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Ashland council, APRC members clash over resolution By Morgan Rothborne Updated: Oct 19, 2022 01:47 PM A A Ashland City Council tabled a resolution Tuesday evening that would have enacted the changes voters are set to consider when they vote on Measure 15-210 Nov. 8. The measure asks voters to change the city charter in order to move parks and recreation employees from the oversight of the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission to the office of the city manager. During a council study session Monday, acting Ashland City Attorney Doug McGeary told the council it doesn’t necessarily need voters to pass the measure to achieve what the council intended when it referred the measure to the ballot. The council agreed Monday it would “undercut” voters to revise the charter before the election, so it voted to table the matter. Yet the resolution appeared on the City Council agenda Tuesday, which spurred outrage from current and former members of APRC who were at the meeting. “It is a direct slap across the face of every citizen of Ashland. I should not be sitting here addressing this,” said former APRC member Mike Gardiner. Table the resolution and let the voters of Ashland decide, he said. APRC members Leslie Eldridge and Julian Bell echoed Gardiner’s sentiments. “This is a betrayal of the voters,” Eldridge said. “This is not how democracy works.” “This is not how we should be doing this conversation,” Councilor Tonya Graham said Tuesday. “I was stunned to see this on the agenda.” The council tabled the matter again without taking any action. In other matters Tuesday, the Social Equity and Racial Justice Committee presented its annual report to the council. Committee member Precious Yamaguchi requested that the city be more intentional in its celebration of Indigenous People’s Day, asking that the committee be considered for a $1,200 allotment to buy a banner for use in parades and for other expenses throughout the year. Committee member Emily Simon read a statement condemning threats made against Oregon Shakespeare Director Nataki Garrett’s life. Simon told the council that Garrett is not alone. Five years ago a Black OSF actor was in a similar situation, which prompted Simon to come before council for the first time as a proponent of racial justice. “Too often people in our community voice anti-racist sentiments but then do nothing,” Simon said. “It’s easy to march in a parade or applaud at a protest. It takes real courage to stand up and do the work.” Reach Mail Tribune reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected] or 541-776-4487. Follow her on Twitter @MRothborne.