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2 <br /> <br /> Mr. Ben Bates, 106 Cameron Lane, said he is scared about real estate tax <br />projections and expenditure projections. He said Council has been avoiding making hard <br />decisions about expenditures. <br /> <br /> Ms. Joan Fenton, 419 E. Main Street, owner of businesses downtown, said the <br />signage for the Visitors Center's old location is still in place, better directional signage to <br />parking is needed, especially when the Market Street parking garage is full, and <br />increasing fees at the parking garages puts a strain on employees downtown. She asked <br />that the outdoor cafes be allowed to be in place in the winter. She acknowledged that <br />some of them were an eyesore last year, but she said the City could provide enforcement <br />to keep them looking good. <br /> <br /> Mr. Charles Weber, Locust Avenue, presented a chart showing City expenditures <br />since 1998. He said he is skeptical of the excuse of unfunded state mandates. He said <br />rising real estate taxes impact affordable housing. <br /> <br /> Mr. David Repass, 227 E. Jefferson Street, a member of the Elections Study Task <br />Force, expressed concern that comments made by Mr. Schilling at the previous meeting <br />were misleading. He questioned Mr. Schilling's accusation that members of the public <br />participated in the Task Force's public hearings often in spite of great pressure or duress <br />to remain silent. He said if this were true, Mr. Schilling should have brought it to the <br />attention of the Task Force and they would have taken corrective action. Responding to <br />comments previously made by Mr. Schilling about the nominating process in the <br />Democratic process, Mr. Repass said last's year nominating convention was open and <br />attended by over 530 citizens. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said he stands by his comments and nothing in them were false or <br />misleading. <br /> <br /> Mr. John Pfaltz, 1503 Rugby Road, said he feels the budget questionnaire in City <br />Notes was loaded. He said we should focus on City expenditures and said there have <br />been a significant number of employees added. He suggested that Council direct the City <br />Manager to build a budget based on no more than the 2.7% increase in the Consumer <br />Product Index. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jock Yellott, 311 E. Market Street, proposed an amendment to Council' s <br />policy regarding sale of City property that was adopted at the previous meeting which <br />would require a follow up when there are conditions on sales. He cited the coal tower <br />sale where there was a promise to improve the property but it was never done. He also <br />asked for clarification on the policy that allows only two Councilors to put a sale of <br />property on the agenda when it takes three Councilors to put something on an agenda in <br />other situations. <br /> <br />AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: OUTGOING BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL <br />REVIEW MEMBER <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown presented a proclamation acknowledging the service of outgoing <br />Board of Architectural Review member Joan Fenton. <br /> <br />CONSENT AGENDA <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati removed the ordinance closing Leander Street from the consent <br />agenda. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said that the $68,500 provided by the University of Virginia for a <br />housing inspector for properties adjacent to the University is a positive move and a <br />win/win situation for neighborhoods. He said this will also free up an inspector to focus <br />on other neighborhoods. <br /> <br /> On motion by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Schilling, the following consent <br />agenda items were approved, with the minutes of December 17 corrected by Mr. <br /> <br /> <br />