Home

Transition Towns

Permaculture

Action Groups

Share Ideas

Sustainability Inventory

Grow Local

Multi-Media

Events

Links

Contact Us

NUGGETS FROM THE VISIONING EVENING…

We want relationships like clans that care and support each other in neighborhoods

We want THRIVABILITY not just SUSTAINABILITY

We want work that is meaningful not just work for profit. We each want to make a contribution to the well-being of the community

We have hit Separation Apex – it is time to move away from the cult of the individual and toward a more connected experience

We want local jobs based on sustaining and restoring the land and our watersheds. Suggestion: myco-remediation.

We value coming together.

We want more Open Space Technology or ways in which we can come together as a community and explore our options, assumptions, ways of seeing/doing

We want to stir the pot and explore new ideas and new ways of seeing

We want to map out a process to engage directly with the council

We need a Directory, of Assets within our community (not just tangibles, but experiences, wisdom, skills, etc.) Perhaps a Wiki site or something?

QUESTIONS FROM THE VISONING EVENING

How do we cool ourselves in 100 degree weather?

How do we integrate new people into the community?

What is the size of the police force?

How do you assure diversity with limited growth?

Bring in industry?

What is affordable housing?

TTAI’s Top Vision Elements

1. Citizens understand need to reduce CO2 emissions

2. City uses balanced accounting (TBL or PD)

3. Those who police the city live in the city

4. Reduce fossil fuel dependency by 80%

5. We are a zero-waste and zero-net city

6. We are a zero toxin city.

7. Citizens understand and live within carrying capacity.

8. Police are pro-active in promoting peace.

9. City government works pro actively to remove barriers to sustainability

10. Soils department enhancing fertility and building top soil

11. Water is extensively conserved and reused; loss is only 10-20% max.

12. We live in relatively car-free nodes in which we can walk no more than 1/2 mile to most shopping, jobs and services, as well as natural areas and community gardens on the periphery of each node. These nodes are connected by public transportation and delivery vehicles.

13. City assists economic development of existing sevyors and builds resiliency

14. The city is zero-net or negative energy

15. Food is grown throughout the city and the produce is available to everyone

Summary of Values From TTAI

Values	+ - PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY - We value the active participation of citizens in discussion and decision making
Values	Accountability - Apply self regulation and accept and design feedback loops
Values	Act locally in response to all issues
Values	BALANCE among economic, environmental, and social concerns
Values	Conservation of resource use
Values	Decentralization
Values	Design for abundance
Values	Diversity of biological and cultural elements
Values	Earth Care
Values	Education and identification of global issues that affect us.
Values	Efficient design
Values	Equity
Values	INNOVATION and CREATIVITY - We value active and open exploration...thinking outside the box
Values	INTEGRATE rather than Segregate
Values	INTERDEPENDENCE - We value and recognize our interdependence on one another and all elements of our natural environment, locally and globally
Values	JOY - We value the joy, fun, humor, and celebration
Values	Living w Values within the ecological carrying capacity of our region
Values	Make decisions at the lowest effective level
Values	Open government
Values	People Care
Values	Permaculture Ethics
Values	Planning for future scenarios, short, medium, and long term
Values	Precautionary Principle
Values	PREPAREDNESS - We plan for possible futures
Values	PROCESS and means are as important as outcome or ends
Values	Redundant systems
Values	Resilient systems
Values	RESPONSIBILITY - Fundamental ethic and obligation to take full responsibility for our impact as current participants in the web of life
Values	Responsibility to understand and live within the ecological and biological constraints of Earth
Values	THRIVABILITY - We value a sense of fulfillment and community well-being as an outcome of our actions
Values	Transparent government
Values	Use biological services first
Values	Values Clean air, food, and water
Values	We value the marginal
Values	Zero waste design

Raw Input from Meetings:

