2008-01-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 The public hearing was opened. Ms. Jeanne Chase, 223 Old Lynchburg Road, said it is a worthy goal to run a lean government and she lauds the desire to be open and transparent. She urged Council to fulfill the recommendations of the area b study and move traffic around her neighborhood, not through it. She emphasized the need to maintain adequate City personnel to protect the neighborhood. Ms. Colette Hall, 101 Robertson Lane, said there is a difference between what we need and what we want. She said that those asking Council for funding should be required to provide a financial report to include why Council should give them money. She said that Council meetings should not be held past 11:00 p.m. and there should be no more than two public hearings on an agenda. Mr. John Pfaltz, 1503 Rugby Road, said that big jumps in expenditures are not smart, and they are no longer possible with flat or decreasing assessments. He said Council should tell the City Manager to come back with a budget with no more than a 5% increase and no new staff. He said no new projects should be undertaken with surplus funds, and the City should not undertake its own rescue squad. He said the City should consider a small cash infusion for Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad instead. He said surplus funds should be used for infrastructure needs. Mr. Pfaltz criticized the $10 million for a new station house and additional costs for another engine company. Mr. Chad Freckman, 104 Northwood Circle, suggested that information transparency be focused on, especially with the Emergency Medical Services funding. He said the evidence does not suggest to him that there is a problem, and he thinks it needs more evaluation. Ms. Elizabeth Kutchai, 126 Bollingwood Road, said we do not need an expensive EMS service, and it should be stopped if possible. As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Norris noted that tonight is just the beginning of the discussion about smart and efficient government. Mr. Taliaferro said, referring to comments made by Mr. Pfaltz about the new fire station, said that the new location has been in the works for seven to eight years, and simply relocates an existing company. He said that is separate from the EMS issue and does not involve new personnel. Dr. Brown noted that the first speaker did not advocate cutting costs, but for maintaining service. He said a lot of costs for the City cannot be compared to the cost of living. He said the guidelines from Council about the budget to the City Manager direct that the budget be limited to a 5% increase or less. He said there is a lot of confusion about the EMS service. He said the City will be augmenting what CARS does. He said he was a reluctant convert to the City’s investment in its own people. He said it is a complicated issue and a lot of information has not been conveyed to the public. Mr. Norris noted that several dozen on-line responses have already been received on the City’s website and a number of e-mails have been sent to Council. He said one suggestion was made in regard to concern about the size of the central office administration of the Schools and that there be a matrix comparing the number of teachers with the number of central office administrators. REPORT : PROCESS FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY EVALUATION Mr. Jim Tolbert, Director of Neighborhood Development Services, said that Council had discussed pedestrian safety at several meetings. He said staff recommends that a staff and citizen team be formed to make recommendations regarding pedestrian safety improvements, with representation from ACCT and the University of Virginia. He said staff is open to suggestions about other team members. He said it is proposed that