Rachel Crawford, who said she is a professional spiritual coach and tarot reader, asked the Board of City Commissioners on Aug. 28 to repeal City Code 13-002, a 1939 ordinance that makes it unlawful to practice fortune-telling within Ashland.

Crawford said the ordinance prevents her from opening an in-person business in the city to help clients with tarot, reiki and related services. "No government entity should be in the position of telling any business owner what kind of religious or spiritual practices they can bring into their business," she told the commission. She argued that the ordinance could violate First Amendment protections for free speech and religious expression and said similar ordinances have been overturned in court.

City staff said the city manager has been in contact with Crawford, has reviewed her emails and intends to bring proposed next steps to the commission. The city manager said he will review the ordinance and related processes; he also noted zoning and business-license issues that may affect Crawford's planned storefront if the proposed location would fall within distance limits from a church.

Crawford said she had applied for a business license to sell physical products and that the license was issued, but she was told (or believed) she could not apply for in-person readings in some contexts such as Visit Ashland market events or if a proposed storefront would fall within the city's proximity limit to churches. The city manager said he would meet with Crawford next week to review permitting, conditional-use questions and zoning concerns.

No repeal vote occurred; staff said they will return to the commission with recommendations.