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180 <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano said he is persuaded that there might be a way to speak to both Regal's <br />and the BAR's concerns. Mr. Toscano noted that he never noticed differences in brick in <br />many months of walking up and down the mall. <br /> <br /> The appeal regarding the glass on the Water Street window- was unanimously denied <br />and the appeal regarding the bricks was unanimously approved by Council. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING: COMMI~qlTY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja, Director of Community Development, explained that the City is expected to <br />receive $713,000 (CDBG funds); $83,625 (HOME funds); and $30,000 (CDBG program <br />income). Staff recommendations regarding use of the funds are: 1) approve North Belmont <br />as priority neighborhood, 2) allocate $200,000 for North Belmont, 3) approve 15% as the <br />percentage allocation for social programs; and 4) administration and planning continue at the <br />present level with normal increases for salaries and inflation. <br /> <br />The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br /> Mr. Chace Anderson, member of the Community Development Block Grant Task <br />Force, recommended the following: designate North Belmont as the priority neighborhood, <br />moving boundary north two blocks to Druid; increase funding for rehabilitation and <br />weatherization; and increase funding for drainage, particularly at Quarry Park. <br /> <br /> Mst Darcy Phillips, member of the North Belmont Neighborhood Task Force, <br />supported including North Belmont and Belmont Park as part of the priority neighborhood, <br />and supported maximizing the recommendations to tie downtown Belmont and Belmont <br />Park. <br /> <br /> Mr. Karen Firehock, North Belmont Neighborhood Task Force, stated that the CDBG <br />process has been positive and has helped revitalize the neighborhood. Ms. Firehock urged <br />Council to consider the expanded North Belmont area for a priority neighborhood for <br />another year. <br /> <br /> Ms. Betty Newell, Director of the Charlottesville Free Clinic, asked that Council <br />consider designating 3-5% of the social program funding for medications for the Free Clinic. <br />Ms. Newell said that the Clinic is at a crisis point for medications, and will spend almost <br />$50,000 for medications in addition to what is donated. <br /> <br />As there were no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano noted that the administrative cost is now at 17.2%, and asked what <br />backlog of projects have been completed, and if they have been completed, why is there a <br />need to maintain the same administrative level. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja replied that the administrative funds provide funding for two positions. In the <br />last year, projects were able to be started in the same year as funds were allocated because of <br />the staff positions. In addition to these positions, Mr. Huja explained that the administrative <br />funds inClude funding for attorney fees, audit, engineering design, and an intern for the paint <br />program. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter recommended that Parks staff attend a North Belmont Neighborhood <br />Task Force meeting to hear concerns about Belmont Park. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said that extending the boundaries of the priority area in North Belmont might <br />dilute the ability to make improvements. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter noted that CDBG funds are supplemented from the Capital Improvement <br />Program for parks, sidewalks, street improvements, and housing, but said that Council may <br />want to revisit this process to see if it is working. <br /> <br /> <br />