1997-04-21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL CHArviBER - April 21, 1997 Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: Cox, Ms. Daugherty, Ms. Richards, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Toscano. CALL-IN/PUBLIC HEARING: REVERSION PUBLIC Mr. Ms. Slaughter said that as Council looks to the future of Charlottesville, major goals are to work towards greater racial accord and to try to build a better community. Housing goals include increasing diversity in the conm~unity. Mr. Peter McCutheon, 1025 Locust Avenue, presented a petition with 500 signatures supporting a skateboard/rollerblading park at Mclntire Park. Mr. McCutheon asked Council to explain why it has taken so long to create such a facility and asked what kind of financial support the City is willing to give to such a project. A caller asked why Council doesn't just raise City taxes and eliminate the need for reversion. Mr. Toscano responded that increasing taxes would be a political decision, but noted that other things would need to be done as well as increasing revenues. Ms. Daugherty also responded that money is not the only consideration, and the City and County need to do more cooperation and sharing. A caller asked if Charlottesville students will fare better or worse as part of a larger school system. Ms~ Daugherty replied that she can't really say whether Charlottesville students would be better off`in a larger system, but said that students could benefit from each school system's programs, and citizens could lobby the School Board for programs they would like to see available in a combined school system. Mr. Cox said that he does not think the size of the school system is the issue, but quality is and how' the community's resources are pooled. Ms. Richards noted that there is presently a major discrepancy in school funding between the City and County, with the County's funding lower. Ms. Richards said it remains unanswered as to how the pooled funds would be distributed and whether funding for City schools would be reduced. A called asked what Council is doing to ensure quality programs will continue to exist under reversion. Ms. Richards replied that at the present time there is little that Council can do as no discussion has taken place with Albemarle County officials. Mr. Cox said that the School Board determines the level of support and funding for programs and set policies, and the best way to assure that this would continue under reversion would be for citizens to vote for and run for the County School Board. Mr. Toscano stressed that no one will know what a consolidated system will look like until after a decision is made about reversion. 5,ir. Toscano said that Charlottesville has a long history of supporting certain programs and it is unknown whether this would continue, an issue that concerns a lot of people. Ms. Daugherty said that she feels a consolidated system could be discussed before decision are made, and she hopes that negotiations can be held regarding such a consolidation. A caller asked what would happen to transit, Region 10 Community Services, and trash collection and said they oppose reversion. Mr. Cox said these programs would continue under reversion. Ms. Slaughter noted that mental health services would be transferred to the County under reversion.