2008-04-07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 proposed five-year lease. He said McGuffey provides gallery and exhibit space, teaching, individual arts endeavors and contributions, a jail program, and hosts the Festival of the Photograph. He said Piedmont Council of the Arts is being incorporated into the building. Mr. Jim Moore, 1213 Hazel Street, thanked Mr. Norris and Mr. Taliaferro for supporting a review of City operations and performance measures. He asked other Councilors to support those as well. He said $12 million in the City budget could be reallocated. He asked why the cost for City retirement is higher than others. He said he asked for a basic staffing structure for the City but was told no chart is available. He asked why City employees are being given a 4% wage increase when U. Va. employees receive half that amount and it is more than the local average. He said a 2 – 3% increase is more than appropriate. He asked why the City does not contract with the County for paid Fire staff as the County pays less. He noted that City staff has been more responsive to his inquiries than they have in the past. He said there is confusion about the real estate tax. He said Council will be voting to increase the tax by 6%. He said Council should publish the tax increase rather than the rate increase next year. Ms. Colette Hall, 101 Robertson Lane, asked why the City School budget is sacrosanct. She said there has been no growth in the student population but an increase in the cost per pupil. She said the School Superintendent has not answered her questions about the drop out rate. She said paying for gym membership should be removed from the School’s budget. Mr. Stuart Mills, Executive Director of the North Western Virginia Health Systems Agency, said the Agency provides health planning services to the community. He said State funding is likely to be cut, and asked that the City provide $2,000. th Mr. Bill Daggett, 100 10 Street, N.E., President of the North Western Virginia Health Systems Agency Board, said health planning helps everyone in the community, and asked for Council’s support. Mr. John Murphy, 823 Old Turner Mountain Lane, said information on StreamWatch was provided to Council. He said StreamWatch is a regional partnership that monitors conditions in the Rivanna River basin. Ms. Elizabeth Kutchai said she sent a letter to Council but received no response. She asked why Council is spending the $200,000 in savings from closing Crowe pool on new programs rather than on Smith Pool that will mostly serve County residents. Referring to the African American Teaching Fellows Program, she said percentage of African American teachers reflects the local labor market. She said she cannot believe separate but equal is being advocated. Ms. Naomi Roberts asked that Council not change the City’s retirement package. She said she depends on it, and she does not think Council should break something that is working. nd Mr. Richard Berman, 205 2 Street, N.W., said he thinks tax payers’ paying for school employees’ gym memberships is ridiculous. As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. ORDINANCE : ANNUAL TAX LEVY Mr. O’Connell said that the proposed real estate tax rate of $.95 is proposed to continue and other taxes are also proposed to remain the same. He noted that one third of Charlottesville households’ assessments increased zero percent or less. On motion by Dr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Taliaferro, the ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE ANNUAL TAX LEVY ON VARIOUS CLASSES OF PROPERTY FOR THE PAYMENT OF INTEREST AND RETIREMENT OF THE CITY DFEBT, FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND CITY