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145 <br /> <br /> Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: <br />Mr. Caravati, Mr. Cox, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards, Mr. Toscano. <br /> <br />AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: EA Virginia; Women's Equality Day Proclamation <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati presented the City's Business Appreciation Award to Mr. John <br />Taylor of EA Virginia. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati presented the Women's Equality Day Proclamation to Ms. Kobby <br />Hoffman. <br /> <br />PUBLIC <br /> <br /> Ms. Jane Foster, 6 Gildersleeve Wood, encouraged Council to adopt a living wage <br />ordinance for contract employees, and said she would like to hear from each Councilor <br />about their position on such an ordinance. <br /> <br /> Mr. Paul Gaston, 810 Rugby Road, said there is a national movement toward <br />adopting a living wage, which he likened to the civil rights movement, and urged Council <br />to adopt an ordinance for contract employees. <br /> <br /> Rev. Dr. George Bates, representing Mr. James Mohammed, a vendor on the <br />downtown mall, said Mr. Mohammed has consistently complained that he is being <br />singled out for selling African-American artifacts. Rev. Dr. Bates said City Market <br />regulations are not enforced and the Market Manager has been harassing Mr. <br />Mohammed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Anthony Mohammed, a Richmond resident and friend of Mr. James <br />Mohammed, said Mr. Mohammed is being singled out and persecuted even though he has <br />a valid vending license. <br /> <br /> A resident of 112-A Harmon Street, said she has started a youth bike program, <br />and introduced Tekia who read a letter supporting a community bike program. <br /> <br /> Mr. Peter Kleeman, 407 Hedge Street, requested that Council postpone adopting <br />the permit parking ordinance. Mr. Kleeman said he has provided his concerns to Council <br />by e-mail, and noted that the new Traffic Engineer has not seen the proposed ordinance <br />and he thinks he should be able to review it since he will be the one primarily <br />responsible. <br /> <br /> Mr. Mike Rosenski, 110 E. Main Street, questioned how Council decided to <br />consider a policy statement on the noise ordinance downtown rather than adopting an <br />ordinance. Mr. Rosenski said that noise issues do come up and something needs to be in <br />place when it happens. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tracy Mohammed, state representative to Louis Farrakan, supported Mr. <br />James Mohammed who he said has expressed that he has been selectively harassed by the <br />City Ivlarket Manager. <br /> <br />Mr. Caravati said the matter of Mr. James Mohammed will be looked into further. <br /> <br /> Mr. Blair Hawkins, 210 Raymond Avenue, questioned the safety of the area's <br />water supply and the high rate of pancreatic cancer in the area. <br /> <br /> Mr. Andrew Holton, Ridge Street, supported the living wage ordinance for <br />contract workers. Mr. Holton said that he could not live on $6.50 an hour. Mr. Holton <br />said he wants to know Councilor's stand on the living wage ordinance. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said that the City Attorney is working on a living wage ordinance <br />and a public hearing is tentatively scheduled for September 17th. <br /> Mr. Cox said he will not be at the September 17t~ meeting, and asked that the <br />ordinance be voted on on October 1 st. <br /> <br /> <br />