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45 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT pursuant to {}34-162 of the City Code, the following exceptions or modifications are hereby made by City Council to the yard regulations and parking standards that would otherwise be applicable to the Subject Property, based on the following findings: (i) the modifications or exceptions will be in harmony with the purposes and intent of the zoning district regulations applicable to the Subject Property and (ii) the modifications or exceptions are necessary or desirable in view of the circumstances of the proposed use: 1. There shall be no required rear yard setback. 2. There shall be no required distance between the rear property line and any off- street parking space, driveway, or improved access. 3. Required side yard setbacks shall be as follows: twenty-five (25) feet for the side yard on the east side of the property, and twenty-two (22) feet for the side yard on the west side of the property. 4. The following distances shall be required between any off-street parking space, driveway or improved access and the side property lines: two (2) feet, measured from the eastern property line, and ten (10) feet, measured from the western property line. 5. Only thirteen (13) off-street parking spaces shall be required for or in connection with the use(s) authorized by this Special Use Permit. Council denies the applicant's request for a waiver of the standard that prohibits parking in a required front yard. REPORT: COUNCIL ELECTIONS STUDY TASK FORCE INTERIM REPORT Mr. Sean O'Brien, Chairman of the Council Elections Study Task Force, said that the group has been lively and active. He reviewed the charge for the Task Force: 1) Explore the concept of directly electing the mayor; 2) Explore the concept of restructuring the Council election by wards or a combination of wards and at-large; 3) Explore the concept of enlarging the number of Council members; and 4) Explore other best practices relating to representation of citizens, including but not limited to remuneration and term limitations. He said that two subcommittees were set up to explore a directly elected mayor and ward system and size of Council. He said the Task Force has met every week. He said research is being done on other cities in Virginia and thought has been given to Virginia First Cities. He said the Task Force decided to hold eight public meetings, one in each precinct. He said the goal of the public meetings is to present the issues and give pros and cons and to ask the public what they think and ask what else the Task Force should be thinking about. He said the Task Force will present the issues in a non-biased and non-partisan manner. He said the Task Force would like professional facilitators to run the public meetings. Mr. O'Brien asked that Council provide funding for newspaper ads ($1,700 to $2,000), to pay part of the cost of the intern ($1,500), and to pay for the facilitators (cost to be determined). He said it may be difficult for the Task Force to give its report by October 18th since the last public meeting is being held on October 6th. Mr. O'Brien said that the Task Force has questioned what "explore" means, presenting pros and cons or something more specific. Mr. O'Brien said there may be a need for a second task force later on to research logistics, etc. Responding to a question from Dr. Brown, Mr. O'Brien said he feels $5,000 would cover expenses. Mr. Schilling thanked Sheri Iachetta for working way beyond her regular hours to staff the Task Force, and Mr. O'Brien for his work as well. Ms. Hamilton said that it sounds as if the Task Force started out with specific solutions to increase voter turnout, and questioned whether starting out with solutions is limiting what the Task Force is exploring. Mr. O'Brien said the Task Force is using charge #4 to expand is scope a little bit. Mr. Lynch said he was skeptical about the creation of the Task Force and only agreed to it with the addition of charge #4. He said he is still at a loss to identify what