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<br />COUNCIL CHAMBER – May 19, 2008 <br /> <br /> Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: <br />Dr. Brown, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Absent: Mr. Huja. <br /> <br />ANNOUNCEMENTS <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he would like to discuss the meeting he attended on sustainability <br />during other business. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris announced that the City will be providing a device for hearing <br />impaired persons for Council meetings if contacted in advance of a meeting. He said <br />th <br />Farmers in the Park will begin on May 28 in Meade Park. Mr. Norris said applications <br />will be taken starting on June 15 for the cooling assistance program. <br /> <br />AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS <br />: AIA AWARD FOR TRANSIT CENTER; PUBLIC <br />WORKS WEEK PROCLAMATION <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris presented the Public Works Week proclamation . <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris announced awards given to the Transit Center by the American <br />Institute of Architects and the Green Building Council. He said the Transit Center is the <br />first LEED certified public building in Virginia. He recognized former Mayor and <br />Delegate David Toscano who was instrumental in the creation of the Transit Center. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said that a “green” roof is also being installed on City Hall. <br /> <br />PUBLIC <br /> <br />th <br /> <br />Mr. Joshua Bare, 341 11 Street, N.W., representing the Hope Community Center <br />said the Center has had 8,000 bed nights and meals since December 2007 and will be <br />closing May 28. He said shelter has been found for some of the people, but others will <br />have none. He is seeking funding and emergency shelter care. <br /> <br /> Ms. Colette Hall, 101 Robertson Lane, President of the North Downtown <br />Residents Association, supported the request for an earlier start time for 24 hour permit <br />parking on Altamont Street. Speaking as a citizen, she asked what the tax rate will be <br />under the energy efficient tax rate ordinance. <br /> <br />th <br /> Ms. Lynn Wiber, 341 11 Street, N.W. said she has been living at the Hope <br />Community Center. She said soon people will be living in open spaces. She said there <br />are no public restrooms or water fountains available and no place for people to take <br />showers. <br /> <br /> Mr. Stratton Salidas, 704 Graves Street, said he hopes Council will not vote on <br />the conveyance of property for the Meadowcreek Parkway on June 2. He said there are a <br />lot of misconceptions about the road. He said the County cannot build their portion <br />without this land. He said the Parkway will not reduce traffic and downtown cannot <br />handle more cars. <br /> <br /> Mr. Peter Kleeman, 407 Hedge Street, referring to the resolution initiating the <br />process for historic designation of the Branham-Timberlake property, which Mr. Norris <br />said has been deferred, said that the Planning staff do not consider vacant land historic. <br />He said a discussion should be initiated about how to protect non-structures in general. <br /> <br /> Mr. Richard Collins, 108 Wilson Court, said that the trails around McIntire Park <br />are very quiet but that will change once the Parkway is built. He asked Council to think <br />about the trails and what is at stake here. <br /> <br /> Mr. Raymond Mason, 717 Cynthianna Avenue, said he received a letter from <br />Police Chief Longo saying that no problems were found with the investigation of the <br /> <br />