City Council Meeting   9/3/2019

Thanks for watching

I call this meeting to order.

Ms. Hill?

Here.

Ms. Walker?

Present.

Ms. Galvin?

Are there any announcements?

I think we have one here.

I see Mr. Alexander is in the room for something coming up.

The second annual CYM Day of Observance, Closing Your Mouth, first proclaimed by the City of Charlottesville on September 18, 2018, the third Monday of September.

The mission of the CYM character and day is to stress the importance of closing your mouth and listening, which is a key element of living a healthy, safe, and productive life.

The CYM Day will kick off on Monday, September

16th, 2019 at 9am at Burley Middle School.

Mr. Alexander will provide a CYM poster and activities to every Charlottesville Albemarle public school and posters will be made available for area businesses upon request.

All students are encouraged to be still and quiet for one minute.

Take a moment to think before you act.

If angry, pause and count to 10.

Be mindful when speaking.

Choose words that are helpful, not hurtful.

Have a Safe Ride, RIDE, Respect Individual Differences and Expressions.

During this day, allow people to share their thoughts and feelings without any interruption.

Just CYM and listen.

I have an announcement, Mayor Walker, as well as in a proclamation.

Good evening, everyone.

So

On Saturday, September 14th, excuse me, from Saturday, September 14th to Friday, September 20th, Charlottesville will be celebrating the City of Charlottesville Minority Business Week 2019.

So for those who are not aware, it's become an annual tradition hosted by the Office of Economic Development, the Minority Business Council, as well as

several community members.

So everything will kick off on Saturday, again, September 14th at the Minority Business Kickoff at the Black Business Expo and Pitch Competition.

That'll be from 12 to 6 p.m. at the X Park on the 14th.

On Monday the 16th, there'll be a Fall Minority Business Appreciation Breakfast.

On Tuesday the 17th, there'll be the Chamber Business Diversity Council.

The luncheon, that will be from 1130 to 130 at the African American Heritage Center on Wednesday the 18th.

There will be a Forward of Excellence in Business Celebration from 5.30 to 7 at the Old Metropolitan Thursday, September 19th.

The Charlottesville Minority and Women Business Expo will be from 10 to 2 at Carver Rec.

and on Friday the 20th, there will be a Go Connect, a celebration of business diversity.

For anyone who needs more information, feel free to contact Miss Holly Lee.

You can find her at 434-970-3514 or look us up online, www.sevilleminoritybusinessprogram.org.

I have a proclamation as well.

Mayor Walker and my colleagues on council, very proud.

If we can, let's give, let's read this announcement to them.

If we can have Mr. Alexander come up front, please.

Let's give him a round of applause.

And we're going to show Mr. Zahn, and not only Mr. Zahn, but all of those who sacrificed for the Charlottesville 12 today, or excuse me, upcoming on September 8th, 2019, is officially the Charlottesville 12 Day, honoring the 60th anniversary of school desegregation in the Charlottesville City Schools.

So we have a proclamation for Mr. Zahn and all those who were involved.

Whereas 65 years ago on May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court ruled against segregated schools in the United States with the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision.

And whereas the Commonwealth of Virginia implemented a strategy of massive resistance to public school integration between 1954 and 1959.

And whereas in 1955 the parents of African American students in Charlottesville petitioned the school system to allow their children to attend their neighborhood schools and were denied.

And whereas on August 6, 1956, the U.S. District Court Judge John Paul

ruled in Allen v. School Board of the City of Charlottesville that the school system must integrate Lane High School and Venable Elementary School.

And whereas on September 19, 1958, in an effort to prevent the desegregation of the Charlottesville school system, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia ordered the closing of Lane and Venable.

and whereas Lane and Venable were shut down for the period of five months and the Charlottesville school system remained segregated for the remainder of that year.

And whereas on September 5, 1959, Judge Paul ordered the immediate transfer of 12 African American students, three to Lane High School and nine to Venable Elementary.

and whereas 60 years ago on September 8, 1959, 12 African American students bravely integrated the Charlottesville City School System and whereas the struggle for equality and equity in the Charlottesville Public School System and our city forever affected those involved,

Now, therefore, our illustrious Mayor, Nikuyah Walker, and the members of City Council of the City of Charlottesville praise the fearlessness displayed by the families of the 12 students and those in our community who supported the desegregation of our school system and believe that we

or excuse me, that as we continue to address this city's historical indifference to African Americans, we remember this story on this day and do hereby proclaim September 8th, 2019 as Charlottesville 12 Day.

