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Council records votes on traffic, tax, zoning, social media policy, contracts and a bank lease
Summary
At the Aug. 7 meeting the council approved stop signs at Allegiance Ave/Liberty Lane, set the property tax rate at 0.1803 (no rate change), approved a rezoning for 300 South Henry Clay, authorized certain officials to post for the city on social media, and approved a one-year Callaway Bank lease extension; several other resolutions and a software contract were moved.
The Ashland City Council met Aug. 7, 2024, and recorded actions on multiple ordinances and resolutions across traffic safety, taxation, zoning, governance and contracts.
Traffic: The council approved Council Bill 2024-32, authorizing placement of stop signs at the intersection of Allegiance Avenue and East Liberty Lane for east- and westbound Liberty Lane traffic. Staff explained prior engineering using MUTCD guidance did not meet stop-sign thresholds, but the ordinance directs staff to install 36-inch stop signs and advanced 'stop ahead' signage and may include solar-powered flashing 'blinker' signs to improve uphill visibility.
Taxes: The council adopted Ordinance 1486 in a second and final reading to set the city property tax rate for fiscal year 2024 at 0.1803 — the same rate as the prior year — with anticipated revenues of approximately $189,000. Staff said the modest revenue increase of about $12,473 was due to increased property valuation rather than a rate increase.
Zoning: The council approved Order 1487, rezoning a portion of land at 300 South Henry Clay (former Ashland Healthcare/HCR Enterprises) from R-1 to R-3. Staff recommended approval, noting that staying R-1 would severely limit viable reuse without costly conversion.
Governance and staff authority: Ordinance 1488 passed to clarify which city officials may post on behalf of the city on social media. The code amendment designates the city administrator, mayor and city clerk with general posting authority and allows the police chief and public works director to post for emergencies; other employees were directed to clearly label personal posts as opinion to limit liability.
Contracts and appointments: The council moved to approve a resolution to enter into an agreement with Granicus for SmartGov/SmartCode software under updated renewal terms; staff summarized negotiation results (no increase in year one, then 5% increases in subsequent years). The council also approved a resolution to extend Callaway Bank's lease through Jan. 14, 2026 with an early-release option; the extension carries no rent increase and requires Callaway to pay 2025 real estate taxes and remove its ATM and repair areas it alters. A resolution appointing a member to the East Ashland Plaza Community Improvement District board was moved and seconded.
Votes recorded in the transcript were predominantly voice 'Aye' responses during roll calls for each item; where the transcript includes explicit roll-call "Aye" answers, the record below marks approval. Where a final recorded tally or roll-call list was not provided in the excerpt, outcome is reported as "approved" when the motion was moved and affirmative voice votes followed in the transcript.
Next steps: Items that required second readings or additional documentation will return to the council as required by the city's ordinance-reading procedure.
