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187 <br /> <br />PUBLIC <br /> <br /> Mr. John Gaines of 214 9th Street, N.W., representing <br />the Sector II Neighborhood Association, made the following <br />suggestions for addressing the drug problem in the Sector II <br />neighborhood: implement the recommendations of the Drug Task <br />Force; convert 9th and 8th Streets, N.E. to one-way traffic; <br />identify absent landlords and fine them for disturbances at <br />their properties and require them to clean up their units; <br />enforce the inoperable vehicle ordinance; and convene a drug <br />summit with area law enforcement officials, neighborhood <br />representatives and judges. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters thanked Mr. Gaines for the constructive <br />nature of his comments and noted that Council has already <br />taken action to approve most of the recommendations of the <br />Drug Task Force. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that Mr. Louie Chapman, Assistant <br />City Manager, has scheduled a meeting with affected <br />neighborhoods to discuss lighting, rundown houses and <br />inoperable vehicles. <br /> <br /> Mr. John deKoven Bowen, Chief of Police, stated that <br />four new police officers who will be on foot, scooters, or <br />bicycles have been assigned to work in neighborhoods where <br />drugs are a problem. <br /> <br /> Ms. Josephine Morrison of Page Street, stated that <br />teenagers gather on street corners late into the night and <br />requested that the police take action to move them. <br /> <br /> Chief Bowen replied that the police cannot r.equire the <br />teenagers to move if the teenagers are not doing anything <br />illegal. <br /> <br /> Ms. Ethel Henderson of 6th Street, S.W. and President of <br />the Fifeville Neighborhood Association, ~stated that she felt <br />people gathering on street corners in other, more affluent <br />neighborhoods wou~ld be required to move. ~ <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that loitering laws no longer exist <br />and the police are restricted in action they can take against <br />persons gathering on public property. <br /> <br /> Dr. Joseph McGeehan, Superintendent of City Schools, <br />stated that he was concerned about the eviction of residents <br />of the Charlottesville Trailer Court prior to the end of the <br />school year and requested any assistance the City could give <br />to extending the deadline 'for the residents.. <br /> <br /> Ms. Crystal Peacoe, representing the residents of the <br />Charlottesville Trailer Court, requested that Council assist <br />the residents in having the deadline extended beyond the end <br />of the schoOl year and in order to give the residents time to <br />relocate. Ms. Peacoe also requested help in finding homes <br />for the low and moderate income persons who will be <br />displaced. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters stated that the City would do whatever <br />possible to negotiate with the owners of the property to <br />extend the deadline for the residents. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever recommended that the ~City Department ~of <br />Social Services and Housing Authority assist the residents of <br />the Trailer Court. <br /> <br /> Ms. ~Peppy Linden, Executive Director of the~Virginia <br />Discovery Museum, informed Council of the overwhelming <br />response to the DiVinci exhibit in the new downtown mall <br />location, with 3,000 persons having visited the exhibit in <br />the past two weeks, and 1800 persons visiting in one day <br />during a special membership promotion where 286 new families <br /> <br /> <br />