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8 <br />RELATING TO UTILITY RATES AND SERVICE FEES,” with the reinstating of one <br />free pilot lighting per customer, limited to single family homeowners, done between the <br />hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., was offered and carried over to the next meeting for <br />consideration. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING/ORDINANCE <br />: INCREASE IN FEE ASSESSED FOR <br />COURTHOUSE SECURITY <br /> <br /> Mr. Brown said that since 2002 a $5 fee, which goes to help provide courthouse <br />security, has been charged for a criminal convictions. He said in 2007 the General <br />Assembly authorized an increase of this fee up to $10. <br /> <br /> The public hearing was opened, but as there were no speakers, the public hearing <br />was closed. <br /> <br /> On motion by Mr. Norris, seconded by Mr. Lynch, the ordinance entitled “AN <br />ORDINANCE AMENDING AND REORDAINING SECTION 30-426 OF ARTICLE <br />XVI OF CHAPTER 30 (TAXATION) OF TH4E CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY CODE, <br />1990, AS AMENDED, TO INCREASE THE COURTHOUSE SECURITY FEE <br />ASSESSED AS PART OF THE COSTS OF A CRIMINAL OR TRAFFIC CASE <br />CONVICTION” was offered and carried over to the next meeting for consideration. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING/RESOLUTION <br />: MCGUFFEY ART CENTER LEASE <br /> <br /> Ms. Mueller said that staff is working on having all City leases come to Council <br />during the budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lance Stewart, Facilities Maintenance Manager, said that McGuffey has had <br />two recent rate increases, and McGuffey has sought to cap the increase. He said the <br />conditions of the lease were negotiated, and it is recommended that they pay the utilities <br />and the rate increase be capped. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Stewart, said that the lease is <br />renewable up to five years, and the increase is capped at 3%. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Hamilton about the Albemarle County <br />Historical Society lease, Mr. Stewart said their lease is cheaper, but they pay their own <br />utilities and have greater responsibility for capital improvements. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Lynch, Mr. Stewart said the City has spent <br />approximately $413,000 on McGuffey in the past four years. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris asked if any discussions have been held about transferring ownership <br />of the building to McGuffey Art Center. <br /> <br /> Mr. Stewart said that has not been discussed. He said McGuffey Art Center <br />would have a difficult time meeting the needs of the building and transferring it would <br />probably result in deterioration of the building. <br /> <br /> The public hearing was opened, but as there were no speakers, the public hearing <br />was closed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he thinks the proposed lease is a step in the right direction, but he <br />thinks we should transfer the building to them. He said McGuffey is a great institution, <br />but it is not the only one in the City, and others, including the Center for Contemporary <br />Arts and the Paramount, and most pull their own weight. He said McGuffey is unique in <br />how heavily it is subsidized by the City. He said they only pay 50 cents a square foot. <br />He said $4 a square foot would amount to $130,000. He said he wants to support the arts, <br />but there is a limit to how much the City can carry. He said he does not favor a five-year <br />lease. He said we should move them to be independent. He said there is a lot of <br />community support for the arts, but we are creating a culture of dependency. <br /> <br /> <br />