COUNCIL POSITION 6

Eric

I think many of us live in Ashland because of its trails and parks. I meet visitors from mountain biking towns like Bellingham WA and Bend OR are frequenting Ashland more and more with reports that they love it here. Word is spreading Ashland is great place to ride and stay, and from targeted campaigns from

Travel Ashland and the Chamber of Commerce. The number of mountain bikers is growing, and growing... And that’s a blessing to our livability and tourist economy.

I also think we need to get ahead of trail expansion and bike-friendly infrastructure before more hiker/biker conflict arises. Ashland’s trails are getting congested, as is town with traffic and bikes. Multi use designations and signs need to be deployed. More trails and multiuse designations will help alleviate congestion and make hikers and bikers feel safer.

Jim

Mountain bike trails and hiking trails are becoming just as synonymous with Ashland as OSF, SOU, and Lithia Park. They are essential.

Eric

I know the Ashland watershed trails network intimately, particularly the bike trails, because I ride them multiple times per week, and have for years. Last Saturday, October 1, I raced in the Ashland Mountain Challenge that took us from the top of Mt. Ashland, down through Bull Gap, Missing Links, Jabberwocky, over to the West side’s Hitt Road, and then back up to BTI for the final segment. That race course passes thru USFS land, APRC land and City of Ashland (public works) land. The multi-jurisdictional management needs to be better optimization for recreation and ecological values.

For example, the city of Ashland owns Imperatrice property, while APRC has control over the land surrounding the Wastewater Treatment Plant. I would hope that APRC and the City could arrange land swaps and MOUs that allow lands like Imperatrice to be used as trails and open space and the open space around the wastewater treatment plant to be used as a much-needed artificial wetland.

USFS, Forest Lands Commission, APRC and City of Ashland need to be more seamlessly connected in order to provide for the needs of riders — like permitting for special events and new trails. I think having mountain bikers on the Parks Commission and City Council will help RVMBA bring all interested parties together to work toward improving alignments.

Jim

I am acutely aware of our trail system. I began working on my website and book AshlandTrails.com, 11 years ago so I’ve trespassed on most of the private land which is the greatest limitation for many new trail opportunities. I’ve also heard both sides of the Siskiyou Mountain Park connectors, e-bike arguments, decommissioning trail discussions, Strava maps of illegal trail use, and the sloth-like movement of the US Forest Service. Yeah, I’m into it.

Eric

RVMBA Sustainable Trails Plan is awesome! I’m very grateful for the plan. It got the ball rolling with APRC and motivated them to address mountain bikers concerns in the existing watershed. I think there’s a lot of ready to go projects in there. Ashland will be wise to keep them prioritized and implemented.

My wife Brooke’s involvement in the Trails Subcommittee is gaining progress on Wonder bailout trail. She’s hoping that APRC will be able to get a solid process streamlined for proposing new and modified trails. I hope that mountain bike community and RVMBA will continue to work cooperatively with APRC to keep the ball rolling.

Also, I’m doing work on trails connectivity in the Open Space group. Its inspiring me to think big... like the 1,952 acre “Madrone Ridge Ranch” property that would connect the West side of the watershed’s No Candies and Hitt Road trials all the way down to Ashland Mine Rd.

By the way, I don’t think its in that Trails Plan, but RVMBA’s Mt A Jumpline fundraising is going good and Ashlanders are getting excited. If we’re lucky we’ll be riding that next year, I bet. Amazing, a destination world class pro jump line here in Ashland! That will be a new tourist draw. Thanks RVMBA!

Jim

The plan is perfect in theory. I haven’t seen the most recent map but the map I saw last year had some trails that made more sense and some that were for a more specialized population of mountain bikers. Here’s what I believe the role of a City Councilor is – RVMBA pitches as many trails as it can; AWTA presents its vision for the trails; hikers, dog walkers, and the elderly express their concerns and ideas; the Parks Trail Commission chimes in; and council approves a prioritized list of projects, with transparent timeframes and price tags, whereby nobody gets everything they want but everybody gets some things.

My goal is to push so that some action on a trail plan begins sooner rather than later.

Eric

I’m voting No and No. But that will be decided before the new Council. So, if I’m a new Councilor I’ll work with what the voters decide

Jim

I will vote for and support both. The great things our parks department and staff continue to provide the community are different, and separate, from the arrogance and mismanagement the upper levels of parks decision makers have exhibited in recent years.

Eric

I love Ashland and want to represent you in Council. I feel like it’s a great place to live that’s getting better. I love all the new bike energy in town: more people riding, finding new rides, new businesses, teams, ebikes, races, DEVO, and NICA! The bike community is really helping drive wonderful culture. Let’s keep it going... I envision more of those things we love, in this great town we live in.

I also see a lot of work ahead of us keeping up with City of Ashland business. We have a lot of issues, to name a few:

• develop a more outdoor recreation economy for local business to thrive;

• encourage smart growth and affordable housing for families and the working class;

• continue to set the example for community resiliency around emergency preparedness, health, safety, and renewable energy;

• foster support, stability, innovation, and gratitude to City offices and operations.

I think there will be number of infrastructure projects built in the coming years aimed at increasing our livability and sustainability like freshwater expansion, renewable energy projects, affordable housing, Parks and Recreation projects, trail expansion, bike park development, and more bike friendly infrastructure. I’m eager to see the pool get built. And I also think we should start planning for a larger indoor/outdoor sports facility that all citizens can use year around — especially during extreme heat and smoke events.

I envision us building more trails and more people riding bikes in Ashland. I see more mountain biking close to town. And I’m hoping we continue growing into a destination mountain bike town we’re proud of! Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to vote all the way down the ballot to City Council Nov. 8.

Jim

My vision for Ashland is a community where all passions are respected and where the city supports a diversity of activities and people. A community where we embrace new ideas and economies without sacrificing our unique, historic character. A community where the less fortunate feel that the entire community respects them and are willing to sacrifice time and convenience for their less fortunate brothers and sisters. A community doing its part to reduce climate change’s effects by reducing wildfire risk, lowering all of our carbon footprints, and maximizing and conserving our drinking water supply. A community willing to reject reflexive NIMBYism and find substantial areas for workforce housing. A community with a vibrant, multi-aged, multi-racial, multi-cultural downtown with an eclectic, welcoming attitude. My vision for Ashland is a place where we all feel welcome and a place we are all proud to call our home.