A Few Minutes with the Mayor – May 2024

SOME THOUGHT-PROVOKING agenda items were on a lengthy City Council Meeting, held on April 2, 2024. I felt this Council meeting showed the City Council, and the audience members who spoke that night, at their best. Reasoned, measured, and respectful comments were offered by all.

The first item on the agenda that night was “Resolution No. R2024-009 – A Resolution Approving a Jackson County Animal Control Service District and Consenting to the Inclusion of the City Territory within the Boundaries of the District.” Basically, this complicated agenda item consisted of County Commissioner Dave Dotterer, along with County Representatives, asking the city to agree to a resolution, approving the Jackson County Board of Commissioners’ proposed order of forming a Jackson County Animal Control Service District.

The resolution would allow Jacksonville voters to vote on establishing the district, with a permanent property tax rate limit of $0.1500% per 1,000 of assessed value. On the surface, it seems pretty simple: sign the resolution and let our voters decide. However, the more the Council studied the resolution, and asked questions of the County Representatives, the more complicated simply signing the Resolution seemed. This is a typical catch 22 situation—the county needs enough support, from cities in the county, to put this resolution on the November ballot.

Conversely, they are not able to give complete information about what the ballot measure would say. Basically, the measure would allow Jackson County to build and maintain a new animal shelter. A shelter is mandated by Chapter 451 of the Oregon Revised Statues, to provide certain services to Jackson County residents. The proposed permanent tax rate of $0.1500% per $1,000 of assessed value seems high to most people. However, some sort of permanent tax rate is necessary to maintain a mandated animal shelter. This shelter is a completely separate entity than the Southern Oregon Humane Society and other animal shelters throughout the county. Some of the animals housed at the Jackson County Animal Shelter are strays that were at risk to themselves, or others. Some are seized in legal/police matters and held pending trial. They cannot be adopted out until their owners go to trial, or the owner surrenders them. Some animals are voluntarily surrendered when their owners can no longer care for them. The County shelter was built prior to 1975 and expanded twice, in 1975 and 1991. It currently houses 103 dogs in 86 kennels. The shelter is unable to accommodate cats currently. The shelter has, without a doubt, outgrown the current facility.

The current facility has reached its capacity to be renovated, remodeled, and expanded to accommodate the need for housing and care, of dogs, cats, and other animals. Again, at issue is whether the City of Jacksonville should be included in the new Animal Control Service District, and should it be built under the current proposal? What can the County do to make the proposal clear and easy to understand? What are the options the County has, if they do not obtain signed resolutions from enough cities? If we are not included in the new district, what sources will we have for the expenses of animal control in Jacksonville?

So, there you have it! It is a confusing situation. The City Council ultimately decided to wait on a decision regarding signing a resolution and bringing it to you on the November ballot, until we have more information. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners does not have an easy task in solving this issue and we wish them the best of luck in navigating these muddy waters.

Also, at the April 2, 2024 meeting, Council appointed three new members to the Budget Committee. Please join me in welcoming Laurie McKenzie-Carter, Linda Graham, and Brian Barr to the Committee. This was timely because, as I write this column, we are in the midst of budget season. The Budget Committee met on April 4, 2024, to study a new type of budget format, that will be used going forward. The Budget Committee meeting, to form and approve the budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025, is scheduled for May 9, 2024. If a second meeting is needed, it will be held on May 23, 2024. The meetings are held at 4pm in the upstairs Assembly Room at City Hall, if you would like to attend.

Finally, on April 2, 2024, Council reviewed Lodging Grant Applications approved and forwarded by the Transient Lodging Committee from their March 14, 2024 meeting. The three applications awarded were as follows: $7,000 to Art Presence for building and executing a marketing plan. $5,000 to Historic Jacksonville, Inc. for adding a virtual component to the “Jacksonville Museum Without Walls” project. A watershed moment occurred as the Council voted to award $60,000 to the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, to support a new Actionable Marketing Campaign. To fulfill the Chamber mission of supporting our business community, this campaign will address ways and means to promote Jacksonville. It appears the stars have aligned with the appointments of Belita Palu-ay and Julie Baker as Co-Directors of the Chamber. The projects coming from the Chamber are promising and exciting. We are legally required to spend funds on tourism, from a percentage of funds collected from lodging taxes. All three of these projects more than meet these requirements for tourism funding. The money is restricted to this use and will be well spent.

This is only a partial recap of the April 2 City Council Meeting. To listen to the complete meeting, please go to the city web page and listen to the audio. We will keep you informed about Resolution R2024-009, regarding the Jackson County Animal Control Service District, as events unfold.

Featured Image: l-r: Brian Dunn, Chamber of Commerce President, Sabrah Maple, Maple Creative Studio, Belita Palu-ay, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and Jacksonville Review Associate Editor.