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61 <br /> <br /> On motion by Ms. Slaughter, seconded by Mr. Vandever, <br />the minutes of the January 8th meeting were approved as <br />presented, with Mr. Toscano and Ms. Waters abstaining. <br /> <br />PUBLIC <br /> <br /> Ms. Charlotte Sherman, representing the League of Women <br />Voters, urged Council to endorse the Ptanning District <br />Regional Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) <br />and to expand the charge of the Regional Housing Task Force <br />in order to allow them to seek HUD funding. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tom Hill of Rugby Road urged Council to allow NUI <br />Corporation and Stone and Webster to bid on managing the gas <br />system. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix made the following remarks in response to <br />Mr. Hill's comments made during the past several Council <br />meetings. Staff have investigated both the NUI Corporation <br />and Stone and Webster. Neither firm operates a gas system <br />for any public owner. Stone and Webster does not manage the <br />Groton, Connecticut system as previously stated by Mr. Hill <br />because Groton does not have a municipal gas system. NUI's <br />financial well being appears at risk since their net income <br />declined substantially from 1990 to 1991. Mr. Hendrix <br />commented on the following questions repeatedly raised by Mr. <br />Hill: "Why are gas rates so high and climbing when the price <br />of gas has dropped?" Mr. Hendrix presented a chart which <br />showed that City gas rates are actually lower than in the <br />previous year. "Why is the City paying more for gas this <br />year than last year?" Mr. Hendrix noted that gas prices are <br />declining, but also pointed out that two factors contribute <br />to the price the City pays for gas: the philosophy of <br />guaranteeing gas delivery to customers and the restrictions <br />involved with having only one gas pipeline, owned by <br />Columbia Gas, into CharlottesVille. "How does it save money <br />and benefit us to build gas line extensions to the County?" <br />Mr. Hendrix presented cost figures for extending gas lines <br />into a County neighborhood which showed that the cost to <br />extend such lines is recovered in a year's time and noted <br />that expanding the customer base allows the City to spread <br />out the fixed costs of the gas system and therefore lower the <br />cost for all gas customers. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hill stated that he did not agree with most of what <br />Mr. Hendrix presented. Mr. Hill stated that he would meet <br />with staff or anyone else and maintained that gas prices <br />could be reduced by at least 75 cents per mcf. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano stated that he has spoken with a <br />representative, from NUI Corporation as well as other <br />consultants and felt that Mr. Hill has been misleading <br />Charlottesville citizens by leading them to believe that gas <br />rates could be substantially cheaper when neither the NUI <br />representative nor other consultants felt the rates could be <br />lowered to the extent that Mr. Hill has maintained. Mr. <br />Toscano stated that the City has a conservative approach to <br />purchasing gas which ensures that gas is available at all <br />times. Mr. Toscano referred to legislation before Congress <br />which might impact gas purchases and recommended that if the <br />legislation is approved the City consider hiring a consultant <br />to see if there is a way of reducing the cost of gas without <br />substantially increasing the risk to the consumer. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Toscano, Mr. Hill <br />stated that he was not actually disputing the data provided <br />by Mr. Hendrix, but did not think the information was <br />complete. <br /> <br /> Mr. Ed Eitelberg of 2681-A Barracks Road, complained <br />that golf memberships for non-city senior residents at Pen <br />Park have increased to $450.00 a year, while a City resident <br />pays only ~300.00. Mr. Eitelberg stated that he did not <br /> <br /> <br />