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5 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING/ORDINANCE <br />: REQUIRING GRASS CUTTING IN PUBLIC <br />nd <br />RIGHTS - OF - WAY (2 reading) <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell explained that this ordinance was deferred in order to notify <br />affected citizens of the public hearing and to prepare the regulations that will accompany <br />the ordinance. He said the ordinance is expected to save the City $40,000 annually. <br /> <br /> Mr. Pat Plocek, Parks Manager, said he only received two calls in re sponse to the <br />175 letters that were mailed, but neither of them opposed the ordinance. He said an <br />appeals process is included. <br /> <br /> The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br />st <br /> Mr. Andrew John Compton, 500 South 1 Street, spoke in favor of the Preston <br />Commons proposal , not about the grass cutting ordinance. <br /> <br /> As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling thanked staff for making changes and putting in exemptions and for <br />notifying affected citizens. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Caravati, Mr. Plocek said some areas are <br />considered too steep, rocky or in heavy traffic areas and are felt to be too difficult or <br />hazardous for residents to maintain. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked if five days is long enough for an appeal, and Mr. Plocek said <br />it is. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati asked about the connection between the ordinance and the <br />regulations. <br /> <br /> Mr. Brown said Council is not voting on the regulations and they are provided for <br />information purposes. He said the City Manager approves the regulations, but if th ere are <br />substantive changes made Council will be informed. <br /> <br />The ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE V OF <br />CHAPTER 5 OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY CODE, 1990, AS AMENDED, BY <br />ADDING A NEW SECTION TO BE NUMBERED SECTION 5 - 155," which was <br />th <br />offered at the January 5 meeting, was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Mr. <br />Caravati, Mr. Cox, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards, Mr. Schilling. Noes: None. <br /> <br />REPORT <br />: VIRGINIA FIRST CITIES <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said that Charlottesville is active in Virginia First Cities, a coalition <br />of fiscally stressed cities. She said the cities face similar challenges, including dropping <br />populations, low job growth, low median household incomes, high levels of poverty and <br />at risk children. She said state policies unfairly shift respo nsibilities to the cities, <br />especially in education. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that the City is receiving less state aid for police and has <br />reduced its funding for the Jail by $453,000 in FY 03, $500,000 in the current budget, <br />and over $780,000 for next year's b udget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said the Jail is now a core responsibility of local governments, but <br />the responsibility needs to be sent back to the state where it belongs. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said the statistics are incredibly dire for cities. He said we are fortunate <br />in Ch arlottesville to have a vibrant economy which he feels is due to reinvestment in the <br />