Let's give them all a round of applause, please.

Ms. Green is going to join them as well.

I would like to say good evening, Mayor Walker, Dr. Richardson, council members and guests.

I would like to thank you and thank you Dr. West.

I'd like to thank you for the proclamation, Charlottesville Human Rights Commission for this proclamation.

Doesn't seem like 60 years.

And folks still approached me and said, Mr. Alexander, there's no way you could be 67 years old.

I told him I did a whole lot of sim, close your mouth and listen.

I was hoping a fellow 12 students was going to join us, Marvin Townsend.

He informed me at 5 o'clock that he's having some health issues.

but his sister is here and his sister's mother, well, their mother played an integral part, Rosina Townsend.

Rosina Townsend, she's the sister of Marvin and William Townsend, two of the students.

At this time, I would just like to name the students.

Of course, I'm Charles Alexander, Raymond Dixon,

Regina Dixon, these are members of the Charlottesville 12, Maurice Henry, Marvin Townsend, William Townsend, Sandra Wicks, Roland Woodfolk, Ronald Woodfolk, and the three that attended, those nine attended Venable.

The three that attended Lane was Donald Martin, John Martin,

and French Jackson.

In addition to that, we always acknowledge Olivia Ferguson McQueen.

And one of my mentors said, Alexander, go slow.

You're not doing a motivational session.

So she told me, go slow.

Olivia Ferguson McQueen was one of the Negro student plaintiffs to challenge the integration of Charlottesville schools.

She was one of the three appointed

Tulane High School, but had completed her high school requirements in May of 1959.

And the person that took her place was French Jackson.

There also will be a commemoration reception, and you are invited on September 28th, 11 a.m. at Beaufort Middle School.

And I just want to share this with you.

The real heroes

It's not the Charlottesville 12 students.

They are the parents.

And I constantly have to remind people that I'm not a hero.

I was seven years old.

Well, actually, I was six years old when it started out.

And when you are six years old and a child of a black parent, you don't have a say, contrary to what goes on today.

If mama tells you what school you are going to, that's the school you are going to.

I asked the question one time, how come my brother, who attended Jefferson, which is an all black school, how come he didn't go to Venable and my mom told me that he didn't want to go?

And I said, well, what about me?

You didn't have a choice.

Okay, mom.

So as I said, the real heroes are the courageous parents.

And I want to mention my mother.

She is the lone parent survivor today of the Charlottesville 12 parents.

And her name is Elizabeth Alexander Taylor.

And she is the real Liz Taylor.

And I told her I would mention her name.

I would also like to thank Ann Carter.

Ann Carter has been instrumental.

She's the creator of our legacy, and she has kept the Charlottesville 12 name and legacy alive.

So this is the reason that Ann Carter and many of you are the reason, and Charlene Green, Dialogue on Race, they're the reason that the Charlottesville 12 today is alive, well, and kicking.

Two of our students have transitioned.

Regina Dixon and Raymond Dixon are no longer with us.

And before I introduce Chantelle Bingham, she's part of the Food Justice Network.

They're planning to create a sundial as a tribute to the Charlottesville 12.

But just before I do that, I want to pass and I want to thank Ms. Hill for you mentioning SIM.

It was about a year ago

It was about a year ago that the city proclaimed Sim Day.

And it's amazing, it's very appropriate.

Sim, close your mouth and listen.

Even if you think you know what it's all about, learn from others and close your mouth.

So on the 16th of September, we will be celebrating Sim Day.

And at this time, I would like to introduce Chantelle Binger.

She will tell you a little bit about the sundial and the tributes.

Dr. Richardson doesn't have one.

Who?

I'll get one later.

You'll get one?

Wes, you'll get one?

Yes, sir.

Thank you all once again.

So I'm standing here with two youth, food justice interns, and we worked over this past summer to discuss this project that we're calling Healing in the Garden.

