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47 Mr. Toscano said he has concerns about spending the money before Council has made a decision to add the $50 fee since it may be a controversial fee. It was agreed that funding for the alternative school would be kept at the current level pending a response back from the School Board on the director's salary. Ms. Betty Newelt, Executive Director of the Charlottesville Free Clinic, asked Council to revisit funding for the Clinic as it will be very hard to come up with operating funds for the Clinic, and the Clinic may have to reduce medications offered. The meeting//~ adjourned. President Cldr~ ..... t COUNCIL CHAMBER - April 1, 1996 Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: Daugherty, Rev. Edwards, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Toscano, Mr. Vandever PUBLIC Ms. Rev. Bruce Beard, 1521 Trailridge Road, pastor of First Baptist Church on West Main Street, spoke on behalf of his congregation, and informally for the West Main Street merchants, in opposition to installation of bike lanes on West Main Street. Rev. Beard said that the public was not made aware that a vote on the issue was to occur by Council on February 20th. Rev. Beard said the area is already in need of additional parking spaces, and noted that activities occur at the church almost every day of the week. Rev. Beard presented a petition signed by 160 people in opposition to the bike lanes and many in the audience stood in support of his comments. Ms. Patricia Edwards, 503 Brown Street, a former member of the West Main Street Task Force, spoke in opposition to the bike lanes on West Main Street. Ms. Edwards said a major goal of the task force was to improve pedestrian traffic on West Main Street. Ms. Edwards expressed concern that a goal of the bike lanes is to increase bike transportation to the downtown area, not to West Main Street. Ms. Edwards said bike lanes would be more appropriate on Cherry or Preston Avenues. Mr. John Spears, a former member of the 10th and Page Street Neighborhood Task Force, said that bike lanes on West Main Street would not benefit those living in neighborhoods adjacent to West Main Street and said people need to be able to park next to businesses on West Main. Mr. Spears expressed concern that Council has ignored the parking needs of First Baptist Church. Mr. Spears asked if Council had alternatives available. Mr. Roger Fager, 1516 Trailridge Road, said that he feels an alternative route could be used for bike lanes rather than West Main Street. Mr. Toscano said that many concerns have been expressed about the provision of bike lanes on West Main Street, and noted that the lanes are dependent on finding and providing alternative parking. Mr. Toscano acknowledged that better notice for pending Council action should be provided. Mr. Toscano said that staff are looking at alternatives for parking and the public will be notified as discussions occur in the future~ Mr. William Johnson, 217 Old Lynchburg Road, said he is mazed at how much effort and money is being put into the issue of bike lanes when there continues to be great needs in the school and elsewhere in the community. Mr. Johnson expressed concern about the alternative school and said that a Republican is needed on Council. Mr. Johnson said that the School Board is not accountable to the community.