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237 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL ~MEETING OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Tuesday, September 19, 1995 AT 7:30 p.m. in the Mclntire Room of the Library. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Discussion with Albemarle County Board of Supervisors: Changes in the form of local government structure, and related alternatives BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox (signed) Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Ms. Daugherty, Rev. EdWards, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Toscano, Mr. Vandever. Mr. Walter Perkins, Chairman of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, said that he hoped issues could be identified and solutions and alternatives explored regarding the recent discussions of reversion by Charlottesville citizens and officials. Mayor Toscano read the following statement: "Good evening, Chairman PerMns, colleagues of the Board and Council, staffs of City and County, friends throughout our region. The City Council is pleased to join the Board of Supervisors this evening in the first of what we hope will be a series of meetings designed to explore mutual interests, opportunities, and challenges, and develop common approaches and solutions that can take our jut'isdictions profitably into the next century. Tonight, we will likely discuss some significant problems facing our community. But, at the outset, before we do, let me say that the citizens of Charlottesville live in a great ciO;, a ciO;proud of its heritage and its accomplishments, a city always willing to address the next challenge, and a city whose citizens understand the need for change and the importance of involving the public in the process. Our citizens are proud of efforts to streamline our local government, to create a Charlottesville that works better and costs less. Over the last five years, this has meant a reduction in city personnel by 12 pet'cent, without the need of layoffs. It has meant a series of initiatives that have unleashed the creative energies of ciG, employees, generating significant savings to taxpayers as we reorganize city government. Smqngs from three such revised city programs have totaled almost one-half million doIlars over the last twelve months. Our citizens are proud of the city's record of fiscal management and responsibilit); a record that has brought Charlottesville Triple-A (AAA) bond ratings from 2 independent rating agencies. We have been tom that we are the smallest city in the United States that has this ranking, and that Charlottesville has the longest consecutive running AAA rating of any city in the countty. Citizens of Charlottesville are proud of out' school system, which has one of the lowest student-teacher ratios of any public school system in the Commonwealth, and which produced 5 National Merit Finalists last year; more than any division in the entire region. Our citizens are proud of Chartottesville's efforts to encourage job creation and economic growth. For example, estimated costs of construction now underway and shown on city building peJTnits issued during the past year exceed $36 million. New projects in the Downtown Area alone show proposed investment of approximately $5 million over the last twelve months. Most of this new construction represents private sector investment, and is a sign of significant confidence in the future of the city.