2009-11-02 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

7 following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Huja, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Noes: None. REPORT : DIALOGUE ON RACE Mr. Maurice Jones, Assistant City Manager, provided Council will an update on the Dialogue on Race. He said it is based on the study circle model, will begin in January and will last for three months. He said the groups will present their findings to the Steering Committee. He introduced Ms. Gwendolyn Whiting, consultant for facilitation training. He said they are in the process of recruiting participants and facilitators. REPORT : REGIONAL JAIL RE-ENTRY PROGRAM Ms. Pat Smith, Executive Director of Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR), discussed the Re-Entry Program which works on the environment for people getting out of jail. Col. Ronald Matthews, Superintendent of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, said we put barriers in front of people being released from jail. He said the community has to change the way it looks at ex-offenders. Ms. Edwards said we need to hear more about success stories of ex-offenders. RESOLUTION : AUTHORIZING LETTER TO COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD OPPOSING 29 NORTH CORRIDOR RECOMMENDATIONS Mr. Jim Tolbert, Director of Neighborhood Development Services, gave an overview of the Rt. 29 Corridor Study. He said staff has concerns about the impact on the City of recommendations and we need to get comments to the Commonwealth Transportation Board immediately. He said the solution proposed is not in the best interest of the City. Mr. Charles Rasnik, Project Manager for VDOT and Mr. Joe Springer of VDOT, discussed the draft recommendations. They said Rt. 29 between Hydraulic Road and Rt. 250 is a major choke point. He said the recommendations include extending parallel roads and reconfiguring the interchange at Hydraulic. Mr. Taliaferro said he understands the issue of the chokepoint, noting that it exists because of the lack of a bypass, and said now the solution is being put through the City. Mr. Rasnik said an alternate recommendation will be made to the CTB if the City opposes the current recommendation. Mr. Norris expressed concern about a project of this scope having no opportunity for public vetting. Mr. Norris asked about the time saved with the draft recommendation, and Mr. Springer said four minutes. Mr. Norris noted that saving four minutes driving time would cost $140 million. Mr. Tolbert said the draft letter lays out concerns with the recommendations. Mr. Huja said he is not sure the last sentence is needed in the draft letter. Dr. Brown suggested adding a sentence suggested by the Southern Environmental Law Center emphasizing how we want to see that section improved and that we are happy to work with officials to minimize impacts to business and residents. Mr. Taliaferro said he would prefer to leave the last sentence in the letter.