Monday’s study session to focus on ‘Climate Friendly Areas,’ also known as walkable communities
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
Ashland City Council will review the process and cost to use a recruitment firm to fill the city manager and city attorney positions at the Tuesday council business meeting, while the Monday study session will focus on an update to the climate friendly areas.
State requirements from 2023 require Oregon cities to study potential “Climate Friendly Areas,” or areas where at least 30% of the projected future population could live in “pedestrian friendly, mixed-use areas.” Creating more walkable environments with greater density of commercial and residential use in a given zone is anticipated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to meeting materials. Oregon cities are expected to designate climate friendly areas by 2024.
The Monday study session will feature an update from Ashland’s consulting firms 3J Consulting and EcoNorthwest to examine both the zoning and community development work ahead and related public relations or marketing efforts. The Department of Land Conservation and Development has already approved a grant to support the city of Ashland in developing its climate friendly areas, according to meeting materials.
During the Tuesday council business meeting, councilors will hear from Human Resources Director Molly Taylor about options for the search to fill both the city manager and city attorney positions. Officially vacant since Feb. 1, the city manager position is being filled by Deputy City Manager Sabrina Cotta. Prior city manager Joe Lessard stepped down Oct. 27, but remained on paid leave through Jan. 31.
The city attorney position has been vacant since July 2022 and previous recruitment efforts to fill this position have been unsuccessful, according to meeting materials and previously reporting by Ashland.news.
“With the help of the Assistant City Attorney, we have contracted out this position until a successful recruitment process is completed,” meeting materials said.
Hiring a recruiting firm to search for both positions at once could result in cost savings to the city, as recruiting firms can cost between $20,000 and $50,000, according to meeting materials.
In other council business Tuesday, council will hear a presentation from SOREDI (Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development) and the city’s buildable lands inventory along with recommendations from the city’s Social Equity and Racial Justice committee.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected].
