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1 COUNCIL CHAMBER – September 21, 2009 Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: Dr. Brown, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Huja, and Mr. Taliaferro. Absent: Mr. Norris. In Mayor Norris’ absence, Vice-Mayor Taliaferro presided at the meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Taliaferro announced that the City would be holding the annual Government Services Day on October 2, 2009 on the Downtown Mall. The City Parks and Recreation Department will host “National Public Lands Day” on September 26, 2009, where volunteers will help expand the trail system along the Rivanna River at Pen Park. Ms. Edwards announced that the NAACP Freedom Fund banquet will be held on September 22, 2009, the Massive Resistance Commemoration ceremony will take place on September 26, 2009, and there will be a Health Summit on September 26, 2009 (reduction of infant mortality). Mr. Taliaferro requested Item #7 on the agenda, Schenk’s Branch Interceptor Sewer Project – Easements to RWSA, be deferred until the regular meeting on October 5, 2009. Ms. Edwards concurred, stating that she would like to get more information on the item, and the ndth Councilors agreed to postpone the 2 reading of the ordinance to October 5. Mr. Taliaferro read a proclamation to declare October 2009 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month”. PUBLIC Mr. Paul Long, 1410 Grady Avenue, objected to the proposed William Taylor Plaza on Cherry Avenue and Ridge Street. He stated that the project did not serve the neighborhood’s low income residents and did include enough affordable housing. Mr. Jack Wilson, 317 Monte Vista Avenue, thanked the City for the Stream Stabilization Project in Azalea Park. He stated there is a problem with the park not being locked at 9:00 p.m., as the law requires, and vandalism has occurred because of it. He encouraged the police to increase their patrol of the area to prevent trespassing. On the other hand, the baseball field used by the Albemarle Baseball Association, is locked to the public all the time and should remain open for public use when the association is not using it. As for the Azalea Master Plan, Mr. Wilson said the priority should be on taking care of the current facilities rather than adding new facilities. Ms. Elizabeth Breeden, 981 Old Lynchburg Road, director of Art in Place Foundation, thanked Council for their support of the program. She stated that the public seems to support it more than ever. The stipend to the artists has increased in order to attract more nationally ranked art. She said the City’s funding to the program is well-spent, given the amount of volunteer assistance to install and maintain the art pieces. Mr. Stratton Salidis, 704 Graves Street, objected to the process Council has used in making decisions on the Meadowcreek Parkway and the dam project. He stated he is seeing similar obstructions and falsehoods in both. He stated VDOT has 2 sets of plans for the Meadowcreek Parkway and considers the Parkway a constructed project. Mr. Salidis wants the City to retract certain statements it made on December 27 to support a conservation easement through McIntire Park. Ms. Colette Hall, 101 Robertson Lane, stated that she has been working on community issues for many years and is quite discouraged with the lack of cooperation she has seen with City staff. She states it has been a thankless burden. Ms. DeDe Smith, 2652 Jefferson Park Circle, objected to the proposed allocation of $2.1 million by RWSA to proceed with work on the dam project at their meeting on September 22, 2009. She stated the dredging study hasn’t been done and other studies are still pending. She urged Council to instruct the City representatives on the RWSA Board to vote against the allocation.