Main	Category	Sub	Statement
Goals	Business / Economy	Local	Diversify local economy - remove obstacles
Goals	Business / Economy	planning	Re-think development and enterprise zones
Goals	Environmental	Planning	EDAP
Goals	Environmental	planning	revision for solar orientation and rain water infiltration design standards for new and retrofit
Goals	Government	food	Establish Food Security Commission
Goals	Government	planning	All planning should meet the looming crisis of Peak Oil, Climate Change, and Ecological/Biological constraints Crisis preparation
Goals	Government	Renewable energy	Fund citizen renewable energy designs
Values	Business / Economy	diversity	More diverse economy
Values	Business / Economy	environment	understand the connection between the environment and money
Values	Business / Economy	Families	support young families and diverse incomes
Values	Business / Economy	forests	preservation of old forests for economic stimulus plan
Values	Business / Economy	Investments	Local banking Local investing Money deposited and loaned locally Mass credit union
Values	Business / Economy	Jobs	jobs are connected with our values. Meaningful work - not having jobs for their own sake just to have money. Meaningful work - Jobs reflect our values Work contributes to community quality Work contributes to the community Job creation tied to our unique habitat
Values	Business / Economy	local	Import substitution and export assessment We have developed safety metrics regarding Food, Air, Water, etc.
Values	Business / Economy	money	Does money dictate our time, lives? Vision – money less valuable
Values	Business / Economy	skills	trade of skills instead of money
Values	Education	local	Educated here
Values	Education	Schools	School - small class size, smaller schools
Values	Education	Schools	School systems bring issues to the children, how to communicate.
Values	education	sustainable	Sustainable leadership academy
Values	Energy	Renewable energy	Encourage renewable fuels
Values	Environment	chemicals	Ashland educates its citizens about dangers of household and yard chemical toxins. Ashland is a chemical free town - no pesticides and herbicides Ashland is chemical/pesticide free town We are a zero-toxin community (no pesticides, herbicides, etc.)
Values	Environment	diversity	Ecological diversity of this area
Values	Environment	fungi	Pollution remediation and medicinal mushroom industries Create a $37 billion dollar industry worldwide Siskiyous hold some of the rarest mushroom diversity in the world “restoration to feed the nation” Preservation of forest, mycological diversity through setting up economic stimulus programs, business plans for a living forest Oyster mushroom cleans and filters water
Values	Environment	stewardship	Stewardship not development
Values	Environment	water	Ashland has clean pure water.
Values	Environment	Water	Encourage grey water systems Encourage rainwater catchment Don't wash hotel sheets every day
Values	Environmental	diversity	Preserving genetics Promote ecological diversity
Values	Environmental	investments	Allow funding for land and watershed restoration programs – don’t stand in the way
Values	Environmental	planning	Carried out our Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP)
Values	Food	land	"Restoration to feed the nation"
Values	Food	land	Begin the process of increasing soil fertility in Ashland
Values	Government	citizenry	Open a bridge between government and citizens Vibrant civic involvement Volunteer culture
Values	Government	environment	Government connect with nature and spirit
Values	Government	role	Limited government and personal sovereignty
Values	Health/Well-being	well-being	a higher awareness of earth as a living being, not just about what humans want. All people have physical, mental, and emotional well-being Appreciating what you have basic needs being met Beauty and quiet of natural environment Creative service to spiritual
Values	Health/Wellness	medical	Wellness care
Values	permaculture	permaculture	Working in greater cooperation with nature
Values	Social	community	Consensus based decision making cooperation
Values	Social	community	Design for Social Open Space - more common space, events, festivals, markets (centered around art, nature,
Values	Social	Environment	Treat earth as sentient being Value nature and we are integrated Being inter-related with nature
Values	Social	relations	Honor and value indigenous people Honor elders and open inter-gen exchange integrate new people into the community
Values	social	resources	Awareness of local resources
Values	Social	Skills	Use of talents
Values	Social	values	Values shift away from consumption
Values	Social	waste	Maximize what you have
Vision	Business / Economy	art	Outdoor art market in town
Vision	Business / Economy	downtown	Downtown – Real products and services Electric vehicle stores Seed and produce market Health clinic – herbal, nutrition center, energy Ashland credit Union – local currencies Land development/stewardship office Money school
