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12 WHEREAS , the language of the proposed amendment goes far beyond the Constitutional proposals enacted in any other state, makes significant and substantial changes in current Virginia law by extending the prohibition on relationship recognition to all "unmarried individuals" and may have other unintended and unpredictable consequences; and, WHEREAS , the proposed amendment has become mislabeled in shorthand as the "Marriage Amendment" when it is only the first sentence of the ballot language which directly address the definition of marriage, while the remaining ballot language encompasses civil unions and domestic partnerships; and, WHEREAS , over 130 Virginia attorneys and legal scholars, including two former Attorneys General, Governor Tim Kaine, and the League of Women Voters, among many others, have expressed serious concern about the unintended consequences of the broad language of the proposed amendment; and, WHEREAS , this proposed amendment would, in effect, create a constitutional bar to any legal recognition of unmarried relationships for both same and different sex couples, including permanent prohibition on the ability of city government and the school system to offer benefits such as health insurance to unmarried employees that would be equal to those offered to married employees; and, WHEREAS , the economic health of the City of Charlottesville and Virginia depends upon attracting and retaining educated workers and new businesses, and this proposed amendment could have the effect of discouraging high-value workers and business from locating in our state and community, thus putting us at a competitive disadvantage to the District of Columbia, Maryland, and many other states where no such impediments now exist; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED , that the City of Charlottesville, Virginia opposes the proposed amendment to the Virginia Bill of Rights and encourages Charlottesville citizens to vote "NO" on Ballot question #1 on November 7, 2006; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk shall distribute copies of this resolution to media outlets and elected officials as directed by Charlottesville City Council. REPORT : CONDITION OF CITY FACILITIES/INFRASTRUCTURE Ms. Judy Mueller, Director of Public Works, gave a power point presentation on the condition of City infrastructure, including parks, sidewalks, streets, utility infrastructure, and government and school buildings. Mr. O’Connell said when you add up all the needed repairs it comes to millions of dollars. He said he wanted to tee up the issues for when the capital improvement program is presented to Council. Mr. Norris thanked Ms. Mueller for the report, and asked how did we let it get so bad. He said there are similar conditions in public housing, and Council should keep that in mind as well. Mr. O’Connell said things got this way because not enough money has been put in the budget. Mr. Taliaferro noted that Fire Department staff live in deplorable conditions. He said we need to face up to our responsibility and fix things up. Mr. Lynch noted that the amount of money for sidewalks and drainage was doubled in last year’s budget. Ms. Hamilton said that was only one year of putting back after years of neglect.