Monday evening’s discussion to be followed by possible action at Tuesday evening meeting 

By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news

Ashland City Councilors quizzed Interim City Manager Sabrina Cotta and heard from residents at a study session Monday as they prepared to make an imminent decision on whether or not to accept state funds that could extend shelter operations at 2200 Ashland St. 

Mayor Tonya Graham opened the meeting by informing councilors and the public the discussion would be limited to considering the possibilities in preparation for making a decision during the Tuesday council business meeting where the item is on the agenda. 

Councilor Dylan Bloom asked why this topic was “coming forward now.” 

New state funds have been made available to keep shelters open after the governor’s emergency order expires and the city has an extremely limited window to decide if they will accept them or not, Cotta said. If the city does not accept them, other regional agencies are ready to and the building will cease operating as a 24/7 shelter on March 31. 

The city must make a decision by Tuesday, she said. 

The state funds would come with a commitment to support 30 beds, which may not be possible in this building. Because it was designed as a commercial structure, it does not meet fire code regulations or Americans for Disabilities Act conditions for prolonged habitation. It also doesn’t have laundry or shower facilities, Cotta said. 

The city would need to hire an architect to assess what kind of renovations would be needed and the way those renovations would alter the building would dictate how many beds it could house. The current estimate is between 13 and 30 beds, she said. The city may need to explore an additional site to meet the 30-bed expectation.

Councilor Bob Kaplan asked how long it would take to obtain an architect. Cotta responded there would be lead time, not only for the process of finding one but also to allocate funds. 

Councilor Jeff Dahle asked if the city had fulfilled its contractual obligation, referencing the 10 years of shelter the building was expected to provide as part of the stipulations that came with the grant funds originally awarded for its purchase last year. 

Cotta responded the city believes it is fulfilling its contract through using the building for the severe weather shelter on an overnight basis, and the nonprofit organization ACCESS is “hoping and wanting the city to continue” offering 24/7 shelter at the site. 

The city’s severe weather shelter is a “much needed resource,” Cotta said, since, due to Ashland’s “softer” temperature thresholds, it is often the only shelter open regionally. 

Councilor Eric Hansen asked if the city did not accept the funds, could it expand the severe weather shelter beyond the one room it occupies now. Cotta responded the city would be free to not only expand that shelter, the building could also have a future as a community resilience hub offering an accessible community kitchen and other resources. 

Dahle asked how long the construction could take. Cotta responded that supply chain issues are still slowing construction projects and, without an architectural assessment, it’s impossible to know what renovations would be needed. 

Councilor Paula Hyatt asked how continued shelter operations could affect the city’s general fund. Cotta said the city would potentially have to move some project budgets out of the current Capital Improvements Projects. Likely the Community Center and Pioneer Hall renovations would be stalled to allocate funds for the shelter. Staff would also need to be diverted from other tasks to manage the project. 

Bloom pressed Cotta for data and metrics about the relative success rate and demographics of people using the shelter. 

“To make a decision without the data seems wildly irresponsible. … We made a commitment this (the emergency shelter) was going to end and here we are talking about extending it,” he said. 

He argued the city should wait for the Homelessness Services Masterplan Subcommittee to finish its plan before making any decisions. 

Kaplan stated the city needs to explore all its options given the great need for shelter. 

“It’s like we don’t learn from our mistakes,” Councilor Gina DuQuenne said of the quick timeline. 

During the public comment period, Debbie Niesewander questioned the city’s tight timeline. 

“Seems like ACCESS and the city were talking on Feb. 12, could have come before a little sooner, you’re always on the spot making heavy big decisions on short notice and that’s wrong and that’s why you’re always making bad decisions,” the homeless advocate said. 

She asked if the city could use an architect to determine if pallet houses currently in city storage could be set up on the property to increase capacity. 

Avram Sacks, volunteer coordinator for the severe weather shelter, said he was speaking as a private citizen, rather than an employee of Opportunities for Housing, Resources & Assistance. The severe weather shelter reached capacity — 28 people — the previous night, he noted. 

“Clearly the 28 limit is not sustainable. If the whole building opened up, you could have more. … I would like to have another discussion about seniors in the homeless population, about a third of the homeless are seniors. You could have more senior services in that building,” Sacks said. 

Herron Voice stated the city is too focused on high-dollar improvements rather than the needs of those using the building.

“For the money that was spent for this so far you could have afforded to purchase an acre of land south of town for every person who it’s housed, built them a simple shanty shack, as well as pay the taxes to create a bus route that would bring those people into town for their betterment,” he said. 

Neighbors and business owners concerned about the shelter attended the meeting but did not offer public comment. Asked about their thoughts after the meeting, Trina Sanford and Rachel Green agreed the city’s timeline was rushed and, in moving too quickly, it may not make the decision that best balances the needs of neighbors and the city’s homeless people. 

To see the agenda for the Monday, March 4, study session (including links to staff reports), click here.

To see the video recording of the meeting, click here.

Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected].