2004-07-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Applicant shall landscape the boundary of the new Special Use Permit area. Use and development of the Subject Property for the approved residential use shall at all times be in accordance with provisions of the City's zoning ordinance (including the requirement of approval of a final site plan for the Subject Property) and other applicable City ordinances, state and federal laws and regulations. ORDINANCE: "AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE LEASING OF CITY PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY ON WEST MAIN STREET (DOWNTOWN MALL) TO OMNI CHARLOTTESVILLE VIRGINIA CORPORATION" (2nd reading) PUBLIC HEARING/ORDINANCE: MOVING COUNCIL ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER Mr. Craig Brown, City Attorney, explained that the General Assembly adopted legislation that allows moving Council elections to either odd or even years, with terms shortened by six months if moved to odd years and lengthened by six months if moved to even years. Mr. Brown said the change has been recommended by the Electoral Board and a Task Force appointed by Council. He said that the previous Council decided that the issue should be considered by the new Council after July 1. Mr. Brown said the questions before Council are: should the Council elections be moved; if they are moved, should they be moved to odd or even years; and what would be the effective date of the change. Mr. Brown noted that any change will require review by the Department of Justice. The public hearing was opened. Mr. John Pfaltz, 1503 Rugby Road, spoke against moving the elections. He said having elections in May allows the focus to be exclusively on Council elections. He said he is not sure moving to November will help voter participation. He said if more citizen participation is desired, there should be more hotly contested elections and an end to one party's domination on Council. He acknowledged that moving elections to November will save money, but supported keeping them in May. Mr. Charles Weber, 601 Locust Avenue, said that he is against moving elections to November, but has no strong feeling one way or another. He said higher voter participation is only one piece of the puzzle. He said this decision should be deferred until the Elections Study Task Force makes it recommendation. He said he is not sure moving the elections is in the best interest of the City. He said it would be better to have non-partisan elections. He said if Council does move the elections, he supported waiting until beyond 2005 as he wants Mr. Schilling, for whom he voted, to serve out his full term. He said it would be disenfranchising to remove him. Mr. David RePass, 227 E. Jefferson Street, a member of the Elections Study Task Force, said he is surprised about the last minute concerns about moving the elections. He said the issues has been studied for years and now is the time for action. He said it makes no sense to send the issue back to the Task Force because it has nothing to do with governmental structure. He noted that everybody's terms on Council would be shortened, not just Mr. Schilling's. He said it is necessary for political leaders to sacrifice for the greater good, and urged Council to vote for the change to occur in 2005. As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Lynch said he believes Council should go ahead and move the elections to November starting in 2005. He said he originally had concerns about keeping the focus on local issues, but he balanced that against the overwhelming argument for moving the elections. He said it is more than an increase in turnout, it is also a convenience to the public. He said elections are already held in November. He said there is also the budgeting aspects and having the elections during the budget process is not a good idea. He said moving the elections will allow new Councilors to come in at the beginning of the budget process. He noted that all six candidates campaigned for moving the