S O U R C E

MAY, 2013

2012 Water Quality Report The City of Ashland provides exceptional water and

vigilantly safeguards its water supplies in order

to continue providing safe drinking water for our

residents. The 2012 Water Quality Report is now

available at www.ashland.or.us/2012WaterReport.

Hard copies are available at the Ashland Public

Library, SOU Library, Council Chambers, and City

offices. For more information please contact the

Water Department at 541-488-5353.▼

THE CITIZEN’S SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY OF ASHLAND

Sprinkler Spruce Up

Spring is often a time for tackling

those tough chores indoors. But you

can also save water and money outdoors with a little sprin-

kler spruce-up this season. If you have an irrigation system,

chances are it has been dormant for the past several months.

Take a few minutes to check your system for common prob-

lems, such as leaks or malfunctioning sprinkler heads.

Just one broken sprinkler head could waste as much as

25,000 gallons of water and more than $75 over a six-month

irrigation season. Before you ramp up your watering this

spring, spruce up your irrigation system by remembering

four simple steps—inspect, connect, direct, and select:

Inspect. Check your system for clogged, broken, or miss-

ing sprinkler heads. If you're not the do–it-yourself type,

go with a pro. Look for an irrigation professional certi-

fied through the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board to

(See, Sprinklers, Back Page)

Demonstration Garden Tours Soak up the sights and smells of sum-mer while learning about the gardens at North Mountain Park with volunteer docent and master gardener Susan Lan-der. Discover how to attract wildlife and conserve water in the Butterfly, Amphibian-Reptile and Native Plants Gardens. Step into the past in the Heir-loom Garden and enjoy the fragrance of the Herb Gardens. Private tours can be arranged. These free tours are for ages 10 and up and will be held June 12, July 10, and August 14, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Register online at www.ashland.or.us/register or call the Nature Center at 541-488-6606. ▼

Free Concerts in Lithia Park The Ashland City Band Concerts will be held at the Butler Bandshell every Thursday, from June 20 to August 15, from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. A special per-formance will take place on Thursday, July 4, time TBA. Bring a picnic and enjoy some wonderful music! ▼

Stay informed. For all the latest news visit www.ashland.or.us. Sign up for e-mail alerts!

Cut itCut it

Short!Short!

If your property is

1 Acre or smaller: Cut and maintain grass and weeds to no

more than 4” in height

On the entire property

On abutting park rows and other right of

ways

If your property is

Greater Than 1 Acre: Cut and maintain grass and weeds to no

more than 4” in height...

On abutting park rows and other right

of ways

Within 30 feet of every structure

In a 15 foot wide buffer strip around

your property

In a 15 foot wide buffer next to access

roads and driveways through proper-

ties

Weed Abatement Success

Short grass and weeds make a

huge difference to firefighters and

your neighborhood. This photo

from the 2010 Oak Knoll fire is

from an empty lot where the grass

and weeds had been cut short

throughout the summer. When hot

embers from just a few hundred

feet away landed on the short

vegetation, the grass and weeds

ignited, but did not support the rapid spread of intense fire. In fact, this open

lot provided a safe working space that firefighters used to help extinguish the

fire.

Unabated Weeds Tall, dead grass ignites easily and spreads

wildfire quickly. By following weed abate-

ment requirements, you will make a differ-

ence in how a wildfire could spread

throughout Ashland. This photo from the

2010 Oak Knoll fire shows how tall, dead

grass produced big, fast-moving flames.

Grass fires and wildfires are ignited every year in Ashland whether by

people or by lightning. Whether it’s personal property or our water-

shed, we have a lot to lose when it comes to wildfires. By cutting

grass and weeds, you reduce the ability for fire to spread as quickly, thus reducing the fire risk in

our community.

