Ashland City Council Study Session - August 17, 2026

The Ashland City Council held a study session on August 17, 2026, focusing primarily on public safety and municipal operations reports, as well as significant discussions on building permit fee restructuring and the management of a $4 million payment from Asante related to healthcare funding. The Police Department presented its 2025 annual report, highlighting reductions in use of force incidents and overall crime trends, while noting an increase in violent crimes. The council discussed the establishment of a dedicated building fund to achieve full cost recovery for building permits, including proposed fee increases effective January 2027, and the creation of a reserve fund to reduce general fund subsidies. The council showed support for moving forward with the building fund and fee adjustments, with considerations for affordable housing incentives and potential deferral of system development charges. Additionally, the council deliberated on the appropriate handling of the $4 million Asante payment, emphasizing the need to adhere to financial policies while exploring options to allocate funds toward healthcare services, grant writing, and community health initiatives. Public testimony underscored the urgency of addressing healthcare access in the region, and council members expressed interest in forming committees and obtaining legal opinions to guide the use of these funds. Motions to extend the meeting were passed to accommodate thorough discussion on these topics.