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14 <br />food vendors are proposed to increase to $800. He said this will bring the cost in line to <br />what the property is worth. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Norris, Mr. Tolbert said hand delivered <br />notices of the proposed fee increases were delivered to café operators and vendors. He <br />said they understand that there are tradeoffs and that the rates are still a bargain compared <br />with indoor spaces. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Dr. Brown, Mr. Tolbert said the average café <br />increase will be from $1,800 to $3,000. <br /> <br /> The public hearing was opened, but as there were no speakers, the public hearing <br />was closed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja said he thinks the fees are reasonable and long overdue, but said the <br />increase from $800 to $1200 seems disproportionately high. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tolbert noted that this rate is for prime locations. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said he tends to agree that the increases are steep, 20% to 50% in one <br />year. He said he is more inclined to support a more modest increase given the economy. <br />He said he has no problem charging more for electricity. He said he is not sure why <br />Council has not heard from vendors and café operators about the proposed increases. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tolbert said he thinks they know their spaces are currently undervalued. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said he would feel more comfortable gradually raising the rates <br />given the current economic conditions. He suggested that staff come up with another fee <br />schedule with a smaller percentage increase. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown agreed and said he would like to see something more incremental, or <br />perhaps having part of the increase take effect one year and the rest the next. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tolbert said there is no rush and more work can be done on it. <br /> <br /> Ms. Edwards echoed Councilors’ concerns and said she does not want to dampen <br />the morale of vendors. <br /> <br /> It was agreed that the ordinance would be brought back in approximately a month. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING/ORDINANCE <br />: CONVEYING CITY PROPERTY AT THE <br />CORNER OF WEST HIGH STREET AND MCINTIRE ROAD <br /> <br /> Mr. Craig Brown, City Attorney, said the current owner of 400 West High Street <br />has requested that the City sell her 1,222 square feet of City property. He said <br />Neighborhood Development and Public Works staff have reviewed the request and have <br />no objection as the City has no use for the land. He said the original request was for a <br />larger area, but that area contains utility easements. He said the assessed price is $2 a <br />square foot. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja said the assessment seems low, and asked if it was recent, and Mr. <br />Brown said yes it was recent and the property is zoned R-3. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said his understanding is the assessment was based on the feasibility of <br />using the land. <br /> <br /> The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cass Kaweki, 705 Graves Street, speaking on behalf of his mother, Dr. <br />Kathleen Free, owner of the property at 400 West High Street, said the land forms a <br />buffer between her land and City utilities, but has not been very well maintained. He said <br /> <br />