Ashland Municipal Code (Section 9.04) requires landowners or occupants to cut grass and weeds by

June 15th each year and maintain that height throughout fire season. This applies to all lots within

the City limits. Compliance with the weed abatement ordinance will substantially improve the over-

all fire safety in our community, as well as enhance the appearance of the neighborhood where

your property is located. Failure to abate and maintain weeds and grass by June 15th each year

can result in fines up to $427 each day the violation exists, plus any abatement and staff costs.

More information about weed abatement and a list of contractors is available at our website

www.ashland.or.us/weedabatement or call Weed Abatement at 541.552.2246.

Why Weed Abatement?

To file a weed abatement complaint after June 15, submit a writ-

ten complaint form found at www.ashland.or.us/weedabatement.

In order to better facilitate the use of staff time, complaints will

only be accepted in writing using the form at this site.

Keep itKeep it

Short!Short!

Cut WeedsCut WeedsCut Weeds

& Grass& Grass& Grass

by June 15thby June 15thby June 15th

Sprinklers Continued from Page 1

help you maintain your system. Connect. Examine points where the sprinkler

heads connect to pipes or hoses. If water pools in your landscape or you have large wet areas, you could have a leak in your system. A leak about as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen can waste as much as 6,300 gallons of water per month.

Direct. Are you watering the driveway, house, or sidewalk instead of your yard? Redirect sprinklers to apply water only to the landscape.

Select. An improperly scheduled irrigation con-troller can waste a lot of water and money. Update your system's schedule with the seasons, or select a WaterSense labeled smart controller to take the guesswork out of scheduling. Call 541-552-2057 during the watering season for updated weather and controller scheduling information.

The City of Ashland offers many great resources to assist you in managing your landscape. Check out the water-wise landscaping webpage www.ashland.or.us/waterwise. Visit the Conservation webpage at www.ashland.or.us/conserve or call 541-552-2062 to take advantage of our free sprinkler evaluation pro-gram.▼

Daniel Meyer Pool The Daniel Meyer Pool will host an opening day event with activities for all ages! Open swim session from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 14, and admission is only $1 per person! Come and learn about new and ex-citing programs at the pool this summer. The Daniel Meyer Pool is located at 1705 Homes Ave. in Hunter Park. Learn more about summer events and activities at the pool at www.ashland.or.us/swim or call 541-488-0313. ▼

Fourth of July Run The 37th Annual 4th of July Run will be held on Thursday, July 4, 2013. Register on-line at www.ashland.or.us/julyrun by June 14th for the 10K (6.2-mile) run or the 2-mile walk/run and receive this year’s 4th of July t-shirt free. The cost is $22 for ages 13 and up; $10 for ages 12 and under.▼

City Calendar □ City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays at

7:00 p.m. Study sessions occur on the day before at 5:30 p.m.

□ Planning Commission meets on the second Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Study sessions occur on the fourth Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

□ Airport Commission meets on the first Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

□ Conservation Commission meets on the fourth Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

□ Firewise Commission meets on the third Wednesday at noon

□ Forest Lands Commission meets on the second Tues-day at 5:30 p.m.

□ Historic Commission meets on the Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. (the Wednesday prior to the Tuesday Plan-ning Commission)

□ Housing Commission meets on the fourth Wednes-day at 4:00 p.m.

□ Parks and Recreation Commission meets on the fourth Monday at 7:00 p.m. Study session occurs on the third Monday.

□ Public Art Commission meets on the third Friday at 8:15 a.m.

□ Transportation Commission meets on the fourth Thursday at 6:00 p.m.

□ Tree Commission meets on the Thursday before the Tuesday Planning Commission Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

▲Many of the above meetings are cablecast live on channel 9 and replayed on channel 14. ▲Meetings are held either at Council Chambers, 1175 East Main, or at the Community Development Building, 51 Winburn Way. ▲For information about all City meetings please call City Administration at 541-488-6002. ▲Back issues of the City Source are posted under “Document Center” on the City’s Website, www.ashland.or.us. ▲TTY 1-800-735-2900.

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