1994-07-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL CHAMBER - July 5, 1994 Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: Ms. Daugherty, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Toscano, Mr. Vandever. Absent: Rev. Edwards. ELECTION OF MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR Mr. Hendrix convened the meeting and called for nominations for Mayor. On motion by Ms. Slaughter, seconded by 5/Ir. Vandever, Mr. Toscano was elected Mayor, with Rev. Edwards absent for the vote. Mr. Toscano thanked Council for their vote of confidence and Rev. Edwards and Mr. Vandever for their leadership while serving as Mayor in the past. Mr. Toscano stated that he considered his election as Mayor to be a great honor and he would give careful attention to his duties and to retaining the City's uniqueness. Mr. Toscano said that Council is committed to keeping the City vital, vibrant and diverse, to creating opportunities for citizen involvement, and to finding new ways to provide services. Mr. Toscano stated that a major part of his job would be trying to build a consensus among Council and encouraging citizens to participate in local govemment. On motion by Ms. Daugherty, seconded by Mr. Vandever, Ms. Slaughter was elected Vice-Mayor, with Rev. Edwards absent for the vote. PUBLIC Mr. Bernhard Leipelt requested that Council allow him to make a formal presentation at a future meeting regarding a vision for the City's future. Col. Carroll Smith invited the Council and public to attend a celebration on July 18th to dedicate the highway marker on Route 29 honoring Frank Peregory. Dr. Henry Silva encouraged citizens to participate in a march from the Rotunda to Lee Park on September 25th held to encourage people to come together with a common positive vision for the community. Mr. Christopher David, 2647-B Hydraulic Road, spoke in support of the proposed ordinance to amend the City's policy to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. iVir. Lee Danielson, Talleyhoe Farm, announced a proposed lease agreement with Neighborhood Entertainment, Inc. (NEI) for a six movie theater complex to be located in the former Grand building on the downtown mall. Mr. Danielson stated that detailed remained to be worked out and one issue of importance to NEI is allowing vehicular crossing of the downtown mall at 2nd Street West. Mr. Danielson requested that Council hold a public heating on the issue of allowing vehicular crossing of the mall at its July 18th meeting. Ms. Slaughter stated that she had supported allowing vehicular crossing at certain locations when the issue was last considered by Council and felt that the events described by Mr. Danielson make revisiting of the issue very timely. Mr. Clyde Gouldman, City Attorney, explained that prior to Council's consideration of vehicular crossing of the mall, the Planning Commission must look at the issue in terms of its consistency with the Comprehensive Plan. It was the sense of Council to ask the Planning Commission to review the proposal to allow crossing of the malt at 2nd Street West as it relates to the Comprehensive Plan as soon as possible and to hold a public hearing on the matter at Council's regular July 18th meeting. Ms. Daugherty stated that she hoped the proposed movie theater complex would be the germination of making downtown an entertainment center.