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107 Mr. O'Connell said he vie~vs the Film Festival as an important economic development activity. The majority of Council agreed to provide an additional $5,000 to the Virginia Film Festival, contingent upon them completing the budget forms. The technology improvements proposed for Council Chamber were reviewed and approved. Councilors requested that microphones be installed in the press box and consideration be given to adding a monitor in the press box area. Mr. Toscano noted that there is no line kem for the Lewis and Clark feasibility study, and Ms. Peacock replied that the exact amount for the study will not be known until proposals are received. Mr. O'Connell asked Councilors if they concur that the study, which will be funded exclusively by the City, should focus solely on a City location, and Councilors unanimously concurred with Mr. O'Connetl. Ms. Richards, a member of the Lewis and Clark Committee, said that a subset of the committee feel that a Lewis and Clark Museum should be located at the base of Monticello Mountain to maximize the visitorship, but she has argued that priority should be given to a City location. Ms. Daugherty stressed that her interest in funding the study is on having City locations studied. Responding to a question from Mr. Cox, Mr. O'Connell said that the $300,000 for Court Square will help develop a plan and design for the area, and is an effort to keep the project moving. Mr. Cox questioned if adequate funding is available for sidewalks and drainage, and Ms. Peacock reviewed funds available. Mr. O'Connell noted that the Planning CommisSion has focused on constracting sidewalks to connect to schools and in heav~j pedestrian areas. Mr. Cox asked staff to provide Council information on creating a tax zone for sidewalk construction. Ms. Richards said that Portland, Oregon has a tax zone for sidewalks, and added that she feels pedestrian safety should be the highest priority for sidewalk consideration. Mr. O'Connell provided Council with information about the current fund balance and said that staff are looking at the implications of reducing the fund balance from 12% to 10%. Ms. Richards asked if $500,000 could be taken from the fund balance to provide a car decal rebate and still maintain an adequate fund balance. Mr. Cox said he does not feel adequate funds are available in the strategic fund to accomplish major things, and argued against the decal rebate. Mr. Cox suggested rolling back the tax rate by 1 cent annually. Ms. Daugherty agreed that a small tax rate reduction could have a symbolic effect. Mr. O'Connell said that Council could set money aside for a citizen rebate and staff could explore options. Mr. O'Connell stressed that if Council wants to cut the tax rate, he needs to bring back suggestions for comparable cuts in expenditures. The majority of Council agreed they would like to return funds to citizens.