1998-11-02 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Responding to a question from Mr. Cox, Ms. Richards said that the program is being operated in collaboration with City and County Schools. Ms. Sarah McConneli, a member of the Computers 4 Kids Board, said that the gap between children with and without computers is great, and she hopes that coming into the Christmas season people will donate computers and volunteer their time. PRESENTATION: THOMAS JEFFERSON AREA COMMUNITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE BOARD Mr. Dave Chapman, City Commonwealth's Attorney and the City's representative on the Community Criminal Justice Board, explained that in 1995 the General Assembly created the legal framework for the Board and charged it with overseeing and planning for community correction services with other localities in the planning district. The Board is currently looking at future needs regarding delivery of service. Mr. Chapman said that the fact that the Board is staffed by a planner rather than a professional in the field has been helpful. Mr. Bruce Carveth, Director of the Community Criminal Justice Board, said that the Board is in the midst of developing a regional plan. A number of studies have been and are being conducted, and public meetings and workshops have been sponsored by the Board in order to get a better sense of the value of corrections to the community so that can be built into the objectives of the Board. Mr. Chapman said that the delivery of services of the Board is based on State funding and the staff is funded through a grant which will not be renewable after 2000. Mr. Chapman expressed concern that the State will pass on the cost of this essential program to localities and asked that the localities work together to help find ways to see that the system statewide continues to be funded so that the burden does not fall on localities. PRESENTATION: Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Board Ms. Jackie Lichtman, a member of the Library Board, said that 1997/98 saw the library's highest circulation ever, 43% higher than the national average. Ms. Lichtman said there were also increases in the Summer Reading Program. A new computer system program has been selected and will be installed next summer. The library's catalog is on- tine. The Board is in the process of drafting a five-year plan which will be presented to the Council. Responding to a question from Mr. Cox, Ms. Lichtman said that each locality is responsible for funding the building of new libraries in their locality. Responding to a question from Mr. Cox, Mr. Jo?m Halliday, Library Director, said that an architectural study of the central library will be done over the next 12 months. REPORT: TEA 21 (TRANSPORTATION EQUALITY ACT) Mr. Mike Fontaine, City Transportation Engineer, explained that the Transportation Equality Act (TEA 21) replaced the Intermodal Surface transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), and provides funding for highways, highway safety, transit, and surface transportation. Mr. Fontaine said that there is a 20% local match required, and projects must be endorsed by the locality and by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). TEA-21 includes the following major programs for highway funding: interstate maintenance and national highway system; bridge; minimum guarantee; congestion mitigation and air quality; and surface transportation program. Previous eligible categories include: provision of facilities for bicycles and pedestrians; acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites; scenic or historic programs; landscaping and other scenic beautification; historic preservation; rehabilitation of historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities, including historic railroad facilities and canals; preservation of abandoned railway corridors including the conversion and use thereof for pedestrian and bicycle trails; control and removal of outdoor advertising;