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258 <br /> <br />Mr. Boeschenstein had rising <br />expectations that' the e~ironment be improved, and that <br />there was a tren~ towa~'d in~reased-.~g~rism and making ~more <br />intensive use of limit~d~res~ur~ ~r.- Boeschenstein <br />stated that atten~ion shouldbe given to the east end of <br />the downtown mall, the ar~a_.s~rrounding the University of <br />Virginia Replacement Hospital, the Corner area, and the <br />entrances into the City~.~/~. · i~' <br /> <br /> Mr. Boeschenstein-stated that the Task Force <br />recommended consideration--o~ an. U~ban Design Plan which <br />could be coordinated as a public/private venture, could be <br />used as a tool for economic development and would create a <br />more comfortable and attractive environment. Mr. <br />Boeschenstein stated that Council would need to decide how <br />to proceed with the Plan, including sites to be studied <br />and cost alternatives, and recommended that a conceptual <br />design be generated, after which areas could be targeted <br />for more specific study. <br /> <br /> Mr. Bednar recommended that a community forum be held <br /> in the fall to generate alternatives and target areas for <br /> specific studies and that a report be drafted by next <br /> spring. <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Buck concerning the <br /> manner in which a consultant would be hired, Mr. Bednar <br /> stated that a Request for Proposal would need to be <br /> prepared. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck questioned whether the University of <br /> Virginia could be involved, both to take advantage of its <br /> expertise in the area and to minimize expenses. <br /> <br /> Dr. Gunter stated that she felt a combination of <br /> University personnel and outside consultants would be <br /> advantageous. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that he felt there was a need for <br /> outside market expertise in order to study the economic <br /> feasibility of the design plan. Mr. Hendrix stated that <br /> he felt the key to the plan was that it would enable the <br /> community to have an impact on its future surroundings. <br /> <br /> Mr. Barnes stated that he felt having such a plan <br /> could accelerate development of land that might otherwise <br /> lay vacant for years, but noted that he was concerned with <br /> the cost factor. <br /> <br /> It was the consensus of Council to go forward with <br />the Urban Design plan with a budget of $50,000. <br /> <br /> It was agreed that the Request for Proposals drafted <br />by the Urban Design Task Force be provided to Council and <br />that the University of Virginia would be approached <br />regarding the possibility of them providing consultants <br />for the Plan. <br /> <br />DISCUSSION WITH JEFFERSON CABLE RE: FRANCHISE ORDINANCE <br /> <br /> Mr. Joseph Price introduced the following persons <br />representing Jefferson Cable: Mr. Paul Gliss, Mr. Pat <br />Conley, and Mr. Randy Dorsey. <br /> <br /> The representative of Jefferson Cable requested that <br />the proposed ordinance be amended so that Jefferson Cable <br />would only be required to underground cable when it is <br />replaced in the Historic District, or when all other <br />utilities underground their lines. It was noted that if <br />only Jefferson Cable undergrounds their cable, when <br />utilities later underground theirs, the cable lines must <br />be dug uP, greatly increasing the expense to the Cable <br />company. <br /> <br /> <br />