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250 Ms. Nancy O~Brien, 501 9th Street, S.W., agreed with comments made by Kenneth Martin regarding Jefferson School. She said Jefferson School is the last remaining public building of meaning for the African-American community and one of only a few places of both desegregation and segregation. She said its value is priceless. Ms. O'Brien said she is bewildered by Mr. Cox's statement that $1.5 million could be available for Jefferson School. Mr. Caravati said that Mr. Cox was referring to capital funds over the next five years, but said no money has been found yet. Ms. O~Brien said that if there is no money available for a year, then it can be put off to study for a year. .. Mr. Cox said he always felt that Jefferson School will take significant public funds, and the City Manager has been asked to bring recommendations. He said that the School Board has been asked to reprioritize if a centralized pre-school program is their priority, but they did not put the pre-school above other needs. Ms. Kathy Icenhour, 500 South l~t Street, said plans for the mall improvements are pretty expensive and Council should reconsider how much will be spent on that. She said that improving student achievement should not cost so much. Ms. Amy Hummell, a former City resident and current employee of City Schools, spoke on behalf of keeping the pre-school together and preserving Jefferson School. She said that displacement will be detrimental to the prograrm She said she is willing to help get grants or raise funds, and would support raising the sales or meals tax for Jefferson School. Mr. Tom Hinson, 707 Avon Street, spoke in favor of the Meadowcreek Parkway because he feels there are big problems in residential areas. He said he is not a big fan of traffic calm3ng and not in favor of bike licenses. Ms. Alexandra Searls, 1316 Chesapeake Street, a member of the group Citizens for Jefferson School, said that the renovation of jefferson School needs further discussion, and said the group wants to pursue grants and would like some guidance from Council in writing grants. Mr. Cox read a statement asking that traffic calming projects be stopped. Mr. Cox said that the projects are neighborhood driven and use capital funds. Mr. Toscano asked about the money budgeted for traffic calming, and said the statement does raise the issue of its priority. Mr. O'Connell said there is currently $299,000 in the capital budget for traffic calming. Mr..O'Connell said he wants to revisit all the fund balances during the budget process. Mr. Herbert Porter, 509 7 I/2 Street, said his neighborhood is not satisfied with staffs suggestions for traffic calming, especially in relation to what was requested by the neighborhood. Regarding the Meadowcreek Parkway, he suggested that Council needs to do something with the traffic situation. Mr. Porter said Council thinks it hears what people are saying about saving Jefferson School, but he dOes not think they hear the public. ~ Mr. Caravati read a statement questioning why the downtown mall is proposed to be resurface& Mr. Caravati said that the brick surface is in poor condition and in some places is becoming a liability. Mr. Camvati said plans need to be made for improving the mall as nothing has been done in 25 years. Mr. Caravati read a statement asking where the City gets funding for street repaying. Mr. Caravati said that the State pays 98% of street paving and the City pays 20/0.