The City of Ashland began the 2021-23 budget process on March 30, 2021. To prepare for future meetings we are seeking input from the public on various topics related to budget decisions.  Every Wednesday until April 27, a set of questions will be posted at ashland.or.us/engage for one week. Check out this week's by clicking the read more button below and make sure to check back for the following weeks as well. 

For more information on the budget cycle, please visit ashland.or.us. Have additional questions or comments regarding the budget or the budget process? Please feel free to send these in an email to [email protected]. Information will be sent to Budget Committee Members for review. 

The City of Ashland began the 2021-23 budget process on March 30, 2021. To prepare for future meetings we are seeking input from the public on various topics related to budget decisions.  Every Wednesday until April 27, a set of questions will be posted at ashland.or.us/engage for one week. Check out this week's by clicking the read more button below and make sure to check back for the following weeks as well. 

For more information on the budget cycle, please visit ashland.or.us. Have additional questions or comments regarding the budget or the budget process? Please feel free to send these in an email to [email protected]. Information will be send to Budget Committee Members for review. 

The City of Ashland began the 2021-23 budget process on March 30, 2021. To prepare for future meetings we are seeking input from the public on various topics related to budget decisions.  Every Wednesday until April 27, a set of questions will be posted at ashland.or.us/engage for one week. Check out this week's by clicking the read more button below and make sure to check back for the following weeks as well. 

For more information on the budget cycle, please visit ashland.or.us. Have additional questions or comments regarding the budget or the budget process? Please feel free to send these in an email to [email protected]. Information will be send to Budget Committee Members for review. 

The City of Ashland is working on a project to understand and address the community's housing needs. As part of this process, the City is interested in hearing from Ashland's residents so that more effective and widely accepted solutions can be created.  Due to limitations on public gatherings, the City is presenting information about Ashland's housing market, how it has changed, and how it will continue to evolve, through an online ‘virtual’ open house.  Additionally, the virtual open house also includes a series of questions allowing participants to provide input on their housing preferences and on potential strategies to address Ashland's unmet housing needs. The Virtual Open House will run from April 1st through April 16th, 2021.

https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/89/Issue_10499

Please contact Brandon Goldman (Senior Planner, Planning Division) at the City of Ashland via email or by phone at (541) 552-2076 with any questions regarding this virtual openhouse or housing survey.

The City of Ashland will begin the 2021-23 budget process on March 30, 2021. To prepare for these meetings we are seeking input from the public on various topics related to budget decisions.  Every Wednesday until April 27, a set of questions will be posted at ashland.or.us/engage for one week. Check out this week's by clicking the read more button below and make sure to check back for the following weeks as well. 

For more information on the budget cycle, please visit ashland.or.us. Have additional questions or comments regarding the budget or budget process? Please feel free to send to [email protected]. Information sent will be sent to Budget Committee Members for review. 

The Public Works Department is asking for citizens to review the draft Storm Water and Drainage Master Plan as part of the master plan adoption process. Comments will be taken until midnight on Friday, March 19 and will be submitted to Council for review before adopting the Storm Water and Drainage Master Plan. 

The primary goals of this Storm Water and Drainage Master Plan are to validate the City’s existing drainage systems conditions previously assessed in the 2000 master plan, recommend an updated 20-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that incorporates new projects to target problem areas for improvements, meet anticipated future buildout needs, and meet current local, state, and federal regulatory requirements. A copy of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems Phase II General Permit will also be available to view.

The Almeda Fire response and recovery represents a new chapter for the City of Ashland to advance our prevention, preparedness, and response to future emergency events.  With extreme weather events and natural disasters on the rise, Ashland must anticipate and plan to respond to different emergencies. Lessons learned from the Almeda Fire event will help shape the response to emergencies in the future and better define areas of vulnerability. While many things went right during this emergency, we can always improve and create a more resilient community that can withstand and recover more quickly from a disaster.

To that end, the City of Ashland is conducting an internal and external review of our response to the Almeda Fire. We’re gathering input from our employees who had fire response roles, and we want to know your suggestions on how we can improve public communications and/or evacuations for the next fire. The survey will end on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. 

In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, police agencies across the country have been asked to review their policies in a manner that includes robust community engagement, with an emphasis on engagement with members of the Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) community. Mayor John Stromberg joined countless other Mayors from around the country in pledging to have our police agency participate in this community-engaged review of police policies. The Ashland Police Department has worked to prepare a short survey meant to garner feedback from the community. All members of the community, and especially BIPOC members of the community are encouraged participate if they would like to. This is the second step in the four-step pledge to review, engage, report and reform. After the survey is complete the results will be used to inform further adjustment to APD policies and practices in an appropriate manner.  The results of the survey will be available to the public and will be a part of further engagement at a later time.   The survey will be active through August 5, 2020. 

The City of Ashland is currently recruiting a Finance Director and we would like your input on what skills, qualifications, and other attributes should be considered during the recruitment. Please note that the skills, qualifications, and other attributes listed in the survey will all be considered by Council along with required qualifications for the job; however, we would like to see if the community collectively has higher preferred skills and qualifications.

