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234 <br /> <br /> Mr. Peter Mclntosh, representing Friends of the Library, noted that Friends <br />donated money to fund the program. <br /> <br />PUBLIC <br /> <br />There were no matters by the public. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING/ORDINANCE: QUITCLAIM GAS EASEMENTS TO <br />VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DUNLORA AND FOREST <br />LAKES) <br /> <br /> Mr. Clyde Gouldman, City Attorney, explained that this ordinance will turn over <br />gas line easements in County roads to the Virginia Department of Transportation. <br /> <br /> The public hearing was opened, but as there were no speakers, the hearing was <br />closed. <br /> <br /> On motion by Mr. Toscano, seconded by Ms. Richards, the ordinance entitled <br />"AN ORDINANCE TO QUITCLAIM NATURAL GAS LINES LOCATED IN <br />CHARTER OAKS DRIVE (DUNLORA SUBDIVISION) AND CERTAIN <br />ROADWAYS IN SOUTH FOREST LAKES SUBDIVISION IN ALBEMARLE <br />COUNTY TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION" was offered <br />and carried over to the next meeting for consideration. <br /> <br />PRESENTATION: FIRST AMENDMENT MONUMENT <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert o~eil, Director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of <br />Free Expression, expressed gratitude to Council for their continued interest with respect <br />to the First Amendment Monument. <br /> <br /> Mr. Josh Wheeler of the Center for Free Expression, asked Council to hold A <br />public hearing on the First Amendment Monument proposal on January 16th. Mr. <br />Wheeler said that a committee has been meeting for over three years and voted in favor <br />of the community chalkboard design. Mr. Wheeler said that the location, across from <br />City Hall, could also serve as a park with a podium for speeches. Mr. Wheeler said that <br />the design concept was submitted by Mr. Robert Winstead and Mr. Peter O'Shea. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Winstead said there are very few monuments to shared experiences in <br />the country. Mr. Winstead presented slides showing areas in the community where the <br />community expresses themselves through graffiti and other examples of free expression <br />monuments. <br /> <br /> Mr. Peter O'Shea asked Council to consider the monument, which will consist of <br />three slate walls and a podium, and will be interactive, ora temporal quality, and <br />accessible. Mr. O'Shea said it will serve as a vehicle of the right of free expression. <br /> <br /> Mr. Todd Bullard, architect and former member of the Board of Architectural <br />Review, said he supports the proposed monument and said the conceptual idea can be <br />appreciated in multiple ways, and would also serve to form an edge to the downtown mai1 <br />and serve as the first step to improving that end of the mall. Mr. Bullard said that <br />detailing issues still need to be explored. <br /> <br /> Ms. Susan Ketron from the University's School of Architecture, affirmed the <br />belief that private fimdraising for the construction and ongoing maintenance of the <br />monument can be successful. <br /> <br /> Mr. George King, III supported the monument, and said that the design concept <br />embodies both writing and talking and provides the opportunity for feedback. Mr. King <br />acknowledged that we may have to contend with things written on the wall that some <br />may find objectionable. <br /> <br /> <br />