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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING <br /> <br />A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE <br />HELD ON Saturday, March 12, 2005 AT 10:00 a.m. IN THE Tonsler Recreation Center <br /> <br />THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: <br /> <br />Community Budget Forum <br /> <br />BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR <br /> <br />BY Jeanne Cox <br /> <br />TONSLER RECREATION CENTER - March 12, 2005 <br /> <br /> Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: <br />Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Schilling. Absent: Dr. Brown <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell and Leslie Beauregard, Budget Manager, reviewed the proposed <br />FY 2006 budget. <br /> <br /> Councilors, staff and the public divided up into four groups and discussed the <br />proposed budget, and Councilors presented a summary of comments they heard. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he heard comments about: costs going up; service oriented <br />organization; personnel is a big factor; the budget goes up 5% to maintain services; can <br />we be smarter about how we spend on education so we do not have to spend on other <br />things (jail, etc.); affordable housing; and concern about reduced funding for public <br />housing. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he tried to channel the discussion to talk about community <br />values and how we spend money. He said education and economic development were <br />discussed; several said consolidation of services (with Albemarle County and University <br />of Virginia) should be explored; there should be pre-pre-school education resources; <br />some said spend more, some less on arts; lack of affordable housing; and there should be <br />a faster rate of growth on economic development. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton said she heard three general themes: economic development; <br />infrastructure investment, particularly in neighborhoods that have been neglected; and <br />affordable housing. She said she appreciates the input and ideas. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said he heard concerns about funding Quality Community Council; <br />effect of downsizing; pedestrian safety, traffic calming and bike lanes; expanding the <br />student bus passes to year round; providing bus service to Charlottesville High School in <br />morning and afternoon; adding stop signs and traffic lights in neighborhoods; greater <br />traffic enforcement; Crescent Hall and public housing; cost of Art-in-Place; cut <br />administrators rather than lower level staff; are we on the road to reversion in the long- <br />term; need for future budget projections; greater economic development; why has budget <br />strategy changed (why 4% decrease in tax rate proposed when zero or 2% decrease was <br />in guidelines); where are the extra police officers who were funded with the car decal <br />increase; restorative justice; and police pay. <br /> <br />The meeting was adjourned. <br /> <br />President Clerk <br /> <br /> <br />