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268 Ms. Daugherty said she is hearing a consensus that Council is not interested in a surcharge, is interested in staff taking over the process, would like more work on the site plan process, and is interested in doing a study to determine the cost ofundergrounding on West Main Street. Ms. Daugherty recommended that staff start thinking about developing a community undergrounding plan in the context of the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Toscano said thought needs to be given to criteria for a commurfity undergrounding plan. Mr. Caravati said he would like to hear more about service districts and their ability to raise funds. Mr. Caravati asked for the City Attorney's recent thoughts on the suggestion previously made by a citizen that Virginia Power could legally be forced to pay for undergrounding. Mr. Gouldman said his thoughts on this have not changed, noting that the courts have ruled in favor of Virginia Power and Virginia Power has considerable influence at the General Assembly level. PUBLIC ~ARING~ESOLUTIONS: TEA 21 GRANTS; AUTHORZING TEA-21 GRANTS FOR 1) PEDESTRIAN ENHANCEMENTS - DOWNTOWN MALL AREA AND 2) COURT SQUARE PHASE II Mr. Jim Totbert, Director of Neighborhood Planning and Development Services, explained that Council had requested that two TEA 21 grant applications be prepared; one for Phase II of the Court Square Initiative and one that would include undergrounding of utilities downtown. The pedestrian enhancements and undergrounding are proposed for 5th and 6th Streets, N.W., between Market St. and Court Square and will also tie in Water Street from 5th Street. Very preliminary cost estimates are $1.4 million for the undergrounding project, which will need to be broken down into phases. Mr. Tolbert asked that Council designate a priority for the grant applications. The public hearing was opened. ~vlr. Peter Kleeman, 407 Hedge Street, said that many sidewalks in North Downtown are blocked by utility poles and suggested that the possibility of using ADA funding to underground utilities be explored. The public hearing was closed. Mr. Caravati asked if staff assume that later phases for downtown undergrounding will be funded by TEA 21 grants, and Mr. Tolbert said that VDOT has supported a phased approach to projects. Ms. Richards asked which phases will include undergrounding, and Mr. Tolbert said that undergrounding will be a part of each phase. Ms, Richards asked what the estimate is for undergrounding Court Square, and Mr. Tolbert said that the only available estimates came from VDOT at$75,000 a pole, and said that staff used $85,000 per pole for the estimates for the grant. Mr. Tolbert recommended that the 6th Street piece be designated as a high priority for that project. Ms. Richards said the only problem she has with the recommendation is that real plan have yet to be developed for Court Square and now we are also developing another project. Ms. Richards asked that the grant application resolutions be voted on separately, Mr. Toscano made a motion to authorize the TEA 21 grant for Phase II of Court Square. Mr. Caravati seconded the motion and it was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Mr. Caravati, Ms. Daugherty, Ms. Richards, Mr. Toscano. Noes: None. Absent: Mr. Cox.