1981-11-02 - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT: NEWSTAND ON DWONTOWN MALL APPROPRIATION RE: $1,329.20 DONATION FOR PLANTING MR. PETERSON ADVISED COUNCIL THAT HIS MOST CRITICAL RECOMMEN- DATIONS WOULE BE TO l) CLOSE THE CRISIS INERVENTION CENTER~ REDUCE SERVICES SLIGHTLY IN THE FOUR RURAL COUNTIES AND 3) ADMINISTER CUTS THAT WOULD EFFECT THE CENTRAL STAFF. THESE REDUCTIONS WOULD ONLY TAKE EFFECT ~F REGION TEN WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY SUPPLANT THE APPROXIMATELY QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS LEFT IN THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER MONEY. SHEILA HAUGHEY, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, SUBMITTED A WORKING DRAFT OF AN ORDINANCE DESIGNED TO COVER STREET VENDING. THE DRAFT WAS DONE IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FOR A PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE A NE~STAND ON THE DOWNTOWN MALL. MS. HAUGHEY STATED THAT PAULA CARTER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DOWNTOWN CHARLOTTESVILLE INCORPORATED, HAS FORMED A COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE DRAFT. MS. HAUGHEY WILL HAVE THE FINAL DRAFT AVAILABLE FOR COUNCIL AT ITS NEXT MEETING. MS. HAUGHEY INDICATED THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN WAITING FOR A REPLY TO HIS REQUEST AND SUGGESTED COUNCIL GRANT AN INTERN PERMIT9 STIPU- LATING THE APPLICANT COMPLY WITH THE ORDINANCE UPON EFFECT. COUNCIL EXPRESSED CONCERNS OF THE POSSIBLE SALE OF PORNOGRAPHIC OR OFFENSIVE MATERIALS, MALL CLUTTER AND THE NEWSTAND'S COMPATABILITY TO THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE MALL. MR. ALBRO SUGGESTED PERMITS BE LIMITED TO SIDEWALK CAFES, TEMPORARY STRUCTURES AND OCCASIONAL SIDEWALK SALES AND EXHIBITS. MR. ALBRO FELT IT WOULD NOT BE WISE TO ATTEMPT TO PREPARE A COM- PREHENSIVE ORDINANCE. ~E INDICATED ONCE SUCH AN ORDINANCE IS MADE AVAILABLE IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DENY APPLICATIONS. WHILE SOME DESCRETION MAY BE RETAINED OVER HOW MANY AND WHAT TYPE OF VENDORS ARE DESIRED, COUNCIL WOULD BECOME FACED WITH SETTING STANDARDS AND THEREFORE BECOME BOUND BY THOSE STANDARDS. AN ORDINANCE WITHOUT THE LIMITATIONS PREVIOUSLY SUGGESTED WOULD INVITE PROBLEMS. MR. BUOK AND MR. CONOVER AGREED WITH THAT STATEMENT. MR. CONOVER VOICED ADDITIONAL CONCERNS REAGRDING COMPETITION FROM LOW OVERHEAD VENDORS AGAINST PERMANENT MERCHANTS. HE ALSO SUGGESTED POSSIBLY LEASING SPACE IN THE CENTRAL PLACE OR PARKING GARAGE THROUGH A REALTOR, PROVIDING CONTROL BY THE CITY. MR. COLE HENDRIX, CITY MANAGER, INDICATED THE APPLICANT SHOULD BE NOTIFIED AS TO COUNCIL'S DECISION ON HIS REQUEST. DR. HALL FELT THE ISSUE NEEDED MORE REVIEW BEFORE CONTACTING THE APPLICANT. MR. BUCK INDICATED THAT SINCE COUNCIL STILL HAD SOME RESERVA- TIONS, THE REQUEST FOR A NEWSTAND SHOULD BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR COUNCIL'S NEXT MEETING. ROGER WILEY, CITY ATTDRNEY~ INDICATED THE ORDINANCE REGULATING STREET VENDORS WOULD BE REWRITTEN AND ALSO PRESENTED AT THE NEXT MEETING. THE APPROPRIATION OF $1,B29.20 FROM A PRIVATE DONATION FOR LANDSCAPING TRAFFIC ISLANDS NEAR THE WESTERN END OF WHICH WAS OFFERED AT THE MEETING OF OCTOBER IgTH WAS ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE~ AYES: MR. ALBRO, MR. BUCK, MR. CONOVER, DR. HALL. NOES: NONE. ABSENT: MS. GLEASON.