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It was agreed that the matter would be discussed at the <br />next regular Council meeting. <br /> <br /> Mr. Francis Fife requested that Council support State <br />funding for the Virginia Housing Partnership Fund, either by <br />formal resolution or by including the issue in the City's <br />legislative package. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tom Hill of 1204 Rugby Road, objected to the rate <br />charged City residents for natural gas and recommended the <br />following: a portfolio approach to gas purchases; <br />privatizing maintenance of the system; and requiring that <br />new customers pay the full cost of extending gas service. <br />Mr. Hill expressed particular concern that gas customers are <br />required to pay for extending gas service into neighborhoods <br />in the County~ <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano noted that gas rates in Charlottesville <br />compare favorably with other localities in Virginia. <br /> <br /> Ms. Rita Scott, Director of Finance, stated that <br />purchase gas adjustments are made every month to reflect <br />variations in the purchase price of gas and the City has a <br />contract with Columbia gas to assure a steady supply of gas. <br />Ms. Scott stated that she would follow up with a report to Mr. <br />Hill and Council. <br /> <br />REQUEST: HARDWARE STORE RESTAURANT - SUMMER HOUSE REMAINING ON MALL <br /> <br /> Mr. Louie Chapman, Assistant City Manager, stated that a <br />request had been received from Mr. Stan Epstein of the <br />Hardware Store Restaurant to leave the Summer House portion <br />of the restaurant's outdoor cafe on the downtown mall <br />throughout the winter. Mr. Chapman stated that the Summer <br />House has been allowed to remain on the mall beyond the <br />usual required removal date to be used for Santa Claus and <br />First Night Virginia and therefore it would only remain on <br />the mall a short time before it would normally be placed <br />on the mall in March. Mr. Chapman stated that Mr. Epstein <br />assured him that he would not use the Summer House to any <br />advantage during this time period. Mr. Chapman explained <br />that staff do not think snow removal will be interfered with <br />if the Summer House remains on the mall, but raised the issue <br />of equity to other outdoor cafes if other vendors made <br />similar requests. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters stated that she felt the request was <br />reasonable and she did not think other cafes would be in a <br />similar situation. Ms. Waters made a motion to allow the <br />Summer Cafe to remain on the downtown mall throughout the <br />winter on the condition that it be used for community use <br />only, not for entrepreneurial use. <br /> <br /> Ms. SlaUghter seconded the motion and it was unanimously <br />approved by Council. <br /> <br />STAFF REPORT: UNDERGROUNDING UTILITIES - RIDGE STREET BRIDGE <br /> <br /> Rev. Edwards stated that he would abstain from <br />discussing the matter due to a potential conflict of <br />interest. <br /> <br /> Mr. Bruce McNabb, Assistant Director of Public Works, <br />explained that the Virginia Department of Transportation is <br />working on a revised design for the Ridge Street Bridge and a <br />decision needs to be made about whether to underground the <br />utilities. Mr. McNabb listed the following options: 1) <br />leave utilities above ground, eliminating and relocating some <br />poles from their present ~location, or 2) underground all <br />utilities from Monticello Avenue to West Main Street (with <br />transformers at grade), a~ a cost of $182,000 to the City, <br />$15,000 of which could be charged to property owners to <br />provide the new connections to their properties. Mr. McNabb <br /> <br /> <br />