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Mr. Caravati said he intends to stay the course and will vote on the principle as he <br />thinks it is a wise idea. He said it will save $30,000. He said he has been a champion of <br />the idea. He said Richmond is the only other city in Virginia to make the change and <br />their turnout increased from 16% to 43%. He said he does not care if it costs more to <br />advertise if it is good to the cause of benefiting citizens. He said there is fear that this is <br />partisan related, but not on his part. He said he sees very few negatives. He said it is a <br />sacrifice by leaders to be willing to give up six months of their term and signals to people <br />that they want to do something about their participation. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown noted that the Council appointed a task force that unanimously <br />recommended moving the elections because it will save money and increase turnout, and <br />he gives a lot of weight to their recommendation. He said it was an issue during his <br />campaign and he heard a lot of support from citizens for moving the elections. He said <br />having the Council elections coincide with State elections will help people better <br />understand the issues better and the relationship between the City and State. He said he <br />is looking forward to the recommendation of the Elections Study Task Force, but agrees <br />that he does not see this issue as part of that. He said his personal feeling is that he, Ms. <br />Hamilton and Mr. Lynch agreed to this change ahead of time, but he is not sure about <br />imposing the shortened term on someone else. He said he will be open minded to <br />whatever motion is made. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling made a motion to approve the ordinance, with the change occurring <br />in November of 2007, and Dr. Brown seconded the motion. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he will not accept moving the elections to 2007 because the same <br />argument applies to putting these conditions on a new Council. Mr. Lynch made a <br />motion to amend the ordinance to move the elections to November of 2005, and Mr. <br />Caravati seconded the motion. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling made a motion to amend the ordinance back to moving the elections <br />to 2007, but Mr. Brown said that Council must first vote on the amendment on the table. <br /> <br /> The amendment to approve the ordinance with the date of November 2005 was <br />approved by the following vote. Ayes: Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch. Noes: <br />Dr. Brown and Mr. Schilling. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling made a motion to amend the ordinance to change the date to 2007. <br />The motion died for lack of a second. <br /> <br /> The ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE II OF <br />CHAPTER 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE BY ADDING <br />THEREIN A NEW NUMBERED SECTION 2-35, THAT PROVIDES FOR CITY <br />COUNCIL ELECTIONS TO TAKE PLACE ON THE DATE OF THE NOVEMBER <br />GENERAL ELECTION BEGINNING IN 2005" was offered and carried over to the next <br />meeting for consideration. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he would like to hold a second public hearing at the next <br />meeting and Councilors agreed. <br /> <br />Mr. Schilling asked that his comments be entered verbatim into the record. <br /> <br />REQUEST: EXTENDING REPORTING DATE FOR ELECTIONS STUDY TASK <br />FORCE <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said that the Task Force is concerned that holding public hearings in <br />August while citizens are typically on vacation would not provide for adequate <br />representation, and has requested that their reporting date be extended. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati made a motion to extend the Council Elections Study Task Force's <br />reporting date to October 18, and Mr. Schilling seconded the motion. <br /> <br /> <br />