Councilor Doug Knauer steps down; Council unanimously approves hikes in public safety, wildfire fees

By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news 

A new fee said by city staff to be necessary to prevent further cuts to Ashland Parks & Recreation programs was rejected on a 3-2 vote Tuesday at an Ashland City Council meeting that opened with Councilor Doug Knauer announcing his resignation, effective immediately. 

Councilors Gina DuQuenne, Jeff Dahle and Dylan Bloom voted in opposition to a $9-per-month — bumped up from the staff-recommended $5-per-month — fee, while Councilors Bob Kaplan and Eric Hansen voted in favor. 

The original resolution was amended to a $9 fee, the amount recommended by the Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission, on a motion by Hansen after numerous public comments in support of the fee and expressed devotion for Ashland’s parks. 

“Ashland would not be Ashland without its parks — especially North Mountain Park and the Nature Center. … We need to honor the vision that created this beautiful place,” said Kristina Lefever during the public comment period. 

Chris Benoit said he waited to move to Ashland until he could secure a job with Ashland Parks & Recreation working in Lithia Park because it was “that important to me and my family.” 

“I know fees hurt, but if we allow these cuts to happen, Ashland will not be a place young families will choose to make a home,” he said. 

Charlotte Halper, a child not yet tall enough to reach the microphone, was held to it by an adult. 

“I think we should keep all parks and all pools, cause they are fun — oh, and the ice skating rink,” she said. 

The adult holding the child did not give their name, but said their family supported a $9 fee. 

Mayor Tonya Graham estimated around 20 people came to speak. All stated willingness to pay the fee to maintain Ashland’s parks and recreation. 

The $5 fee was presented to council during the March 31 study session by City Manager Sabrina Cotta as a way to prevent large cuts to parks as part of city wide budget cuts. Ashland Parks & Recreation Commissioners were also presented with the fee, and informed that, without it, the North Mountain Park Nature Center would be closed and staff laid off, among other cuts, while a $9 fee would largely prevent cuts to programs, as previously reported by Ashland.news. 

Bloom said it felt as if council “had a gun to our heads” and questioned why the cuts were tied to beloved but not expensive programs such as largely volunteer-run community gardens. 

Houston stated the staff who oversee these gardens could be laid off. He tried to think not about a program’s intrinsic value but, in order to protect the most resources in the long run, to think in a business sense and preserve higher revenue programs. 

Dahle stated he was displaying the decorum necessary for a councilor but was internally “furious.” He echoed all other councilors referencing substantive emails from a public who largely supported the fee because they love their parks, but wondered why such a dire funding situation came to light suddenly in the context of “pay the fee or lose programs.” Dahle, Bloom and DuQuenne stated a belief the funding and long term preservation of the city’s parks warranted further review. 

The new parks fee would have been added to the monthly charges on electric meters. According to the city staff report, over the two-year budget period at the $5-per-month rate it would generate $1.25 million, which has already been included in the current budget proposal.

A resolution to raise existing utility bill fees to support wildfire mitigation and public safety such as staffing at Ashland Fire & Rescue was unanimously approved, but with an amendment proposed by Bloom that staff would return at the next meeting with the fees as two separate resolutions with annual escalators to be based on the most recent 12-month Consumer Price Index not to exceed 5% annually and to require a duly noticed public meeting for any increase above 5%. 

The current public safety and wildfire risk reduction fees of $1.50 and $3 per month have not been raised since 2018 and 2019, respectively. The new monthly fees of $5 on electric meters and $7 on three-quarter inch water meters will bring in $1.5 million and $1.9 million over the next budget biennium, according to the staff report, which works out to 12,662 electric meters and 11,322 water meters.

Applications will be taken for new councilor

Councilor Knauer, who was elected with a landslide 67% of the vote in November and sworn in in December, resigned from the dais almost as soon as the meeting began. After the land acknowledgement and pledge of allegiance, Graham turned the meeting over to Knauer. 

“I want you all to know I love this town of ours,” he began. 

He stated that, while he loved serving and would stay if he could, he had been dealing with “a very difficult family situation” for some months. He wished his colleagues on council the best, then stated his resignation was effective immediately and asked “permission and indulgence to leave the dais,” which was granted by Graham. He left chambers with applause as his former fellow councilors stood around the dais. 

Graham called a five-minute recess. Council reconvened to unanimously vote on a timeline to accept applications, interview and appoint someone to the vacant seat within the 60-day interval allowed by the city charter with applications to be accepted until May 14. 

Running for office can be grueling; this is a comparatively “gentler” way to join council, Hansen said. 

“This is a unique opportunity to join council, I urge you to talk to your neighbors and friends and family and encourage them to apply, it is very hard work but it is very rewarding. … With open arms, I welcome you to apply,” he said.

Longtime acting city attorney’s last meeting

Acting City Attorney Doug McGeary served for the last time as acting city attorney. Johan Pietila will begin at the end of the month. 

McGeary stepped in as acting assistant city attorney after Katrina Brown assumed the lead role in July 2021 following the resignation of Dave Lohman after 10 years as city attorney. A year later, in July 2022, McGeary became acting city attorney on Brown’s departure, and has remained acting city attorney since.

Mayor Graham thanked McGeary for the effort and heart he put into his work for the city. Because he is a history buff, she said, the council gifted him a book of rare historical photos of Ashland. 

Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected]. Ashland.news editor Bert Etling contributed to this report. Email him at [email protected].