2006-03-20 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL CHAMBER - March 20, 2006 Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Schilling. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Lynch announced that the first public hearing on the Meadowcreek Parkway Interchange will be held on March 23. He said he will discuss changing Council’s March rd 23 work session during other business. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS : VIRGINIA FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK PROCLAMATION; POISON PREVENTION PROCLAMATION Dr. Brown presented the Poison Prevention and the Virginia Festival of the Book proclamations. PUBLIC Mr. Mark Haskins, Meriweather Street, president of the Little High Street Neighborhood Association, presented 60 letters asking that Council rescind the City’s support for the Mews project. He said the project is not well planned and he asked Council to act upon the request. Mr. Frank Blankenship, 317 Valley Road Extended, expressed support for the Little High Street Mews project. He said people need housing and the Salvation Army is full. He said it will only house 40 people who are covered by the Virginia with Disabilities Act and will provide a basic need. Ms. Kathleen O’Brien, 1104 Little High Street, said she is grateful for agencies such as Region Ten, but she cannot support this development. She said the concentration of clients goes against Region Ten’s integration of clients into the community. Mr. Peter Kleeman, 407 Hedge Street, requested that in the future when meetings on highway projects are held that they be held in the vicinity of the project. He requested that the City work with the consultants and make the information available after the meeting for those who cannot attend the meeting. Ms. Tatyanna Patten, 2209 Jefferson Park Avenue, representing the Rivanna Conservation Society, thanked the City for its support of the Rivanna River calendar. Ms. Gayle Russell, 114 West Park Drive, asked Council too support the Little High Street project. She said she works with people who the project will benefit and the Little High Street area is a safe place to live. She said housing and support is needed and she hopes the City will continue to support the project. Mr. Chad Freckman, 104 Northwood Circle, expressed concern with property value increases. He asked for an explanation of why the budget has almost doubled in the past ten years and what the money is being spent on. He said the large item pickup is a service that many people rely on and he asked that it be kept in place. Mr. M. Rick Turner, 1663 Brandywine Drive, spoke about the issue of requiring school uniforms. He said the debate is an issue of rights and there are many arguments for and against, with safety being the primary argument for them. He said another argument for them is improved self acceptance. Speaking as President of the NAACP, he said he hopes that there will be a broader discussion of the escalating problem of safety. CONSENT AGENDA Dr. Brown said that the resolution supporting Buckingham Branch Railroad’s request for State funding has been removed from the agenda.