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45 <br /> <br /> Mr. Downing Smith, 810 Locust Avenue, expressed concern that he has been told <br />that City pools can no longer be used by the Eskimo Roll Kayak group in the spring. Mr. <br />Smith said that he was originally told that the pools could not be used until broken tiles <br />are fixed, and is now being told that they can't use the pools because the kayaks crack the <br />tiles. Mr. Smith asked Council to investigate the matter. <br /> <br /> Mr. Kevin Cox, Fairway Avenue, said he feels it is a bad idea to change <br />Meadowcreek Parkway from four to two lanes, though he said he feels that two lanes are <br />better than nothing. Mr. Cox said that having to build additional lanes in the future will <br />increase the cost of the project. Mr. Cox asked that reducing the road to two lanes not be <br />used to stall the project until the next Council election. Mr. Cox suggested that a public <br />hearing on the design change be held before VDOT's May pUblic hearing. Mr. Cox said <br />he feels that homes in the Locust Avenue area will turn into rental property unless the <br />traffic problems are deak with. Mr. Cox said that the Meadowcreek Parkway is needed <br />now. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Stroh, Manager of Charlottesville Parking Center, Inc. supported the <br />letter written by Ms. Joan Fenton regarding vendors, h/h-. Stroh said that he feels vendors <br />are a wonderful addition to downtown, but unless they are given guidelines they will <br />become a detriment. Mr. Stroh said that Ms. Fenton's letter has been circulated to <br />downtown businesses and is receiving support from them. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty noted that Council had previously asked the downtown property <br />owners to have a meeting which included vendors, but that has not happened. <br /> <br />Mr. Stroh said that the BAR could be used as the forum for public participation. <br /> <br /> Mr. James Mohammed, a vendor on the mall, said that two policies are in place <br />on the mall, one for vendors and one for the Christmas Market. Mr. Mohammed said that <br />the regulations are not being enforced and some vendors do not follow the rules. Mr. <br />Mohammed said that he feels people who oppose the vendors should not have a say in <br />what they should look tike and he feels that some businesses are using vendors as a <br />scapegoat. <br /> <br />PUBLIC ~ARlNG: TEA 21 ENHANCEMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS: 1) <br />"WEST MAIN STREET PEDESTRIA2q LINK" AND 2) COURT SQUARE <br />INITIATIVE" <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell explained that the TEA 21 Enhancement Grant applications were <br />due on January 31, but staffwere informed that a public hearing is required as part of the <br />process to allow comments about Council's projects: West Main Street Pedestrian Link <br />and Court Square Initiative. <br /> <br />The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br /> Mr. James Wooten, Curator of Ash Lawn-Highlands, supported the grant <br />application for the Court Square Initiatives. <br /> <br /> Mr. Reid Oechslin, 708 Nalle Street, supported the West Main Street Pedestrian <br />link, which he said will provide a safe and legal pedestrian crossing of the railroad tracks. <br /> <br /> Mr. Herman Key, 420 7 1/2 Street, S.W., agreed with Mr. Oechslin's comments. <br />Mr. Key expressed concern about some of the design ideas proposed for Court Square, <br />noting that a smooth surface is needed to accommodate handicapped persons. <br /> <br />The public hearing was closed: <br /> <br /> Mr. Mike Fontaine, Traffic Engineer, said that the West Main Street pedestrian <br />brifl~ is estimated to cost $1.7 million, and noted that the TEA 21 grant has a cap of $1 <br />m~n. <br /> <br /> <br />