Police now have greater flexibility to ban repeat offenders; in other actions, SOU’s campus plan receives approval, and city writes off $2.7 million in delinquent utility bills

By Steve Mitchell, Ashland.news

The Ashland City Council on a 4-2 vote Tuesday approved an ordinance amendment aimed at giving law enforcement more flexibility in excluding people from downtown areas for “chronic negative behavior.”

Councilors Eric Hansen and Bob Kaplan dissented.

Ashland has two expulsion zones — Enhanced Law Enforcement Areas — one in the downtown corridor and another, added last year, covering Ashland Street to Exit 14.

Under the city’s current ordinance, law enforcement must wait for a municipal judge to determine whether someone has violated the law before seeking their exclusion from the two designated areas. According to Ashland Police Chief Tighe O’Meara, the process can take years, depending on the case.

The amendment now allows officers to petition a judge for a ban after documenting three distinct incidents that demonstrate a pattern of disruptive or unlawful behavior. Illegal camping is not among the qualifying offenses. The amendment also allows people banned from an ELEA to have access to essential services, including groceries, medical care, employment, and social services. The council amended the ordinance to reference Oregon Revised Statutes and to clarify the process by which those expelled from the ELEA receive variances to access the ELEA for necessary purposes such as medical care or groceries.

Public pushback and pointed debate

Councilor Dylan Bloom, who supported the amendment, said the ordinance is about “restoring accountability and protecting the public spaces.” Bloom added that the ordinance introduces a “fair, transparent civil process, with hearings, appeals, variances and the opportunity for revocation.”

He said that, similar to when someone is being harassed or abused, the law provides a civil order of protection. During that legal process, Bloom said, a judge can restrict contact before a trial concludes because society recognizes the need to keep people safe.

An expulsion zone works from the same principle, he said.

“It provides a legal mechanism for the court to temporarily separate an individual who has repeatedly violated the law in a specific area while preserving full access to housing, food, medical care, employment, and services,” Bloom said.

Meanwhile, critics of the amendment argue that it primarily targets those struggling with homelessness.

Debbie Neisewander, an advocate for Ashland’s homeless, said the council should focus on inclusion instead of exclusion. She suggested that the city consider more targeted expulsion zones. Neiswander said banning someone from all of Ashland Street is excessive. She said the city should consider banning people only from the specific area in which they committed a crime or “acted out.”

Nova Goldfetter, a street nurse in Ashland, said that while she understands the challenges the city faces, she said that those experiencing homelessness have lived through multi-generational trauma that greatly impacts them. Pushing them to the “edges of town” creates more fear and trauma and does not provide solutions for the long-term health of the community.

“It’s just a band-aid,” she said. “We’re just moving people around and not giving them the opportunity for health.”

Goldfetter said she wondered how many people who are expelled from an area are being offered social services. She said addressing homelessness requires “root-cause” approaches.  

Eric Navickas, a former city councilor, said that assigning social work responsibilities to police officers could harm both morale and public perception.

Noah Wurthheiser, who works on a couple of city-appointed committees, said that law enforcement is essential in addressing homelessness and mental illness. He added that there are also social services that are an integral part of the process. Programs in restorative justice, diversion, and outreach courts have shown real success because they do not simply rely on moving people who commit crimes to different areas, Wurthheiser said.

Deflection program and data reporting

Responding to questions about the city’s efforts to connect people who commit crimes to social services, O’Meara said that Ashland has recently started participating in a regional deflection program that allows certain alternatives to incarceration for a narrow set of crimes, including substance abuse. He said, so far, two people have been referred. One person successfully completed the program, and the other did not.

The council asked for regular updates about the city’s implementation of the amendment to the ordinance expulsion zones and data on how many people are offered social services. O’Meara said that the data might be difficult to track, but added that he would come back to the council to provide updates on the amendment.  

Other city business

Bryn Morrison, Ashland’s interim finance director, updated the city on its fourth quarter finances. She noted a 3.3% overall revenue decrease and a one-time $2.7 million write-off for delinquent utility accounts.  

Councilors approved amendments to three ordinances related to Southern Oregon University’s Facilities Master Plan, which will allow for taller buildings and solar installations at the university.

Officials said the greater height limits would give the university more flexibility as it seeks to create partnerships for a senior housing project, setting the stage for what they believe would be a more sustainable financial model to ease SOU’s financial woes.

Email Ashland.news associate editor Steve Mitchell at stevem@ashland.news.

Related stories:

Ashland City Council moves forward with first reading of tougher exclusion laws (Sept. 17, 2025)

Ashland police chief seeks tougher exclusion rules (Aug. 6, 2025)

City Council approves parks fee, discusses Enhanced Law Enforcement Area rule changes (May 22, 2025)

Ashland City Council considers changes to enhanced law enforcement area (Feb. 21, 2025)

Ashland to have a second enhanced law enforcement area — and reopened Community Center (Dec. 19, 2024)

Ashland police: Added Enhanced Law Enforcement Area is a useful tool (Dec. 16, 2024)

Ashland City Council to vote on second reading of Enhanced Law Enforcement Area ordinance (Dec. 15, 2024)

Ashland City Council approves expulsion area for south side of town along Ashland Street (Dec. 6. 2024)

Ashland City Council balks at potential expulsion zone changes (Nov. 22, 2024)