Your input will be considered by the Mayor and City Council when interviewing candidates for the Finance Director position. Currently, interviews are being considered to take place in August. This is different from what is listed on the brochure as COVID-19 restrictions and concerns led to rescheduling the interviews. This new schedule is also tentative and subject to change.

The City of Ashland receives around $175,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds​ annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  These federal funds are used for a variety of housing and community development projects that benefit low- and moderate-income persons in Ashland.  Examples of how the City has applied these funds in the past can be found on the story map here. As part of planning on how best to use these funds in the future the City is looking for community members and service providers to assist in prioritizing community needs. 

Community members and service providers can provide input on priorities for use of CDBG funding by filling out the questionnaire on Open City Hall.  

Questions or Concerns?  Contact Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist, [email protected] or 541-552-2043.

The Ashland City Council recently discussed a $10,650,000 bond measure to address Ashland’s capital needs which includes a replacement to the current seismically unsafe City Hall, rehabilitating the Community Center and Pioneer Hall, installing solar panels to serve the Public Works and Electrical yard and the Emergency Operations Center, and beginning the repair of the Butler-Perozzi fountain. The Council will hold a town hall meeting to hear from citizens with questions and concerns on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street. 

The meeting will include a presentation by City staff on the topic followed by a period of questions from the public. After, general comments will be taken by Councilors who will be able to talk to residents one-on-one. For those who cannot attend the meeting or would like to submit questions beforehand, they may enter this information online at ashland.or.us/engage selecting the Capital Needs and Financing Bond Town Hall option. If you would like your questions answered at the meeting, please submit them by Friday, January 17. This survey will close on Thursday, January 23. 

There will be a Wildlife Listening Session today Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street. Those unable to make this listening session may add their experiences online (select the Wildlife Listening Session Input option). This is an opportunity for interested citizens to engage with the City and share their individual experiences, concerns, and ideas on how to coexist with any and all species of wildlife they have encountered in Ashland.  From bears, cougars, and aggressive deer to rabbits, raccoons, skunks and foxes to yellow jackets, butterflies and ticks, we want to hear how wildlife is affecting the quality of your life in this wonderful community. This survey will close at 9 a.m. on January 20, 2020. 

City Staff will compile citizen input and invite experts in wildlife management to discuss options at a follow-up public meeting in early spring.  

Ashland City Council members and staff will visit selected neighborhoods throughout the City to discuss issues facing residents and encourage them to take the Engage Ashland Fall 2019 survey. Postcards will be sent to houses before the visit, so you know if you will be visited. If you don't receive a postcard we still want you to fill out the survey which covers issues the City is currently facing as well as a rating of services. Don't wait this survey will close on October 14, 2019.

We look forward to hearing from you!

The Ashland Electric Utility is considering charging customers based on a cost of service and rate design method. Please review the information provided online and then provide your feedback. Your input will be considered by City Council. 

Thank you in advance for your valued participation! 

The City is asking citizens to help inform an update of the Housing Element of Ashland's Comprehensive Plan by completing a brief questionnaire regarding the City's existing housing goals and policies.

Is there anything else we should consider?

Is there anything else we should consider?

The Public Art Commission has selected Gordon Huether to create public art in the Theater Corridor, the walkway leading from East Main Street to the City Parking garage and the OSF Thomas Theater. What should the artist know about the Theater Corridor?

What are the most important priorities for the reconstruction or relocation of City Hall?

What do you think of the proposed changes to the food and beverage tax?

On June 21, 2016, the City Council will make a final selection between two concepts for public art by artist Susan Zoccola for the Gateway Island.

Click on the link below to view both concepts and let us know what you think:

How do you feel about a smoking ban downtown?

How satisfied are you with the current plastic bag ordinance?

    What are your general thoughts about the hanging baskets pilot program?

Does Ashland have a deer problem?

Tell us what you think about the proposed ordinances which relate to coping with travelers and panhandlers.

What do you think of the parameters for outdoor growing?

Would you consider applying for a position on one of the City's commissions?  We've got lots of vacancies to fill!

Check out why others would (or would not), and share your thoughts.

To regulate or not. Have your say by clicking on Read More.

What are the personal and professional characteristics of Ashland's ideal police chief?

What do you think of the City's plan to expand the Wildfire Hazard Zone?

What do you think about the proposed Downtown Beautification Projects?

The City of Ashland has posted a new topic on Open City Hall: Downtown Beautification.  Subscribers are invited to comment.

Please review the revised land use ordinance. What do you think of the new format? Which of the proposed code amendments do you disagree with and which do you support?

What do the Gateway Island artists need to know about Ashland?

Should the Plaza Kiosk be moved?

The City of Ashland has posted a new topic on Open City Hall asking citizens to provide input on proposed changes to the Recycle Center on Water Street.

This is a re-post of the medical marijuana topic posted last week and asks subscribers to respond to specific questions.  For those subscribers who commented on the original topic for medical marijuana your comments are valued and will be included in the final report. Thank you for taking the time to comment.

A new topic on has been posted on Open City Hall about restrictions and taxes on medical marijuana.

New topic on Open City Hall.