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99 <br /> <br />issue to Council in the next_ couple of months. Ms. Daugherty seconded the motion and it <br />was unanimously approved. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he feels the traffic circle is necessary and an important traffic calming <br />measure, and would create a physical gateway into the City. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty made a motion to attthorize a pretiminaw study of the feasibility ora <br />traffic circle, conditional on cost estimates, for the intersection of Mc!ntire, Preston, and <br />_High Streets. Mr. Toscano seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by <br />Council. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said she would like to have some input into the purpose of the traffic <br />circle, and that a description of that be included inn the RFP. <br /> <br />_REPORT: NEIG_W3~ORHOOD PROTECTION TASK FORCE <br /> <br /> Mr. Stan Tatum, Chair of the Neighborhood Protection Task Force, presented the Task <br />Force's report to Council. Goals and recommendations include: increase number of <br />owner-occupied dwellings within the City; correct Code .violations that exist today (including <br />building code, rental occupancy, parking setbacks, noise, trash, and maintenance violations); <br />limit the purchase and conversion of existing single family homes to rental property; reduce <br />traffic congestion and parking problems in the neighborhoods; correct inconsistencies <br />between zoning and the Land Use Plan; and encourage U. Va. to be an active participant in <br />neighborhood improvement and protection. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Conne!l noted that the City has already taken steps to respond to the report, <br />including: Starr Hill revitalization; no new subsidized rental housing; development of a <br />housing strategy; stepped up code enforcement with _hiring of a new housing inspector; <br />exploring cross-departmental ways to enhance neighborhoods; and a review of how the city <br />provides neighborhood services. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano suggested the following: 1) enforcement/fines - ask staff to identify <br />where fines could justifiably be increased (in all areas); 2) assemble group to look at new use <br />of permit parking as a disincentive, designating a few places for a pilot program; <br />3) direct the Platming Commission to look at land use and zoning changes that could help; 4) <br />establish a neighborhood leadership institute; 5) and develop new strategies to enforce <br />ordinances already on the books. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty recommended that other suggestions by the Task Force be examined to <br />see which ones could be done. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox recommended that Council adopt the plan and present it to the University of <br />Virginia. <br /> <br />Ms. Slaughter said she feels it would be better to hone in on specific recommendations. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said the City should use fines as aggressively as the University does. Mr. Cox <br />asked what the University is doing to preserve Char!ottesvil!e's character, and noted that <br />other universities are housing greater numbers of their students. Mr. Cox suggested that the <br />University establish a housebank for their faculty to encourage home ownership. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter expressed some concern about adopting the entire report as she feels <br />there are some alternate ways to address issues other than those recommended. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards noted that there are approximately 15,000 parking spaces on the <br />University grounds, though not in the most convenient locations, which could be used for <br />neighborhood parking if parking is made more difficult in neighborhoods. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter recommended that Council move forward with Mr. Toscano's <br />suggestions and that staff' respond to the other recommendations. <br /> <br /> <br />