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261 <br /> <br />COUNCIL CHAMBER - February 19, 2002 <br /> <br /> Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: <br />Mr. Caravati, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards, Mr. Toscano. Absent: Mr. Cox. <br /> <br />AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: SPECIAL RECOGNITION BY OFFICE OF VOTER <br />REGISTRATION <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati presented special recognition proclamations to Mr. T. Elsom <br />Johnson and Mr. Leroy Hamlet for their work in elections. <br /> <br />PUBLIC <br /> <br /> Mr. Thane Kemer, 2370 Earlysville Road, Chairman of Charlottesville <br />Contemporary Arts, announced a building to be constructed by Live Arts, Second Street <br />Gallery and Light House on Water Street. Mr. Kerner said that a cultural facility of this <br />type can have an impact of $650,000 in revenues a year to the City based on the current <br />size of the organizations. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING: REVISIONS TO SIDEWALK CAFI~ ORDINANCE <br />ORDINANCE <br /> <br /> Mr. Jim Tolbert, Director of Neighborhood Development Services, explained that <br />sidewalk caf6 operators requested that they be allowed to extend their season through the <br />winter, and, as a result of the review of the ordinance, other issues surfaced. Mr. Tolbert <br />said the recommendations include issuing permits for a two year period, with the fee <br />recommended at $2 per square foot. Mr. Tolbert said that the City Assessor said that $3 <br />per square foot would be reasonable to charge, but since it is not available 100% of the <br />time, felt that $2 would also be reasonable. Current caf6 operators will be allowed to <br />continue in their current locations if fees are paid on time. Permits are recommended to <br />be issued by staff, with the site locations approved by Council. Mr. Tolbert said that the <br />ordinance does not include recommendations about cafes on sidestreets, and <br />recommended that this issue be addressed following the consultant's report. New caf6 <br />areas are recommended to be limited to 800 square feet and separated by six feet from <br />each other. No connections to the City's electrical system are recommended to be <br />allowed because of concern about the condition of the connections. Caf6s will be <br />allowed to operate during the winter months if they pay a $500 deposit. <br /> <br />The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br /> Ms. Nancy Shotwell, Manager of the Nook Restaurant, said that while she <br />understands the need to raise fees, she asked Council to takeinto consideration that with <br />extended days of operation, additional revenue will be raised. <br /> <br /> Mr. Andrew Vaughan of Liquid Caf6 on 2~ Street, S.E., said they are looking <br />into having a small caf6 space on the sidestreet and asked how he can go about it. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said that an urban design study is underway which should be <br />completed by June, and he urged Mr. Vaughan to be involved in the process. <br /> <br /> Mr. Joe Finazzo of Sal's Restaurant, said that he only uses the City's electrical <br />connection for lights in trees to make the caf6 look nice, and said he would not mind <br />paying for the electricity he uses. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jay Levine, co-ovmer of the Hardware Store Restaurant, said that he is <br />pleased with the proposed ordinance, but would also support a three-year permit period. <br />Mr. Levine asked Council to take into account the fact that businesses had been part of <br />the tax district to help pay for the mall, and said that perhaps a more modest fee increase <br />would be appropriate. <br /> <br />As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. <br /> <br /> <br />