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COUNCIL CHAMBER - February 5, 2001
<br />
<br /> Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present:
<br />Mr. Caravati, Mr. Cox, Ms. Richards, Mr. Toscano.
<br />
<br />AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: MJ SYSTEMS, INC.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Caravati presented the City's Business Recognition Award to Mr. Victor
<br />Foster of MJ Systems, Inc.
<br />
<br />PUBLIC
<br />
<br /> Ms. Claudia Allen, Fendall Avenue, representing the Venable School PTO,
<br />alerted Council to concerns about proposed staffing cuts in the schools.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Karl Ackerman, E. Market Street, Co-President of the Bumley-Moran School
<br />PTO, said that parents support teacher salary increases, but oppose the proposed budget
<br />cuts, especially in instructional assistants.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Joan Tepper, 560 Worthington Drive, asked that Council f'md some venue to
<br />take the issue of high natural gas bills to the state and federal legislature.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Heidi Parker, 105 E. High Street, representing Alltel Commtmications,
<br />speaking on the ordinance regulating cell towers, said that the best ordinances have built
<br />in incentives and flexibility. Ms. Parker expressed concern about unnecessarily
<br />prohibiting single antenna (Section 34-685(a) and (b); limitation on setbacks (Section 35-
<br />687(e); and imposing a separation requirement (Section 34-688(c). Ms. Parker said these
<br />restrictions eliminate excellent potential sites and asked that the ordinance be amended to
<br />allow a process to consider such sites.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Peggy Boutelier, 45 Waterwheel Drive, a teacher in Charlottesville schools,
<br />expressed concern with the proposed school budget cuts.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Francis Fife, 9t~ Street, S.W., asked that Council adopt a resolution requesting
<br />the General Assembly to change the tax system to allow local governments to receive
<br />income taxes and lessen their reliance on real estate taxes.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Steven Bach, 1208 Meriwether Street, representing the Charlottesville-
<br />Albemarle Bicycling Association (CHABA), supported the free bike program, and said
<br />that CHALBA is ready to be the main agent in its implementation. Mr. Boyle said the
<br />program is a chance to give people alternative modes of transportation.
<br />
<br /> Mr. John Hassock, 617 Davis Avenue, expressed concern about increased traffic
<br />on Park Street as a result of the Meadowcreek Parkway and addition ora turn lane on
<br />Melbourne Road, which he feels will be used as a shortcut to Park Street.
<br />
<br />Mr. Colin Rolph, 218 W. Main Street, asked that Council not raise parking fines.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Lisa Murphy, representing the Downtown Property Owners Council,
<br />requested that Council put the possibility of a parking authority, which would oversee
<br />transportation issues, on its agenda for discussion. Ms. Murphy said the public is not
<br />clear about Council's overall parking plan. Ms. Murphy said the authority could combine
<br />representatives from business, Charlottesville Parking Center, and local government.
<br />
<br /> Mr. John Boyle, 607 B. Altavista Avenue, coordinator for CHABA, said he hopes
<br />the free bike program becomes a reality, and that it be expanded to an earn a bike
<br />program where at-risk kids could earn their own bikes.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Laura Cook, 115 Harmon Street, a senior at the University of Virginia, said
<br />she will be working with the youth component of the bike prograrr~
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