Councilors will be asked to add a $5 monthly fee to residents’ power bills to support park services

By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news 

Ashland City Council will consider and be asked to vote on a $5-per-meter monthly charge for electricity to support Ashland Parks & Recreation programs during its Tuesday, May 20, business meeting, according to meeting materials. 

Proposed changes to the city’s enhanced law enforcement area are again on the agenda for council consideration. And the council will also be asked to vote on a resolution adopting budget adjustments for the 2023-25 biennium — with numerous adjustments including recognizing grant revenue from the Parks Department and expenses and reimbursements for Ashland Fire & Rescue. 

In other council business Tuesday, the council will be asked to vote on a contract for a bridge replacement presented by Public Works Director Scott Fleury, review the final presentation of a water rate study, and will review the results of a compensation and class study on the city workforce.  

During the Monday study session, council will hear a report and notification of a rate increase of $1.43 per month on average from Recology, review code amendments for walkable design standards under the Climate Friendly Communities rules  and receive the third-quarter financial update for fiscal 2025 from the Finance Department. 

The meetings will be held at Council Chamber, 1175 E Main St. The study session Monday will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the Tuesday business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Both meetings can be attended in person or watched remotely through Channel 9 or Channels 180 and 181 (Charter Communications) or livestreamed via rvtv.sou.edu; select RVTV Prime. Public testimony will be accepted and can be delivered either via Zoom, in person, or as written comment. To sign up for public comment, fill out a public testimony form. 

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