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7 <br /> Ms. Beauregard asked for guidance from Council on the guidelines and budget <br />dates. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said the guidelines look fine. He asked if there is a surplus from <br />last year’s budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said the books are in the process of being closed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja said he would like to see more money go to the capital improvement <br />budget for one-time expenditures. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said staff’s concern is we are not sure what is going to happen <br />with the local economy, and the recommendation is to set funds aside to build up a <br />reserve. He said if the funds are not needed they can be used for the CIP. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said Council has talked about how the City has fallen behind in <br />infrastructure improvements. He said those are the easiest things to cut, but it is <br />important to make sure we do not fall further behind on critical ones. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris agreed with Dr. Brown. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said staff will try to protect major maintenance items. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown suggested that as we reach out to the public on the efficiency study we <br />should include our budget “hawks.” <br /> <br /> On motion by Mr. Taliaferro, seconded by Dr. Brown, the proposed budget <br />guidelines were approved by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Ms. Edwards, Mr. <br />Huja, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Noes: None. <br /> <br />REPORT <br />: EASTERN CONNECTOR <br /> <br /> Ms. Jeanette Janiczek, VDOT Project Manager, explained that a feasibility study <br />funded by the City and Albemarle County was conducted about an eastern connector, and <br />a Steering Committee was formed. She said 14 alternatives were analyzed and three <br />remain: Proffit Road, Polo Grounds Road, and Pen Park. She said the Steering <br />Committee recommended the Pen Park route. She said the County wants to hold off until <br />an origin and destination study can be done. She said City staff is concerned about the <br />route through Pen Park, and recommend that a location study be done of all three <br />alternatives, focusing on Proffit Road and Polo Grounds Road. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Huja, Ms. Janiczek said that a local study <br />would cost several hundred thousands dollars, up to $1 million. She said the <br />recommendation is not to have the City put additional money in unless Albemarle County <br />shows it is serious about the eastern connector. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said he cannot support a route through Pen Park as he does not <br />want to sacrifice more parkland. <br /> <br /> Ms. Edwards said our focus should be on bikes, pedestrians and transit. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said the only alignment that makes sense coming out of the study is <br />Pen Park and he cannot support that route. He said he is hearing a lack of interest by <br />Albemarle County and he does not support putting any more City funds into the issue. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown asked if an origin and destination study would really help the decision <br />making process, and Ms. Janiczek said it might give some extra incentive to the County. <br />She said VDOT is doing another origin and destination study. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja suggested waiting for the data from the VDOT study. He said <br />projections for future use of the bypass are high. <br /> <br /> <br />