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93 <br /> <br /> Ms. Ruth Wadlington, Vice-President of the League of <br />Women Voters, read a statement from the League in support of <br />most recommendations of staff and Council, with the <br />following exceptions: that MACAA's Housing Counseling <br />Program be funded out of the General Fund instead of CDBG <br />funds, and that full funding be provided to the Health <br />Department and the Northwestern Virginia Health Systems <br />Agency. Ms. Wadlington stated that the League questioned <br />the need to decrease the person property tax by four cents <br />when community needs remain unmet. <br /> <br /> Rev. Alvin Edwards, pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, <br />supported the funding for the police auxiliary and <br />questioned whether these police employees would be given <br />arrest powers. <br /> <br /> Ms. Amanda Seidler questioned where the debt payments <br />for the Omni Hotel appeared in the budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. John Carter spoke against the proposed $0.10 <br />increase in bus service and recommended the following: that <br />the policy establishing routes be modified on the basis of <br />geographic coverage; that a passenger usage analysis be done <br />for possible route changes; and that the City increase its <br />subsidy by $55,000 until a route study can be done. <br /> <br /> Mr. Paul Summers, owner of the Blue Ridge Brewing <br />Company on West Main Street, supported funding for the <br />police auxiliary. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jerry Downer, owner of Blue Moon Diner on West Main <br />Street, supported funding for the police auxiliary. <br /> <br /> As there were no further speakers, the public hearing <br />was closed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Barnes stated that he supported the police <br />auxiliary and noted that two additional police officers were <br />being added to address the drug problem. <br /> <br /> Mrs. Gleason noted that when the Northwestern Health <br />Systems Agency last requested and received funding from the <br />City, they indicated that it would be a one-time request. <br /> <br />Dr. Hall spoke in support of the police auxiliary. <br /> <br /> Mr~ Towe stated that he was not in favor of approving <br />the School Board's budget until Council receives the <br />proposals for the supplemental salaries for extracurricular <br />activities and for the Alternative Education Program. <br /> <br /> Responding to questions raised by the public, Mr. Buck <br />stated that the payment for the Omni was contained in the <br />debt service funding to the Charlottesville Redevelopment <br />and Housing Authority. Mr. Buck explained that the only <br />decrease in bus service proposed was a decrease in late <br />night trolley service; that bus route surveys have been <br />conducted both in-house and by a consultant within the last <br />three years; and that the Federal, State, and City subsidy <br />for bus service is in the range of $7 to $8 for every $1 <br />fare, and he did not feel that the proposed change presented <br />an unfair burden. <br /> <br />ORDINANCE: ANNUAL APPROPRIATION <br /> <br /> On motion by Mr. Barnes, seconded by Mrs. Gleason, the <br />ordinance entitled "RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE <br />CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY <br />1, 1988 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 1989 AND PROVIDING FOR THE <br />ANNUAL APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR SUCH FISCAL YEAR" was <br />offered and carried over to the meeting of April 12th. <br /> <br /> <br />