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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING <br /> <br />A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE <br />HELD ON Wednesday, October 29, 2003 AT 9:00 a.m. IN THE Zehmer Hall, University <br />of Virginia. <br /> <br />THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: <br /> <br /> Annual Council Retreat <br /> <br />BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox <br /> <br />ZEHMER HALL - October 29, 2003 <br /> <br /> Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: <br />Mr. Caravati, Mr. Cox, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards, Mr. Schilling. <br /> <br /> Councilors discussed "tough" versus routine "po licy" issues. <br /> <br />Councilors gave their opinions on what constitutes "tough" issues as follows: <br /> <br />? ? <br />Competing constituencies, with strong, equally persuasive arguments <br />? ? <br />Require the community to undergo significant change (from where it is now) - <br />ones that requi re more buy in, where "trust us" won't work <br />? ? <br />Those that require significant financial commitment for City; tend to require <br />significant justification; require significant choices at budget session <br />? ? <br />When you have indeterminable outcomes - i.e. more process tha n taste, more <br />program than thing <br />? ? <br />Broad or deep issues <br />? ? <br />One has to change their previously held position - where you have to "give up <br />ground" <br />? ? <br />Things that have long term consequences that other Councils will have to live <br />with <br />? ? <br />Issues involving social equity, r epresentation. <br /> <br />Routine policy issues were identified as such as things as pass through grant <br />funding and some issues with professional/staff recommendations. <br /> <br />Councilors discussed ways to improve the efficiency of regular Council meetings <br />by identifying i ssues they have with consent agenda items or other items ahead of <br />time. Councilors said it would also be helpful to have more information on items <br />coming up on future agendas. It was agreed that the Mayor would poll Councilors <br />prior to meetings. It wa s also agreed that the City Manager will provide Councilors a <br />copy of his work plan at his annual evaluation, with an update at six months, and staff <br />will work on a format for providing other information to Council. <br /> <br />Councilors identified criteria for wor k sessions and discussed what is needed for <br />them to be productive, including the following: <br /> <br />? ? <br />Integrate into the reporting and decision - making process we undertake - not <br />just to have work sessions; relates to an important decision we have to make <br />as part o f 1) information; 2) work session, not idle discussion; 3) decision <br />? ? <br />Where you have a lot of complicated information to digest and decide about; <br />get more data; define criteria by which we will make decisions <br />? ? <br />Where the Council needs to do some problem solvin g - focused on some <br />policy <br />? ? <br />Work session is not a place to pronounce where you are on things; open <br />discussion versus take position <br />? ? <br />Do homework; help me refine ideas in my head; hear where other Councilors <br />area; therefore, refine group position <br />? ? <br />Keep present ations to a minimum <br />