1996-03-18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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37 Mr. Herbert Porter, 231 Hartman's Mill Road, asked for information on a tax that had been placed on sewer bills in order to pay a bond. Mr, O'Connell said he was not familiar with the tax or bond, but he would research the matter and provide the information to Mr. Porter. Mr. Aer Stephen of Brace Avenue, expressed concern about the theft of automobile stickers and asked that the City devise a better system. Mr. Toscano noted that the Treasurer and Police Department are currently looking at the issue Ms. Betty Newell, Executive Director of the Charlottesville Free Clinic, asked that Council provide funding for the Clinic as she feels it provides an essential service. Ms. Alicia Lugo, 800 Rose Hill Drive #6, expressed concern that the alternative education school may be underfunded Ms. Lugo also said that she feels that the lead alternative school teacher is not adequately compensated for operating the program. Mr. Steve Stem, 1204 Holmes Avenue, supported funding for the Beating the Odds program, and for TeenSight and Camp Horizon. As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Toscano reviewed the budget work session schedule. Ms. Slaughter said that while many programs supported by the public may be worthwhile, she stressed that the City does not have the money to continue the same level of funding as in the past because resources will not be available in future years. PRESENTATION: COURT SQUARE TASK FORCE REPORT Mr. Stan Tatum, Vice-Chair of the Planning Commission, and a member of the Court Square Task Force, presented the Task Force Report. The Task Force was appointed in May of 1995 to determine problems, activities, and future space needs of the Court Square area, including underutilized land and traffic impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods. Mr, Tatum highlighted the following recommendations: better utilize existing parking lots and explore satellite parking areas to deal with the expanding court caseloads; make pedestrian improvements; continue historic preservation; reduce neighborhood cut-through traffic; invite private development and preservation of the old jail complex now owned by Albemarle County; require housing on any City owned land to encourage middle-income housing; continue public parking on the High Street parking lot; and tcharge the Task Force with monitoring the area to make recommendations as needed. Responding to a question from Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Tatum said that many private parking areas are not well organized and some could be decked for greater efficiency of use. Ms. Daugherty asked about the rationale for requiring housing for any development of City owned land, and Mr. Tatum said that residences give areas life 24 hours a day. Ms. Daugherty questioned why the Market Street and Water Street parking garages are not considered as replacement parking in the Court Square area, and Mr. Tatum said those garages are not as readily available to the courts and people do not want to walk very far to park. Ms. Slaughter noted that Albemarle County pays for jurors to park in the Market Street garage. Ms. Slaughter recommended that staff look into this issue, and also look at the parking study conducted a few years back. Ms. Slaughter also asked that an estimate be given for making pedestrian improvements similar to those made on Water Street.