2008-08-18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Dredging Task Force. She asked that the public be allowed to speak at every meeting of the Task Force. Ms. Jeanne Chase, 223 Old Lynchburg Road, thanked Council for supporting restricting trucks on Old Lynchburg Road. nd Mr. Richard Berman, 205 2 Street, N.W., said the City should stop spending money on consultants, on the YMCA and repaving the mall. Mr. Bill Sampson, 609 Wine Cellar Circle, said that the City has said that its budget deficit is due to State cuts, but he said the City knew about the shortfall in advance of the budget adoption. He said surplus money is wasted. He said a citizen budget committee should review the next budget, and he volunteered to be on the committee. Mr. David Blount, Legislative Liaison with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, said he is in the process of developing the legislative program which will use the same process and time line as last year. He said it will focus on a few high priority items. He said he will provide a draft to Council in mid-September and would like approval by mid-October. He said a bleak revenue picture is expected from the State. He said ongoing funding for the Comprehensive Services Act is a concern. He said he will work with staff on developing the draft program. Ms. Lynn Wiber said she is homeless, and thanked the City for providing public water fountains. She asked that a Region Ten program funded with CDBG funds not receive the funds until they accept women into the program. Mr. Peter Kleeman, 407 Hedge Street, said that the two Meadowcreek Parkway items should be lumped together as one item. He said he does not see protection of historic McIntire Park by Council and is disappointed by that. Mr. Stratton Salidas, 704 Graves Street, said it does not make sense talking about Meadowcreek Parkway issues separately. He said it is being done that way to avoid federal review. He said it takes a super majority to transfer City land. Mr. M. Rick Turner, 1663 Brandywine Drive, President of the Albemarle County Branch of the NAACP, reminded Council of the importance of understanding the correlation between crime and unemployment. He said the downtown mall is an unfriendly place for African Americans, and the primary beneficiaries of the mall renovation are mostly white. He asked that Council look at the City’s affirmative action plan and make it active. Ms. Patricia Wilkinson, owner of Wash and Wag at 200 Avon Street, said her business is invisible because of the sign ordinance. She asked that an exception be made to the ordinance. Mr. Chad Freckmann, 627 Hinton Avenue, said that a new bus line to Charlottesville High School will begin on Saturday. He thanked Council for providing the services. He said it will help young people think about alternatives forms of transportation. He said there is incongruity with the Meadowcreek Parkway COUNCIL RESPONSES TO MATTERS BY THE PUBLIC Mr. Huja asked that staff look into why women are not allowed in the Region Ten program. Mr. Taliaferro said that money was built into the budget in anticipation of the State budget shortfall. He said other issues such as increases in fuel have occurred since the budget was adopted.