Review of options for furnishing shelter set during study session; decisions would be made during business meeting
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
Ashland Interim City Manager Sabrina Cotta will present for City Council consideration at Monday evening’s study session the options available for the property at 2200 Ashland St.
The state has allocated $1.8 million in renovations for the building and an additional $800,000 to cover “sheltering activities” at the location with the expectation the funding would support a shelter at the site until the end of the current budget biennium on June 30, 2025. The city could also consider offering shelter at the site for the next 10 years pending additional funding from the state, according to an agenda item.
The building would require renovations before use as a long term shelter. Funding is available to house those currently living in the shelter in hotels and “alternative locations” during construction, the agenda item said.
The agenda also referenced a potential conflict with a commitment the city has made to use the site as a shelter for the next 10 years through the original grant funds. The grant funding was secured with the help of ACCESS and the nonprofit is now arguing a different interpretation of the agreement than the city of Ashland.
“The City accepted the original grant funds predicated on the use of the site as a Severe Weather Shelter with Access affirming it as a viable use of the space at the time the agreement was made,” according to the staff report. “The City believes the original commitment is complete as long as the building is continued to be used as a severe weather shelter. Access believes that the City must continue to operate 30 24/7 shelter beds for as long as the state provides ongoing operating funds.”
City Council will be asked to consider how the city should move ahead with three suggested options. First to accept the state funding, make necessary renovations and continue offering the 30-bed expectation set by ACCESS. The city could also decline the state funding and end sheltering at the site or direct staff to work with ACCESS to seek alternative funds to allow the sheltering to continue in Ashland without using funds for construction on the building.
Other business Monday includes the 2022-2023 city grant report from Travel Ashland.
The study session meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m Monday, March 4, in the council chamber at 1175 E. Main St. The meeting can be attended in person or watched remotely through Channel 9 or Channels 180 and 181 (Charter Communications) or live streamed via rvtv.sou.edu select RVTV Prime. Public testimony will be accepted for the meeting and can be delivered either via Zoom, in person, or as written comment. To sign up for public comment, fill out the public testimony form.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at morganr@ashland.news.
