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477 homeowners about their increasing taxes. She said an evaluation should be done to make sure that this legislation does what it says it is going to do. She said none of the new houses in the 10th and Page neighborhood are affordable. As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Caravati noted that if the Charter amendment is approved, Council does not have to adopt it. He said Council is looking for flexibility to move forward and address some of the problems. He said the development community is not able to address affordable housing needs. He encouraged Council to adopt the resolution. Mr. Lynch said he thinks it would be helpful to clarify the intention of the Charter amendment. He said that through a similar Charter change Alexandria has been able to make affordable housing grants to low income residents who are both renters and homeowners. He said currently in Virginia cities cannot differential between residential and commercial properties and everyone pays the same rate. He said Charlottesville can only currently give tax relief to the elderly and handicapped, and we need more flexibility and tools to make living in Charlottesville more affordable. He noted that Governor Elect Kaine has a program he is proposing to put forward that should also be helpful. Mr. Caravati made a motion to approve the Resolution Requesting a Charter Amendment Re: Authority for Programs to Promote Affordable housing, and Ms. Hamilton seconded the motion. Mr. Schilling said he does not believe this is the best way to address affordable housing in Charlottesville, and he will not support the resolution. Dr. Brown said he thinks the legislation will give us another tool and he will support it. The Resolution Requesting a Charter Amendment Re: Authority for Programs to Promote Affordable Housing was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch. Noes: Mr. Schilling. WHEREAS, this Council is of the opinion that it is in the best interests of the citizens of the City of Charlottesville that a new section establishing powers relating to housing and community development be added to the Charter of the City of Charlottesville; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the requirements of § 15.2-202 of the Code of Virginia (1950) as amended, on November 21, 2005 this Council conducted a public hearing on the proposed charter amendment, and at least ten (10) days' notice of the time and place of such public hearing, and an informative summary of the proposed charter amendment was published in a newspaper of general circulation in this locality; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Charlottesville City Council that the General Assembly is hereby requested to approve the addition of a new City Charter section, to read as follows: Sec. 50.7. Powers relating to housing and community development. In addition to the powers granted by other sections of this charter and any other provision of law, the city shall have the power: (a) To acquire land or buildings in the city for the purpose of providing housing for low or moderate income persons or for elderly or handicapped persons; to rehabilitate and dispose of any such land and buildings by lease or sale to low or moderate income persons or elderly or handicapped persons; to dispose of such land and buildings by lease or sale to any nonprofit or limited profit organization which has as a principal purpose the provision or development of housing for low or moderate income persons or elderly or handicapped persons; to construct residential buildings in the city for lease or sale to low or moderate income persons or elderly or handicapped persons, or for lease or sale to a nonprofit or limited profit organization which has as its principal purpose the provision or