2006-06-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL CHAMBER – June 5, 2006 Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Schilling. Absent: Ms. Hamilton. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Lynch announced that a public information session will be held on Thursday regarding the Route 250/Meadowcreek Parkway interchange. PUBLIC Ms. Rhonda Miska, 712 A Lyons Avenue, Social Justice and Hispanic Minister of Church of the Incarnation, said she hopes Council will support efforts opposing punitive immigration bills being considered by Congress. th Mr. John Gaines, 214 9 Street, N.W., thanked Council for its support for the Jefferson School project and Ms. Rochelle Small-Toney for her work on the project. He thth presented Council with a petition requesting that the 9/10 Street Connector road between Cherry Avenue and Main Street be named in honor of Roosevelt Brown, Jr., the only Charlottesville native in the Football League Hall of Fame. Ms. Naomi Roberts, 140 St. Clair Avenue Extended, opposed the utility rate increases. She asked if the loans from the utility funds for City Link were ever paid back. She asked how much the new wireless internet will cost. She asked why taxpayers have to pay for City Link. Ms. Daisy Rojas, 2216 Williamsburg Road, said she is a small business owner who employs immigrants and is also married to an immigrant. She said immigrants play a varied and critical role in our community. She asked Council to adopt a resolution that will help each resident of Charlottesville. Mr. Rauzelle Smith, 1508 Trailridge Road, opposed the gas and water rate increases. He said many residents do not receive a living wage and he feels the 6% increase for gas and 4% increase for water is excessive. He asked Council to consider lowering the rates. He asked neighbors who support his comments to rise in support of his comments. Mr. Rydell Payne, 605 Prospect Avenue, Executive Director of Charlottesville Abundant Live Ministries, thanked Council for the funding Abundant Life has received for the past five years. He also thanked Council for supporting the Summer Youth Program. He said Abundant Life will be celebrating its 10 year anniversary on June 16, th 17 and 18 and he invited Council and the public to the Father’s Day Festival on June 18. He said he has put forward a proposal for funding from the City for the Festival and would like Council to consider it. He said he looks forward to partnering with the City again. Ms. Dede Smith, 2652 Jefferson Park Circle, spoke in defense of the City’s parks and the City’s willingness to give them up. She said the water supply plan will flood 135 acres at Ragged Mountain, largely for County use. She encouraged Council to ask a lot of questions. She said a world class city needs world class parks. st Mr. Harold Foley and Ms. Cooper, 910 B. South 1 Street, representing the Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR), said that a statewide conference for residents th and advocates of low-income housing will be held in Charlottesville on June 9, and they invited Councilors and citizens to attend. Mr. Peter Kleeman, 407 Hedge Street, expressed concern that the data collection regarding the recently approved temporary mall crossing only involves pedestrian and vehicle counts, garage usage, an origin and destination study, and business activity, but will not measure its effectiveness. He said the goals for the crossing should first be determined and then the data needed developed. He volunteered his assistance.