2008-03-17 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

6 Ms. Naomi Roberts, 1140 St. Clair Avenue, agreed with Colette Hall about the person in charge of the strategic investment funds resigning. She said her assessment went up 6.2% by $11,000 which she feels is high given the condition of houses in her neighborhood. She asked that Council not take any action on City retirement benefits. She asked where bonuses are hidden for department heads, and said people who make good salaries should not get bonuses. Mr. Bill Sampson, 609 Monticello Circle, said we have poured money into the school system, but money is not the answer to improving schools. He said taxpayers should not supplement teachers’ gym membership. He said there is a lot of waste in the schools, and they should not receive an increase until they prove it is needed. As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. Dr. Brown said that Ms. Kutchai raises some important points. He said the City tax rate is higher in part because we are urban and also because the cost of poverty presents challenges. He agreed that we should not overlook home owners who do not qualify for relief programs. He said affordable housing has a cost and we need to be mindful of that. He said he would like to see more information on the retirement issues raised. He said he is open minded on an efficiency review. Mr. Taliaferro said he agrees with some of Mr. Sampson’s comments. He said offering a gym program is one way to hold down health care costs which we are successfully doing in the City. Mr. Norris said he appreciates the speakers for the REAL Dad’s Programs, and he fully supports it and its volunteers. He said he would like to look at measureable objectives. He said we need to be mindful of efficiencies. He agreed there should be better reporting and review of the strategic investment funds, but said absolutely nothing unethical occurred and calling for a resignation is out of order. REPORT : UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PROJECTS UPDATE Mr. David Neuman, Architect for the University of Virginia said the University has significant space deficiencies. He reviewed projects under construction and in the planning phase. He said there is adaptive reuse of buildings and sustainable design. Dr. Brown said that the University’s reaching out to the community has improved over the past five years. Mr. Norris said he understands there is an unwritten agreement between the City and the University that the University will not expand further east on West Main Street, but said he is not sure he agrees with that. Mr. Neuman said that the University has restricted its development at this time to the area between Jefferson Park Avenue and Roosevelt Brown Boulevard. He said an effort was made to calm neighborhood concerns. He said the University would be open to a discussion about collaborative issues, i.e., housing. RESOLUTION : ENERGY EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENT FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION USING CITY FUNDING Mr. Norris said that this item will be presented to Council, but Council is not being asked to vote on the resolution at this time. Mr. Jim Tolbert, Director of Neighborhood Development Services, said the idea of requiring energy efficiencies for new construction using City funding grew out of Council’s strategic work plan. He said the idea will be presented to the Housing Advisory Committee before it is brought back to Council for a vote. He said the idea is to ask for a bronze standard for universal design as a minimum. He said he does not think it will add to the cost of housing if it is planned for.