1997-12-15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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!29 REPORT: CITY'S LEGISLAXIVE PACKAGE Ms. Lisa Kelley, Assistant City _Attorney, highlighted the City's Legislative Package, including: opposition to eliminating the personal property tax; increased funding for education and transit; and funding for a public defender's office Ms. Richards suggested a sentence be added to ask that the cap be removed on highway maintenance funds. Mr. Toscano said he feels the section dealing with exempting decisions regarding bonding for transit appeals is quite technical and Ms. Richards said the section could be amended. Mr. Toscano suggested that language similar to that used by the Virginia Municipal League regarding the ability of localities to use urban maintenance funds for roads not built to VDOT standards be included. Mr. Toscano recommended that more flexible language be included in the section dealing with the personal property tax, to provide that if this source of funding is lost then an identifiable guaranteed source of income would be provided. Mr. Toscano also requested that language be added to make Regional Competitiveness Act funding more viable. Ms. Slaughter recommended expanded on ways to renew urban areas, especially infrastructure improvements. Ms. Daugherty recommended adding to the welfare reform section: "the General Assembly should set up a means for long-term evaluation of the effects of welfare reform on low income people." Mr. Toscano suggested using VML language extending the subsidy time limits for child care if necessary for parents to remain employed, Mr. Toscano said that during the electric utility de-regulation process he would like to explore renegotiating the franchise agreement. Ms. Slaughter recommended that Mr. Toscano's comments be higNighted as a concern. Ms. Slaughter said that the legislative package was very we!! prepared and thought om. On motion by Ms. Daugherty, seconded by Mr. Toscano, the City's Legislative Package, as amended, was unanimously adopted. Mr. Clyde Goutdman, City _Attorney, said that he will circulate the legislative package after it is amended. APPROPRIATION: $3,000 - TRANSITION ZONE PROCESS Mr. Cox said that he wit! recuse himself from the transition zone process discussion as he Wilt have direct involvement as a U. Va. faculty member. Mr. Huja explained that the proposal is to Nre U. Va. architecture students as interns to develop a proposal for a transition zone for the area between residential and commercial zones north of West Main Street that will provide a positive impact on the residential neighborhoods and allow healthy development. Mr. Huja said that he anticipates that the process will take approximately five months. Mr. Toscano said that the transition zone approach will look at mixed use development; will be a public process; will recommend possible uses and ordinances; will recommend economically feasible projects; and will be designed to create linkages to the train station, West Main Street and the neighborhood.