Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories City plans event for TAP line Signups underway for classes for older adults Airport, historic commissioners named; vacancies remain on other panels Boosters Club needs parents to volunteer Ashland makes nationwide 'Great Places' list Education Signups underway for classes for older adults They're back (and they've brought friends) Free TED talk simulcast in Ashland Schneider Children's Center branches out Getting a 'Fresh Start' Environment OR-7's pups true wolves Mt. Ashland Hill Climb Agency says hatcheries OK on Columbia Do you think foods containing GMOs should say so on the label? SOU sells energy credits to Chevy Business Loving the leather at Village Shoes Family Massage center leaving busy corner for homier site Oregon Trail Card users can shop at farmers markets 1-800 Flowers.com to buy Harry & David Happy Labor Day Politics and elections Airport, historic commissioners named; vacancies remain on other panels Two races set for council positions Library district won't take maximum tax rate Commissioner Skundrick plans final four town hall meetings Taking an independent stand State News Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Dr. Stephen Edward Drabik Martha M. Ekwall Steven J. Borich Dr. Barry Rheault Sports Latest Stories Raiders fight off Northwest Christian (No heading) No. 22 Southern Oregon, No. 2 Carroll set for early-season showdown Boosters Club needs parents to volunteer Mt. Ashland Hill Climb High school Raiders fight off Northwest Christian Boosters Club needs parents to volunteer Grizzlies off on the right foot Grizzlies' sights set on another playoff run Southern Oregon University Raiders fight off Northwest Christian No. 22 Southern Oregon, No. 2 Carroll set for early-season showdown Grizzlies off on the right foot Toiling on the field SOU-Carroll is NAIA game of week Opinion Latest Stories Granlund cartoon: Joan Rivers tribute Granlund cartoon: High-density housing Meeting in the middle Matthew T. Mangino: Facial recognition technology a law enforcement tool Granlund cartoon: Home Depot data breach Editorial Meeting in the middle One small carbon footprint ... Not out of the woods yet Our View: Taking small steps to confront climate change Now's the time to taste the bounty Letters Letters to the Editor, Sept. 4 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 3 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 30 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 29 Letters to the Editor, Aug. 28 Guest opinions Two seemingly disparate moments in history Rauch replies: Frustrating, yes — yet there is method in't The summer of my discontent: An open letter to Bill Rauch Opportunities for civic involvement are plentiful in Ashland Hamas supporters spread anti-Semitism around the world Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Sheila Bender and Jonah Bornstein 'Freud's Last Session" at Ashland Contemporary Theatre CultureFest at Oregon Shakespeare Festival Community blog: Poet Willa Schneberg at Bloomsbury Books Community blog:Ashland Book and Author Festival Coming Soon Theater 'Freud's Last Session" at Ashland Contemporary Theatre Wise cracks and hot licks make for super show OSF adds 'Wrinkle in Time' Family Night Music The Jeff Stanley Trio at Lounge South Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie listings: Sept. 5-11 Movie listings: Aug. 27-Sept. 4 'Calvary' is about darkness and dialogue Varsity Theatre, Ashland Street Cinemas movie listings: Aug. 22-26 'What If' hits the sweet spot Food and Drink World of Wine celebrates local varietals Lifestyle Latest Stories Mt. Ashland Hill Climb 'Spooky action': Peacemaking through synchronicity Community Blog: Communication is an Art Oregon Trail Card users can shop at farmers markets Learning from the dying what people should know about living Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW OR-7's pups true wolves ... 10 things to know for Friday ... Best Bets: Sept. 4-11 ... OR-7's pups true wolves ... 10 things to know for Friday ... Best Bets: Sept. 4-11 ... ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL Councilors OK downtown facelift recommendations By Ian Hand Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Ian Hand Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 3, 2014 @ 5:47 pm Updated Sep 3, 2014 at 8:19 PM By Ian Hand Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 3, 2014 @ 5:47 pm Updated Sep 3, 2014 at 8:19 PM » Social News Plans to tune up the appearance of some spots in downtown Ashland got the green light from the Ashland City Council on Tuesday, but will need further planning and review before final approval. The council also decided what kinds of things it would like to know about what's on the minds of constituents. The ad hoc Downtown Improvement and Beautification Committee, appointed in March to make recommendations on how to best spend funds collected by the Transient Occupancy Tax, came up with a half-dozen projects, includings improved landscaping of the parking lot on Lithia Way and Pioneer Street, a new planter box on the corner of Winburn Way and North Main Street and partial paver replacement on the Plaza. Councilor Pam Marsh praised the council for their ideas. "These projects encourage the development of places where we gather," she said. "These are the nooks and crannies of our community that we, and our visitors, remember." The next step is for staff to bring design and implementation plans to the council for final approval. Marsh suggested that council get involved as early as possible in the process. "We want to make sure that we're all moving along together," Marsh said. Councilor Greg Lemhouse hopes that the committee will be able to reconvene in the future. "This definitely isn't the end," he said. "We're always looking to improve our city." Questions for citizens The council also determined questions to be included in a biannual citizen satisfaction survey. The survey is conducted by the National Research Center and the International City/County Management Association. In addition to the questions included in all surveys, the city is allowed three locally generated questions with one allowed to be open-ended. The Parks and Recreation Commission proposed a question asking citizens what types of programs they would like to see offered by the Parks and Recreation Department. The council unanimously accepted that question. Lemhouse also wanted questions about economic development and city hall to be included. "I would really want more community input on these subjects," he said. The rest of the council agreed. The proposed economic development question asks how the city should focus its efforts in that area, either through building upon the tourist-based economy, attracting high-tech businesses, attracting industrial development, easing the growth and development of businesses in Ashland or workforce development. City hall has run out room for growth and is seismically vulnerable. A proposed question would ask if residents would rather the city address its needs while keeping city hall in downtown or allow it to move elsewhere in the city, possibly near 1175 E. Main St. to be closer to the Police Department, Municipal Court and City Council meeting chambers. "I had looked at meeting minutes from the last time city hall was proposed to move away from downtown," City Administrator Dave Kanner said. "It was controversial then, but I wanted to gauge the response and see if feelings had changed." The National Research Center will determine the final wording of the questions will be written. The survey will be conducted in the fall with questionnaires mailed to 1,200 households. Results will be reported in January. The council also approved a resolution to set the application fee for medical marijuana dispensaries. The resolution included an $80 application fee, $65 for building inspection and $28 for a zoning review. Adjustments can be made in the future as needed. The next meeting of the city council is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16. Email reporter Ian Hand at [email protected] or call him at 253-722-4071. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/IanHand_DT . By Ian Hand Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Ian Hand Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 3, 2014 @ 5:47 pm Updated Sep 3, 2014 at 8:19 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. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501