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3 in McIntire Park, regardless of the merit of the proposal, because it will mean the loss of park land. COUNCIL RESPONSES TO MATTERS BY THE PUBLIC Mr. Norris thanked Ms. Manno for her comments, and said he agrees that the City falls short regarding community engagement, and said this is something the City th Manager is working on. He thanked people for their comments about the 8 and W. Main intersection. He said he thinks it is a safety issue, but is hopeful that the compromise will help business owners. Mr. Norris asked that the payday lending resolution be moved up ahead of the public hearings, and Councilors agreed. Ms. Hamilton said there has been a blog and e-mail war over the proposed trip to Poggio a Caiano. She said that only one Councilor has traveled less than she, Mr. Lynch, and, of those who have traveled, spent less, Dr. Brown. She said she has had a vision of a student exchange with Poggio and would like to make it possible for more people to participate. She said sister city relationships enrich our community. She said the trip has a serious and important purpose, and she does not want her participation to detract from the purpose so she said she will not be traveling to Poggio. She said when students do go she will be asking those who opposed using public funds to help fund the trip. Dr. Brown said Ms. Manno brings up a good point. He said there are lots of ways for citizens to communicate with Councilors other than speaking at public hearings. Dr. Brown said there has not been a public discussion of the planned sister city trip, and he said he regretted that, and apologized. He said funding for sister city activities was included in Council’s budget, a sister city committee was formed, and there were several planning meetings. He said the issue is do we value having sister cities, and if so we need to invest in them to make them work. Mr. Lynch said Council talked about a sister city program, and he generally supports it, but he would like to see more relationships with cities like Plevin, Bulgaria or other developing countries. He said his concern is that there is the potential for it to evolve into junkets for Council. He said he would support private funding, and said paying for the trips detracts from the overall program. Dr. Brown said if it was up to him to pay he would not be able to go. He said one of the tasks of the sister city committee will be to figure out how to raise funds. CONSENT AGENDA Norris said he is not opposed at all to the resolution authorizing bonds for Martha Jefferson House, but asked that in the future staff make sure there is a review of any historic preservation issues. He referred to the recent issue with Jefferson Scholars. On motion by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Ms. Hamilton, the following consent agenda items were approved by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Noes: None. a. Minutes of October 1, 2, 15, 19 and 23 nd APPROPRIATION b. : $54,326 – Justice Assistance Grant (2 reading) WHEREAS , the City of Charlottesville, through the Police Department, has received the U.S. Department of Justice 2007 Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $54,326 to be used for the purchase of approved law enforcement equipment. WHEREAS, the grant award covers the period fromperiod October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2010, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, that the sum of $54,326, received from the U.S. Department of