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0 <br />A RESOLUTION <br />TO SEEK AN END TO THE REVERSION PROCEEDING <br />WHEREAS, more than 3 years ago, in November of 1996, citizens of the City filed a <br />petition in the Circuit Court of the City of Charlottesville stating that it was desirable that the <br />City make a transition to town status; and <br />WHEREAS, both the City of Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle were made <br />party defendants to that law suit; and <br />WHEREAS, the petition began a process established by the Virginia General Assembly <br />which, if carried to its end, can conclude with a transition or "reversion" to town status by the <br />City; and <br />WHEREAS, the filing of this petition was preceded by 12 months or more of debate, <br />study, and thoughtful discussions by and among community leaders, civic organizations such as <br />the League of Women Voters, this Council, and the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, <br />by a number of public meetings and forums on the benefits and disadvantages that Reversion <br />• might bring to our community, and by lengthy negotiations between the Council and the Board <br />of Supervisors in an effort to reach a Voluntary Settlement in lieu of Reversion; and <br />WHEREAS, such discussions, meetings, negotiations, and debate continued off and on <br />for 18 months or more after the Reversion petition was filed; and <br />WHEREAS, between July of 1997 and June of 1999 the legal process has seen the <br />Reversion case dismissed by the three judge trial court, appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court <br />by both the City and the citizen petitioners, and then reinstated and remanded (or sent back) to <br />the trial court; and <br />WHEREAS, the case as remanded is about to begin anew the validation proceeding with <br />respect to signatures on the Petition; and <br />WHEREAS, during the 5 years or more that have elapsed since Reversion first became a <br />serious point of discussion for Charlottesville and Albemarle, City Council has not taken a <br />formal position favoring or opposing Reversion; and <br />WHEREAS, during this same 5 year period, the overall health of the City has come <br />under close scrutiny by Council and the City Manager and together they have implemented <br />certain changes designed to improve the long term vitality of the City, including (a) adoption of a <br />