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291 record while on the banks, unnoticed people build homes, make love, raise children, sing songs, write poetry and even whittle statues. The story of civilization is the story of what happened on the banks." PUBLIC Mr. John Yellott, 311 E. Market St., spoke against the ordinance aligning language in the City Code and on parking signs. Mr. Yellott said it is an excessive delegation of authority. Mr. Yellott said that the ordinance appeared to prohibit parking after 6:00 p.m., but that section has been removed by the City Attorney. Mr. Dale McGlothlin, 701 Lyons Court, speaking on behalf of the Charlottesville Corarnunity Council, presented their report, "A Simple Plan for Hope, Growth and Prosperity." Mr. McGlothlin said the current Council has not provided a vision that the community can get behind, there is no strategic plan, no plan to lower the tax rate, no regional transportation plan, no incentive programs for traffic reduction, and no plan to give people skills to move out of poverty. Mr. McGlothlin asked Council to sit down with the Community Council to go over its ideas as Council begins the budget process. REPORT: COMPREHENSIVE PLAN KICKOFF Mr. Jim Totbert, Director of Neighborh°od Planning and Development Services, announced that the Comprehensive Plan process will kickoffthis weekend, with a dinner Friday night, bus tour Saturday morning and community meeting at noon at Jefferson School with two speakers, Mr. Ian McCard and Mr. Mike Watkins. REPORT: HISTORIC RESOURCES TASK FORCE STATUS REPORT Mr. Jim Wooten, Co-Chair of the Historic Resources Task Force, said that the Task Force was created in 1997 with the goal of making the best use of the City's historic resources. Mr. Wooten said that both state and local historic markers have been placed throughout the community, and work is ongoing on the Historic Court Square enhancement project. Mr. Wooten said he hopes that Council will continue its financial support for the Court Square project. REPORT: FACT FINDFNG TRIP TO SEATTLE, WASHINGTON Ms. Richards said that a grant, secured through the Virginia Transit Association, enabled a delegation of local decision makers to visit Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington and view ti~eir public transportation system, commuter trains, and light rail system. Ms. Richards said the light rail system in Portland is made possible through the regional government and is paid for largely by payroll taxes and federal funds. Ms. Richards said that Seattle is served largely by buses, and has a 10 square block underground mmnel for buses and a fare free bus zone downtown. Ms. Richards listed lessons learned on the fact finding trip: what kind ora community do we want; light rail is not a cure-all; emphasize access rather than parking; land use patterns complement transit; public must be involved; pedestrian friendly; regional planning and decision making; transportation is a growth management tool; state support important; requires partnership with banking and development community; long-range vision for a balanced system. Responding to a question from Mr. Caravati, Ms. Richards said that Seattle had planned to phase out buses and phase in light rail, but their funding is in jeopardy. Mr. Cox said he would be interested to know how Seattle finances their fare free zone.