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It was the concensus of the Council to go forward <br />with the program of inproving the lighting as recommended <br />by Ms. Mueller. <br /> <br /> A discussion was held concerning the advisability of <br />locating call boxes or pay phones at bus stops and at <br />other locations, but neither was recommended at this time. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mue!ler stated that the Inspections Division did <br />not have the authority to inspect rental property to <br />conduct lock surveys, but that the Police were able to <br />deal with such issues in their crime prevention efforts. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck noted that the City is considering an <br />ordinance that would allow the City to inspect apartments <br />which exist in units of three or less. <br /> <br /> Ms. Sheila Haughey, Assistant City Attorney, stated <br />that there is a State Housing Code which the City must <br />follow and such legislation as noted by Mr. Buck would <br />necessitate a legislative change at the State level. <br /> <br /> Ms. Helen Townsend, Social Planner for the City and a <br />member of the Rape Prevention Task Force, stated that the <br />Task Force is working with University of Virginia Housing <br />to deal with safety issues. <br /> <br /> John deKoven Bowen, Chief of Police, stated that he <br />was not comfortable with the Task Force recommendation to <br />identify "safe paths" because it might give a false sense <br />of security. Chief Bowen stated that unsafe areas could <br />be identified and persons would continue to be encouraged <br />to always walk with someone else and not to hitchhike. <br /> <br /> Ms. Barbara Burger, Chairman of the Rape Prevention <br />Task Force, stated that she felt it was important to <br />change the general community attitude toward rape. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck stated that while certain things can be done <br />to increase the safety of areas throughout the City and <br />improve the community attitude, he still did not feel it <br />would be safe for a woman to walk alone at night. <br /> <br /> Ms. Haughey stated that perhaps the Police could put <br />their warnings and recommendations in writing to be <br />distributed to community members and students. <br /> <br /> Chief Bowen stated that he felt citizen involvement <br />in the prevention of rape was important and stated that <br />his department would increase the coordination with the <br />University of Virginia Police to concentrate more help in <br />the unsafe areas throughout the University area. <br /> <br /> Ms. Burger stated that a high priority of the Task <br />Force had been to fund a public education coordinator <br />(jointly with the City, Albemarle County and the <br />University of Virginia) in order to prevent overlapping of <br />services and to provide coordination. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck noted that the Crime Prevention Officer for <br />the City served many of these functions. <br /> Ms. Haughey recommended that an agency involved in <br />rape prevention or counseling make a proposal concerning <br />the public education coordinator. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck stated that he would consider funding a <br />well-supported, documented program but would also support <br />any efforts to seeking funding from a source other than <br />the City for such a program. <br /> <br />A discussion was held concerning the State <br />legislation which was recommended by the Task Force. <br /> <br /> <br />