Local Positions

League of Women Voters^®
of Ashland, Oregon

Land Use: (1971) (1973) (1990) (2009). Growth:. Preservation:. Open Space:. Coordination:. Annexation: Updated 2009!. Sewer & Water Services:. Water Supply: (2009). Jackson County Government (1999). Homeless in Ashland: (1995). Park Funding: (1992). Alternative Energy: (1983). Parks & Recreation: (1969).

Land Use: (1971) (1973) (1990) (2009)

LWVA recommends that governmental planning and action for land use in Ashland and the surrounding area preserve and enhance Ashland's unique character, especially as reflected in the following: its small town atmosphere, its cultural and educational resources, the health, safety and welfare of its citizens, the natural beauty of its geographical site, its farm and forestlands, its historical heritage, its varied economic and residential pattern, its clean air and lack of noise pollution; and its concern for the safety of downtown streets.

We recognize that growth, especially if it is unplanned, threatens many of these characteristics (under Land Use) and therefore that any proposed growth should have to be justified.
1) The LWVA recommends that Ashland's city government make every effort to determine what population Ashland can support compatibly with the above values and bring its plan and policies into harmony with that figure.
2) The LWVA joins the LWVRV in recommending that the county government determine what population Jackson County (and especially the Ashland-Pinehurst area) can support, consistent with the above values, and consider thsi factor in planning for orderly growth. Such growth should benefit rather than burden the existing community.

1) Taxing policies and building codes should encourage, rather than discourage, the restoration and improvement of existing residential and commercial property.
2) All multi-family residential, commercial and industrial building permits and subdivision plats should require the preservation, replacement, and/or the addition of trees and landscaping, the maintenance of water quality in streams, adequate parking, and a certain percentage of non-paved open space.

1) The city plan should anticipate parks, bicycle paths and walkways, recreational facilities, and the preservation of open spaces.
2) We recommend that the City begin now to obtain more land within the City and in the surrounding area for these purposes. We urge the City and County to cooperate in acquiring lands suitable for park development in area surrounding Ashland.

1) The City Comprehensisve Plan should be coordinated with city zoning and with the revised county plan for surrounding areas.
2) We urge cooperation between city and county planners and encouragement of more citizen participation in the planning process.
3) Appeal: We support provision of reasonable procedures for appeal from Planning Commission decisions.

1) Land considered for annexation should be within Ashland's Urban Growth Boundary and contiguous with the present City limits. The land use should be in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan Map and the project an allowed use within the proposed zoning.
2) Before allowing annexation, the City should take into account whether or not there is still land available for development within the City for the proposed use.
3) Adequate City services available for the annexation should be determined prior to approval.
4)Costs of the extension of City services beyond the City limits should be borne by the development.

Extension of city and water services beyond the present city limits should be primarily contingent on the following:
1) The consistency of the projected land use with Ashland's revised Comprehensive Plan,
2) Structural and financial feasibility (with the cost of extensions and a compensation for existing facilities to be borne primarily by the annexed area),
3) Enforceable written agreement that the property will be annexed after it is developed.

Water Supply: (2009)

The League of Women Voters of Ashland (LWVA) believes that all water resources for Ashland should benefit the public and be an integral part of the ecosystem in which they occur. Applying this principle, LWVA supports the following:
1) Conservation to increase the supply of usable water. 2) Coordination of land use planning with water resources planning. 3) Comprehensive measures to control erosion, flood, and fire in the Ashland city watershed. 4) Development and implementation of a comprehensive storm water management plan. 5) Access by the City of Ashland to all potential sources of water. 6) Implementation of an effective Riparian Ordinance for Ashland. 7) Operation by Ashland of a state of the art wastewater treatment system. 8) Education to inform the community about all the aspects of Ashland's water resources.

