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Ashland ponders living wage After lively discussion Tuesday, council will take it up Aug. 21 By TONY BOOM ASHLAND - A living-wage proposal that surfaced last fall will wait a couple more weeks before the City Council brings it to a vote. After hearing testimony Tuesday from 19 citizens, the council had just six minutes for discussion and action before a mandatory 10:30 p.m. adjournment. Council members will consider the input and possible revisions at the Aug. 21 meeting. "I'm predisposed to support it, but I want to discuss it," said council member John Morrison. "I'm disappointed that we are not voting," said council member Susan Reid. "This has been going on for months, and it doesn't seem to me to be real rocket science." The proposal calls for the city government and organizations with service contracts or receiving grants worth more than $10,000 from the city to pay a wage and benefit package of at least $10.75 per hour. In February, the council formed an ad hoc committee to evaluate the ordinance that Oregon Action had proposed earlier. "If we want to make a real difference for families and working families, we have to have real courage on this issue," said Rich Rohde of Oregon Action. "It takes courage to stand with the low-wage workers in our community." "There are no persuasive economically based arguments against the measure," said George Hutchinson, reading a letter from Gerald Cavanaugh. "No entity, having enacted such an ordinance, has suffered negative consequences. The proposed living wage ordinance is in keeping with Ashland's aspirations." "It is easy to understand, adapt and enforce for profits and nonprofits," said Carole Bonney, a member of the ad hoc committee. "Compared to other ordinances across the country, it is easy to understand." Ashland Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandra Slattery challenged Bonney's view. "Th ordinance is complicated and complex in the area of subcontractors," said Slattery. "The chamber could follow (the ordinance), but subcontractors would have problems. "While this ordnance doesn't currently apply to our business, it would be very easy for the minimum to change, and we would fall under that law," said Greg Williams of Ashland Greenhouse. "I would not sell to the city. I believe it will only send small employers elsewhere." "It's a feel-good measure, but when you look at it it's a bad law," said Rich Nagel. "Nonprofits will be affected. It creates a problem for some businesses. You are creating a two-tiered structure." The ordinance is written in such a manner that the committee could not determine what the financial consequence would be, said ad hoc committee member Valri Williams. The wage covers employees who work on a contract or at a site, or who spend more than 50 percent of their time on a city project. Exemptions include employees who work outside of Oregon, temporary or part-time employees working less that 1,040 hours per year; those involved in training programs, volunteers and employees under 18 working for nonprofit entities after school or during summer. The Oregon Legislature this year passed a bill that limits local minimum wage ordinances to local government workers, contracts with local governments and where tax abatement is offered to employers. Gov. John Kitzhaber has not yet signed the bill. Across the nation, 65 governmental jurisdictions have enacted living wage ordinances. In Oregon, Corvallis, Portland and Multnomah County have living-wage ordinances. Fire station appeal A former city councilman will probably file an appeal of the City Council's affirmation of plans for a new fire station. Brent Thompson, whose appeal of a Planning Commission approval for the new fire station was Tuesday rejected by the City Council, said prior to the meeting he would take the issue on to the Oregon Land Use Board of appeals. Thompson contends the building violates precepts in Ashland's comprehensive plan and Oregon land-use planning goals that discourage urban sprawl. Voters approved a $3.1 million bond levy to replace the current fire station at Siskiyou Boulevard and East Main Street in November 1999. Thompson filed a similar appeal on the former Hillah Temple Building that the city plans to convert for office use. LUBA will hear that appeal on Aug. 23. Construction drawings have not been completed for either building. The City Council would be consulted if a delay in soliciting bids for construction of either building were needed, said City Administrator Greg Scoles. Fireworks banned for rest of year The City Council on Tuesday approved an emergency ban on fireworks through the end of the fire season this year. Fire season usually runs from May to mid-October. Fireworks started a fire July 13 that caused $275,000 in damage to a home at 2000 Nezla St. During July, the Ashland Fire Department responded to 15 fireworks-related fires. The Nezla Street fire began when two boys were setting off fireworks in the street. One boy tossed a device into the air that ignited juniper bushes, which quickly spread flames to the house. City staff had recommended a fireworks ban in the city except during the June 23 to July 6 state-approved sale period. Council will discuss the recommendation at a later meeting. Sale of fireworks is already prohibited inside city limits. Sale and use of fireworks is prohibited in Medford. Talent, Phoenix and Central Point allow the sale and use of fireworks. Fireworks use is already banned in areas of dry vegetation under a 1996 Ashland ordinance. A special permit allows the July 4 pubic fireworks display at Southern Oregon University. |
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