Vision	Business / Economy	Economy	Growth economy – to developmental economy – to evolutionary economy Shift from growth economy to development and to evolutionary
Vision	Business / Economy	Economy	Local economics Clans that share and support each other Less fear – feel relaxed and supported within the community neighborhood Thriving local economy Very diverse, thriving economy
Vision	Business / Economy	families	Support young families and diverse incomes
Vision	Business / Economy	Food	Blackberry jam capital Ashland of the country
Vision	Business / Economy	Forest	Economic base in our living forest Forest based income streams – preservation of old growth ecosystems, Educational programs increasing environmental resiliency Healthy forest - bio-char production and export preserve old forests for economic stimulus plan Use forest in sustainable way Restoring land and watersheds (no clear cuts) Viability from the forest
Vision	Business / Economy	Fungi	Economy based on fungi "Restoration to feed the nation" Fungi “production” harvesting Economy based on mushrooms
Vision	Business / Economy	housing	Rent control
Vision	Business / Economy	Innovation	Embrace innovation
Vision	Business / Economy	investments	Cap personal holdings
Vision	Business / Economy	investments	Economy – support/facilitate local economy and local currencies Public jobs use local currencies Accept local currencies for utilities Complementary Currencies keep business local
Vision	Business / Economy	Investments	Slow money principles
Vision	Business / Economy	investments	The city has spearheaded the local economy by prioritizing its purchase of goods and services through local vendors who have likewise used local banking and other professional services, as well as hiring locally and providing as many locally produced products as possible. The city uses triple-bottom-line accounting and factors in the true cost of everything
Vision	Business / Economy	local	Create local industry City run programs to create jobs Infrastructure for forest restoration = local income industry - bring local in? Move from tourism to localism City will actively seek out and try to develop community assets BESIDES TOURISM. work here
Vision	Business / Economy	Local	The vast majority of people who work in Ashland live in Ashland and most people who live in Ashland work in Ashland.
Vision	Business / Economy	permaculture	Develop 800+ acres in Cascade foothills for Permaculture food/timber production with citizen participation (wood as savings plan) and solar/wind for entire city nestled within and above. Viewers across the valley (in Ashland) only see green growth. Use existing land and irrigation system to begin, but develop swales and Permaculture to make the growth permanent and less reliant on water. Solar and Wind serve the entire Ashland community.
Vision	Business / Economy	Products	Bring people in to appreciate our intellectual products
Vision	Business / Economy	Self reliant	self-reliant Community in food, energy, general supplies
Vision	Business / Economy	Skills	Skills trading
Vision	Business / Economy	tourism	Is the tourist business a viable industry as we had into peak oil and this transition? Tourism not viable Tourism to localism less reliant on tourism Tourists bear their proportionate share of the cost of maintaining city infrastructure. Tourists visit to learn about our innovative technologies Reduce reliance on outside economy, like tourists City seeks out and promotes assets besides tourism
Vision	education	Awareness	Awareness about: Earth as a sentient being, develop a civil rights of the earth We make decisions knowing we belong to nature (not other way around) We are self-sufficient so quality of living becomes the metric of success, not profit
Vision	Education	chemicals	Citizen education on transitioning off poisons
Vision	Education	Children	School honestly taught (John Kenneth Galbraith) Kids – Full time park supervision so kids can go to parks anytime and feel safe Livable life skills taught in schools Gardening skills taught Metric of success – how many kids have to leave to find employment Teach business skills …how? Small class size, smaller schools
Vision	Education	Jobs	Education that feeds job creation
Vision	Education	local	Ashland is sustainable model and education center to teach sustainable practices to other communities
Vision	Education	Money	Education on the effect of money use (and its design)
Vision	Education	permaculture	Ashland is a model for sustainability and educational center for teaching sustainability to other communities
Vision	Education	skills	Livable life skills taught in schools teach business skills in school gardening taught
Vision	Energy	Reduction	All homes and businesses are zero-net or negative energy Citizens understand the need to reduce energy use Reduced energy dependency and use by 80%
