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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 Home News Latest Stories Ashlanders respond to controversy raised by Indiana law Bracing for Common Core Lithia Park featured on Oregon Blue Book cover Police Reports Under-floor heater caused Union Street fire in Ashland Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram Laramie Longhorn 1500 Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant Cars We Remember: ‘Topper’ movie car most memorable Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia AHS softball team routs Churchill Four-year letterman Fredrickson leads sizzling Grizzlies Trip of a lifetime Paul nets 41 as Clippers rally past Trail Blazers High school Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia AHS softball team routs Churchill Four-year letterman Fredrickson leads sizzling Grizzlies Grizzlies ace first MWL test Ashland's Knecht provides bright spot in Grizz nonleague loss to South Medford Southern Oregon University Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Voices Latest Stories Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Jeffrey Gillespie: Dancing the Pyongyang Polka Editor's Notes: Not falling, flying Matthew T. Mangino: Prison deaths on the rise Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Editorial Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Our View: More of the same at SOU? Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza Our View: One for the books Our View: Build it; they will play Letters Letters to the Editor, April 1 Letters to the Editor, March 30 Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Jeffrey Gillespie: Dancing the Pyongyang Polka Editor's Notes: Not falling, flying Matthew T. Mangino: Prison deaths on the rise Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Chris Honoré: Some political and social observations Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Community blog: Poets, put on your party shoes Spring exhibitions open at Schneider Museum of Art Community blog: Ashland High grad performs at OSF's Hip Hop Open Mic Top 5 things to do this week Theater Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' Music A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Movie review: The action is even more insane in ‘Furious 7’ Movie review: ‘While We’re Young’ is a thought-provoking comedy-drama Alan Alda knows the secrets to acting, marriage Movie Listings: April 3-9 Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Health Watch: Work out like a pro athlete App Finder: Best baseball apps Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram Laramie Longhorn 1500 Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashlanders respond to controversy raised by Indiana law ... Ticket Availability ... Under-floor heater caused Union Street fire in Ashland ... Ashlanders respond to controversy raised by Indiana law ... Ticket Availability ... Under-floor heater caused Union Street fire in Ashland ... COUNCIL CORNER Council Corner: Ashland's climate plan Comment By Michael Morris DailyTidings.com By Michael Morris Posted Mar. 31, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Michael Morris Posted Mar. 31, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News The city of Ashland will start on a climate and energy plan in the very near future in support of one of the City Council goals. The plan, developed by the Ashland Conservation Commission, will provide a framework to follow to address climate and energy changes for city facilities and operations as well as for the community. The planning will start this spring, with the implementation of the initial actions in the spring of 2016. The initial cost is estimated to be $60,000 per year in staff/contract time for the first two years, and additional costs in the subsequent years. In short, the steps in the plan currently proposed are as follows; 1. Identify local sources of greenhouse gas emissions. 2. Appoint a city/citizen oversight group, which will interface with the community as well as create a technical advisory group. 3. Set appropriate emissions reduction targets. 4. Inform and engage the public. Take public input. 5. Develop strategies and prioritize with local experts. 6. With City Council members and city staff, refine and prioritize emissions-reduction strategies and climate change preparedness strategies. Identify actions for immediate implementation. 7. Finalize the plan: emissions targets, timeline, goals, actions and responsible parties and a monitoring plan. Get feedback: Implement strategies. Assess how we are doing — measure and document. Reassess — revise and update. Engage in public outreach and education. The plan has a very aggressive schedule as far as city programs go (implementation of initial actions in 2016), and hopes for some very aggressive targeted reductions. In order for this to work, just a few things need to happen. The City Council needs to put aside the politics of the past and look with a common vision to the future. It can be difficult at times, but has been done in the past and I am certain it can be done again in the future. Staffing of the oversight group is critical to the projects success; the group should be populated with people respected in their fields and not polarizing in their actions. The community needs to to be focused on the necessity of the project and its importance. We can’t save the world, but looking at the choices we make can make it just a little bit better (or less worse), and locally we may feel/see the difference in city operations costs, air pollution, energy and water supply. The resources must be available when they are needed. Having to wait for staffing and information can slow the process to the extent that interest wanes and the plan stalls. We must maintain respect for the process and the people/institutions involved. Not everyone is going to agree on every issue, but letting the process run its course without unnecessary road blocks should give us a very good product. I am pretty new to this process, I am in my fifth year on the council after 13 years on the Ashland Planning Commission and have lived in Ashland off and on since 1955. I have seen a lot of city plans come and go; some successful, some not. This plan, I believe,is very necessary and will work. Lets make it happen.  Michael Morris is a member of the Ashland City Council. By Michael Morris DailyTidings.com By Michael Morris Posted Mar. 31, 2015 at 12:01 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. 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 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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