2005-05-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 Referring to questions about why do water conservation, Mr. Lynch said that Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority is looking at our water needs and the big expense in the future is storage. He said if we rely on our local watershed it means minimizing water usage, particularly in the summer, and that is why it makes sense to have differential rates. He said half the cost is storage in the summer when there is not nearly as much rain. Regarding gas conservation, he said the alternative to gas is electricity which is less efficient and more polluting than natural gas. He said in the interest of sustainability we sometimes have to pay a cost. He said he agrees with Mr. Schilling that it is arguable that gas is non-profit since they generate funds for technology. He noted that this spreads out the cost beyond the City into the County and thinks you could argue that it is a good business decision. Dr. Brown said he thinks any investment in water conservation is great as it means we will spend less in the long run. He questioned the effectiveness of tiered rates and wondered if it really deters people from using water. He said he would like to study this further. The ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND REORDAIN CHAPTER 11 (FINANCE) AND CHAPTER 31 (UTILITIES) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, 19990, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO UTILITY RATES AND SERVICE FEES" was offered and carried over to the next meeting for consideration. PUBLIC HEARING: PROPOSAL BY DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION TO ALLOW MALL CROSSING AT 4TM OR 5TM STREET Mr. Bob Stroh, Co-Chair of the Downtown Business Association, read a petition signed by 117 downtown business people and others who support a mall crossing at 4th or 5th Street. Ms. Joan Fenton, Co-Chair of the Downtown Business Association, said that a crossing at 4th or 5th Street is seen as a replacement for closing of 6th and 7th Streets. She said visitors need to get from Market Street to Water Street and it is difficult now for them to find their way. She said it is also an economic development issue as the east end businesses have always been the weakest. She asked that Council support the mall businesses and approve this request. The public hearing was opened. Mr. David Repass, 227 E. Jefferson Street, said he has remedies to suggest without having a second crossing of the mall. He said Charlottesville's mall is the most attractive of all that he has seen. He suggested that perhaps a task force should be set up to look at all proposals. Mr. Alexis Zeigler, 912 Woodfolk Drive, said that the mall is unique. He said he wants businesses to thrive but the reason it succeeds is because there are no cars. Mr. Nicholas Edsol, Thompson Road, said he is a devotee of the mall and feels it is a magnet for the City. He said he is worried about the east end of the mall and about decisions made that endangered businesses. He said he thinks the best option is to allow such a crossing. He said he was skeptical about the crossing at 2nd Street, but he thinks with similar safeguards another crossing would work. Ms. Morgan McKensey Perkins, owner of Sage Moon Gallery on the mall, said another crossing is needed because people cannot find the mall. She said she wants to maintain the integrity of the mall. Jerry Deily, 1309 Carter Lane, said he attended the hearings on the Transit Center and said at that time that it would hurt to eliminate 7th Street. He said we need a crossing, but we need to balance it with other concerns. Mr. Gate Pratt, 413 9th Street, said that as an architect and urban designer he does not think it is unreasonable to have a mall crossing. He said it can be done safely and