Vision	Energy	Renewable energy	Grizzly Peak solar collection Solar panels common
Vision	Energy	use	Ban on oil engines
Vision	Environment	Community	Ashland has many eco-self-reliant neighborhoods
Vision	environment	consumption	Belong instead of “belongings” Change “need” to “have” in future vision
Vision	Environment	Soil	Put soil fertility on top of list
Vision	Environment	waste	Ban plastic bags We are a zero-waste city. We have contests as to who can produce the least trash Encourage conservation
Vision	Environment	Water	Closed loop water collection / treatment Within city systems Within residences when possible generates energy
Vision	Environment	Water	Support a Keyline Water System for the Siskiyou range and Ashland
Vision	Environment	water	Water catchment systems commonplace Increase water collection Water rationing Better water management Water is extensively re-used so loss if only 10-20% Support grey water use and water catchment
Vision	Environmental	Air	Air quality – regulating emissions and businesses Clean Air
Vision	environmental	carrying capacity	Ashland grew no more than its projected population growth in the Regional Planning Process or reduced its population since 2009.Considers carrying capacity of entire region in decisions Embrace and enacted our responsibility to live within ecological limits We fully understand and have learned to live within the carrying capacity of our region. What is our carrying capacity? City analyze carrying capacity… Measure our footprint and its limits What’s the max? What needs to accelerate to regulate population What is the criteria we measure specifics on? Flesh these out and align with eco-sustainable principles
Vision	environmental	chemicals	No fluoride in water
Vision	Environmental	Climate Change	Carbon free environment Citizens understand the need to reduce CO2 emissions Carbon sequestering plan instead of carbon reduction Reduced CO2 emissions by 80% by 2025
Vision	Environmental	Climate Change	How do we cool ourselves in 100 degree + weather?
Vision	Environmental	Land	Banned lawns No lawns Take up pavement and plant orchards, gardens to feed local residents Less pavement, more leaves
Vision	environmental	Land	Connected to bioregion as a whole
Vision	environmental	metrics	Inventory system – what comes in and what goes out concern about reduced mobility?
Vision	Environmental	Metrics	Safety metrics – food, air, water are safe
Vision	Environmental	Noise	QUIET, natural sounds
Vision	Environmental	Plants	Native plants and animal restoration Non-native removal
Vision	environmental	water	Clean water
Vision	Food	availability	No one goes hungry More bicycle trails
Vision	Food	Food	Rogue Valley produces 50-90% of its food locally
Vision	Food	Gardens	Edible landscaping Front yard gardens Neighborhood garden projects Neighborhood gardens/clusters Neighborhood garden projects Neighborhood food production at 40% by 2015 Our bottom lands are planted intensively with fruits and vegetables Yards provide food and joy
Vision	Food	local	Place more priority on local food production We produce 50-89% of our organic food in the Rogue Valley
Vision	Food	soil	There is city-wide composting
Vision	Food	Storage	Food Bring back the community ice house and household ice boxes and root cellars (lower energy need by placing refrigerators under ground) Parks grow food
Vision	Food	Storage	Refrigerators and freezers underground
Vision	food	waste	No waste, waste = food
Vision	government	decisions	Consensus rather than up/down votes
Vision	Government	elections	Instant Runoff Voting
Vision	government	housing	Different housing paradigm – shared space
Vision	Government	Limited	Limited government and personal sovereignty
Vision	Government	Local	Local solutions sought The city makes greater use of local consultants and non-profits
Vision	government	Parks	Parks grow food
Vision	government	partnerships	partnership - connect with SOU Partnerships and connection amongst government, university, etc. Strengthen partnerships to private agencies to help Strong partnership with SOU Partnership (SOU/town)
Vision	government	planning	Design neighborhoods and clusters to be somewhat eco-self-sufficient Develop ways to connect to city projects Embrace change and proactively design for change Establish medium and long term goals Plans for community with reduced private mobility Educate city planners and staff in futures scenarios planning Sustainability element of the Comprehensive Plan
Vision	Government	Research	Research valued
Vision	Government	soil	City Soil Fertility Department Soils Division There is s Soils Dept charged with building top soil and enhancing fertility