Jackson County Government (1999)

Concerning the overall functioning of county government, the League believes that the Board of Commissioners (BOC) as the legislative and principal policy making agency of the county should pass appropriate ordinances, approve all budget decisions and act in its quasi-judicial capacity in land use matters.
Composition:
The League supports a Board of Commissioners of 5 or more members. The commissioners should be elected either at large or by a combination of district/at large and should be elected on a non-partisan basis. The League supports considering other options to full time paid commissioners.
County Administrative Officer:
The League supports the BOC's delegation of administrative functions to a professional administrator, but reasserts the League's position that policy making shall be reserved to the BOC and that overall responsibility for all functions of the County's government ultimately rests with the Board of Commissioners.
The League believes that the position of Administrator should be incorporated in the County Charter in order to give more stability to the position. It further believes that the qualifications of that position should be established by ordinance.
Elected Department Heads:
Concerning elected department heads, the League believes that those offices which require expertise in the professional field, are not required to make policy decisions, and are not politically sensitive, should be appointive rather than elective.
The League believes that the Office of Treasurer should be abolished with those duties assigned to the Finance Officer. That office should be made appointive and the Charter amended to reflect these changes. The League believes that Jackson County should establish by ordinance qualifications for the office of Finance Officer.
The League believes that the offices of Assessor and Surveyor should be appointive rather than elected and that the Charter should be amended to reflect these changes. The qualifications of those offices must conform to state requirements.
Citizen Participation in Jackson County Government:
Concerning policies and procedures that facilitate citizen involvement, the League:
1) Continues to emphasize the importance of citizen involvement and citizen participation in the establishing of policy through citizen advisory groups and commissions; 2) Believes that the BOC should provide widespread notice throughout the county of all vacancies on advisory board and commissions. The Board should establish terms of service and qualifications for such positions. It should conduct interviews and select candidates who will bring diversity and experience in their service to the County; 3) Reaffirms its belief in the importance of the Oregon Open Meetings Law. Notices and agendas for all public meetings of the BOC should be given widespread advance publicity in media throughout the county.
Charter Amendments:
The League believes that the Charter's election laws (Charter, Chapter VII, Section 28:1,4,5) should be amended to conform with state statues. This would correct the current inconsistent time intervals regarding initiative and referendum.

Homeless in Ashland: (1995)

1) The LWVA believes that the citizens of Ashland have a responsibility to help the homeless with programs for

(a) people who are temporarily homeless because they have lost their jobs or have had other personal difficulties and
(b) young people who have experienced various types and levels of abuse and/or parental neglect.

2) The LWVA supports programs that provide short-term assistance/maintenance intervention with focus on each individual case.
3) The LWVA is concerned that the community is educated about the types of homeless served.
4) The LWVA supports coalitions and cooperative efforts between the City and various public and private agencies and organizations to address the problem of the homeless in Ashland.

Park Funding: (1992)

The LWVA believes the City Council should implement the parks and open space acquisition program adopted by the City Council and placed in the City Charter by amendment in 1990. The Council should proposed and support a tax measure that produces adequate revenue to acquire all of the mapped properties. The tax measure should be equitable, stable, easy to administer, and should add balance to the entire tax system by providing for broad sharing of the tax burden. We support developing acquired parks and open space by combining funds raised through private efforts with funds from public sources.

Alternative Energy: (1983)

The LWVA supports the continued independent monitoring of alternative energy resource development in and by the City of Ashland, and the model plan developed by the Northwest Conservation Act Coalition.

Parks & Recreation: (1969)

The LWVA realizes that successful community development depends on a positive involvement of the people. With these concerns in mind, the LWVA has analyzed and clarified some criteria for recreational development:
1) Coordination - Any criterion for development of parks and recreation cannot be isolated from the criteria for overall city development.
2) People orientation - All community development should aim to benefit the whole person and the entire community.
3) Versatility - Developments which are as diverse and all-inclusive as possible will encourage optimum use and thus allow optimum economy by giving the most satisfaction for the money. However, small neighborhood parks and walking and hiking paths are important in providing recreation and quiet areas for the enjoyment of the outdoors.

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