2005-03-30(2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Wednesday, March 30, 2005 AT 5:00 p.m. IN THE Basement Conference Room. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Budget Work Session BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM - March 30, 2005 (5:00 p.m.) Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Schilling. Dr. Brown said that the volume of material generated as a result of Councilors' questions is impressive and he thanked staff for being so responsive. He said, however, that it is a lot of information to get at one time, and suggested that as we finish up the budget, Councilors think of such questions in the off-budget season as it is hard for this information to influence the budget now. Mr. Schilling said he thinks it would be helpful to have a policy of getting updates monthly or quarterly on departmental and other budgets. Dr. Brown asked that Mr. Schilling say how he would like to get such updates. He said he would also like to discuss having a general policy, outside of the budget, that if one Councilor asks questions of staff the information goes to all Councilors. Capital Improvement Budget Responding to a question from Mr. Lynch, Mr. Aubrey Watts, CO0, said that parking funds are included in the Strategic Investment fund. Ms. Hamilton asked if there are any plans to replace roofs with green roofs. Ms. Judy Mueller, Director of Public Works, said that the City's environmental section is looking at this issue and will be following progress made by Albemarle County before doing something ourselves. Regarding fire stations, Mr. Caravati said he sees the need to step up the design acquisition study of a new station and replacement and repair of existing stations. Mr. Caravati suggested funding $500,000 the first year and leaving the $250,000 in 2007 with the hope that we will have initiatives with Albemarle County in place by that time. Dr. Brown asked if Mr. Caravati has any suggestions about where to find this money. Mr. O'Connell noted that as of July 1 this fund will have $900,000. He suggested following two tracts: look at a regional system and also look at properties where stations might be located and neighborhood issues. He suggested that Council adopt a policy statement about looking at the next fire station and the long-term plan. He said he thinks this approach will be realistic. Mr. Julian Taliaferro, Fire Chief, said there is a need to relocate existing Fire resources. Mr. Schilling said there is probably a need for reorganization, but he expressed concern about moving forward too quickly. He noted that the plan had been to move Fire dispatch to the Emergency Communications Center, but that has not happened. He said we should not do something we find not to be useful in a couple of years.