May 31 - June 4

June 4, 2010

It's been a short week, and many of the key topics were covered at Tuesday night's Council meeting. So, there are a couple of things I need to get off my chest this week before I give you an update.

First, congratulations to all of the students of Southern Oregon University who are graduating this weekend. Graduation ceremonies are tomorrow.

Second, good luck to the Ashland High School Boys Baseball team who face North Eugene in the State 5A playoffs tomorrow. Go Griz!

Regional Problem Solving. Council has begun receiving public input for your June 15 discussion of Regional Problem Solving. We will put the letters and emails we've received into the Council packet. At that meeting, you will be discussing the comments the City will send to the Jackson County Planning Commission. Also, it is not a formal "public hearing." Council can still take public comment as you normally do on agenda items, but you are not bound by public hearing rules. Hope this is clear, but please let me know if it isn't.

Good Work By Public Works Staff. I know that you have read about the recent issue we've had with paint in Ashland Creek, and you have seen press about the resolution to the investigation. While I wish the incident hadn't happened, the fact that we were able to find the origins of the spilled paint is due to the good work of the public works crews who used the cameras the City uses to televise sewer lines (to identify maintenance issues) to follow the paint to its source. Next time you see John Peterson or a member of the Street/Stormwater crew, please thank them for their work.

More on Storm Drains. The incident with the storm drains is an opportunity for the City to increase our education efforts about stormwater. As you know, Conservation Commission volunteers and City crews have been installing "Drains to Stream" markers on the catch basins in the community. We will also be stepping up efforts to let people that everything that goes into stormwater goes directly into our community's creeks and wetlands.

Big Week Next week. Next Friday night is high school graduation, the opening of the outdoor season for OSF, and the last day of school. So, even though it might not seem like summer yet, it's here.

Please let me know if you have questions.
Martha