citing uncertainties inherent in such a complex project, balked at the proposed city requirement the project be completed within two years and will only agree to completing the extension of water and sewage service lines in that time frame. ODOT also says that, as a state facility, it can’t show special consideration for or make specific commitments to the Ashland Chamber of Commerce regarding how much display area will be devoted to Ashland. The city also asked that the state guarantee the center be staffed a minimum of eight hours per day by people who have undergone background checks, neither of which the state says it can do, as Travel Oregon will operate the facility and it “does not have the authority” to conduct background checks on Welcome Center employees. The council is also expected to appoint Ashland Police Department Deputy Chief Tighe O’Meara as interim chief effective when current Chief Terry Holderness retires April 17; endorse designation by Travel Oregon of a 55-mile route dubbed the Cascaded-Siskiyou Bikeway as a Scenic Route; and approve contracts with Grayback Forestry and Lomakatsi Restoration Project to provide prescriber burning service on city-owned forest land for a total of about $31,000, along with an agreement with the U.S Forest Service about the burning. The council meeting, which is cablecast and webcast live, starts at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 1175 East Main St. For details, go to www.ashland.or.us. Reach Daily Tidings editor Bert Etling at [email protected] or 541-631-1313. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/betling. By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Apr. 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM » 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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