Vision	Health/Wellbeing	wellbeing	Deep connection to nature and spirit Different definition of wealth – abundance. Residue of money well-spent Security Interconnected with community Slower pace Focus on beauty and quiet of natural environments Gratitude and appreciation for what we have, together and individually Lives led by passion not hunt for money People are healthy and happy People care - Fair share People growing food, creating energy who feel fulfilled in their work People happy and healthy - Happiness Index used Quality of living is our metric - highly self sufficient Slower, natural rhythm to life THRIVE not SUSTAIN Include spiritual well-being
Vision	Health/Wellness	medical	Equal high-quality healthcare available to all at low cost Health and Wellness Clinics Meet emergency needs Create emergency preparedness Co-ops Handle long-term care including use of local herbs Include the wellbeing of plants and animals Health and wellness clinics Meets all emergency health needs Promotes emergency preparedness includes wellbeing of soil, plants, animals Health co-ops Handle long-term care and prevention, uses local herbs Locally produced medicinal
Vision	Health/Wellness	medical	Wellness - health available without the current insurance paradigm
Vision	permaculture	permaculture	Aligned with Permaculture principles and ethics Adopt Precautionary Principle All systems closed loop Ashland is a leader in whole-systems solutions We consciously design redundant systems that back each other up in case of any failures We consider the impact of our actions within whole-systems Earth seen as living being Decisions made using whole-systems analysis Resilience systems (like in England in WWII) Whole-systems approaches embraced Whole-systems approaches to everything Plant what works, run experiments, test theories, think outside the box, don’t adhere to doctrine but instead really experiment…be playful! (This includes native plants, animals, etc. as everything is changing!) Remove obstacles to sustainable design Redundant systems Open to experimentation, testing of theories, thinking outside the box, playful Adopt Permaculture Ethics citywide People Care Earth Care Fair Share
Vision	Social	carrying capacity	How do you assure diversity with limited growth? Manage population growth by good land use Population growth management – birth rate, not through land use policy
Vision	Social	Children	Focus on hot issues with children
Vision	Social	Citizenry	Agree active, intelligent, respectful citizen involvement City volunteer program Connects with the community throughout all their processes Vibrant civic involvement Volunteer program
Vision	Social	community	Celebration – dancing, food, spirituality Celebrations, festivals occur seasonally, building culture Clans support and share with each other Club houses downtown for teens and community meetings Design social Open Space Commons areas Citywide events Citywide art
Vision	Social	community	Everyone friendly Friendliness abounds
Vision	Social	environment	We take our relationship to Earth seriously
Vision	Social	Law	Adhere to rule of law
Vision	Social	past	Look backwards to examples of community
Vision	Social	relations	Honor elders and open Inter-generational exchanges Honor and value indigenous people Intergenerational relationships and support and encouragement Social equity (knowledge, trust, quality interactions) is high The creatives are capitalized Locale – grow local citizens, full life-cycle, age in place
Vision	Social	relations	Passion and talent valued and supported
Vision	Social	relations	Relating where we live to our local ecology and environment
Vision	Transportation	Bikes	Dedicated bike paths (safe place, especially for kids)
Vision	Transportation	Bikes	Electric bikes
Vision	Transportation	energy	generates energy
Vision	Transportation	energy	More funding for electric vehicles
Vision	Transportation	energy	Uses renewable energy
Vision	transportation	planning	Design systems around people not cars
Vision	Transportation	public	Freight comes by rail
Vision	Transportation	public	Efficient, reliable, inexpensive public transport Good public transportation Monorail type transportation (to/from other communities) Rail RVTD expansion Strong transit systems – will help keep good air quality, tourists arrive by transit Tram Train travel access Public owned electric personal vehicles Public transit – no automobiles Trolley Connection with the other local communities via transportation – public and rail
Vision	Transportation	public	More funding for electric buses Transportation, freight and passenger, requires MPO w/RVCO
Vision	Transportation	traffic	Fewer cars No cars downtown - car free zone (like Curitiba) Sans automobiles Traffic-free downtown commercial area Close off certain streets to traffic
Vision	Transportation	traffic	Traffic on I-5 is reduced
Vision	Transportation	walking	We live in relatively car-free nodes in which we can walk no more than 1/2 mile to most shopping, jobs and services, as well as natural areas and community gardens on the periphery of each node. These nodes are connected by public transportation and delivery vehicles.

Click here to return to "Response to Goals" Page.