And through those conversations with a lot of the youth that are in Charlottesville City Schools as well as Albemarle City Schools,

They were reflecting on last year's threats on the city schools and how can we start to create a space where school is always welcoming, we're always thinking about and reflecting about our past and the idea that came up, especially in conversations on the threats to Charlottesville City Schools that happened

Last year was that we're not doing enough to really reflect on the history and so that led us To an exploration meeting with Charles Alexander who came The students really reflected on those first 12 since they are engaged in city schoolyard garden programming One of the things that we do is really we're not only growing food We're also building community

and so that space really ignited them to think about how the garden is used and they came up with a sundial.

So understanding that a clock has 12 hours, that's representative of the 12 Charlottesville students that integrated city schools.

They'll be creating those sundials as a tribute to the Charlottesville 12 and so I have two of those students here with me today.

It was really last minute, we didn't know the proclamation was gonna happen until a couple hours.

So we were able to scramble

and bring two of the seven out.

There were also three community members that worked together, so it was a group of 10.

I'm just gonna really quickly read their names.

Rodrigo Nunez, Emmanuel Quezada Romero, Michaela Howard, Grace King, Detavious Bryant, Alyssa Williams, and Amaya Lembichar.

are those seven students.

And then Rosa Key, Rebecca Jacobs, and Calista Barber are those other staff from CSG, some community residents that helped to create that.

So they're just looking forward to be able to commemorate the Charlottesville 12 day, and September 28th we'll be doing some stuff with the sundials.

Any other announcements?

Yes, Mayor Walker, I have a proclamation.

And it's interesting, this is also September 8th.

It's an important day.

So this is a proclamation of continued friendship, respect, and solidarity, 75th anniversary of the liberation of Besson, France.

Whereas September 8, 2019, marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Besson Son in France by the combined force Francaise de Lintérieur and the United States Army 3rd Infantry Division.

I'm better with French than English.

Whereas the French and American residents of Besson Son in Charlottesville have continued to combine forces to enthusiastically cultivate solid

durable and enjoyable ties over the years.

And whereas these ties have been cemented by a proclamation of friendship signed on September 8, 2004, followed by the establishment of a formal sister city relationship in October 2006.

And whereas our lives have been significantly enhanced by the cultural, educational and economic exchanges between residents of Besançon and Charlottesville.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that Nikuyah Walker, mayor of the city of Charlottesville, Virginia,

and the Charlottesville City Council send warm greetings to our sister city citizens on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Besançon and be it further resolved that as we celebrate and expand our common pursuits of friendship and respect for diversity and inclusion, we pledge to continue to wholeheartedly nurture and innovate even more exchanges between citizens of Besançon and Charlottesville.

Sign and seal this third day of September 2019 by Mayor Nikuyah Walker.

Is there anybody here from the Sister Cities?

Because I know that Emily Martin is the representative for Besel San.

And then is there anybody here from the Veterans of Foreign Wars?

Just wanted to double check, so I guess, Mayor Walker, this will be just for you and I guess we'll make sure it gets mailed.

Are there any other announcements?

All right.

Okay.

I'm John Hall, Fry's Spring.

I'd just like to say on 1B, the Fire Fund, if it pleasures the City Council, please consider CIP funds for all group companies to apply at CATEC, workforce development, firefighting creation of Nomex flame retardant drywall, shingles, city siding or siding, for rent subsidy, affordable housing and hotels,

and public at large use with basic and intermediate level carpentry classes at PVCC students fall and contractors to life pipe creation to survive terrorist germ warfare attacks for the general public at large in crowded venues or surviving smoke inhalation in homes or hotel fires.

1E, VDOT revenue sharing localities, improved transportation.

I am representing Hilda Matos and would like to suggest to her that she buy her own leaf bags.

And I really appreciate what Marty Seelman has done and really back him 100%.

and we shouldn't have leaf bags given to the city.

We'll save $1,300,000 in the long run by Marty's foresight.

One and a half, West Main, JPA Fork,

I wish for City Council and Tony Edwards to transfer University Avenue and 14th Street ownership from the city to UVA with street easements for the city.

That way UVA will fund my street lowering concepts along with other big players for sources of funding.

Thank you.

And Mayor Walker, looking at the list from this morning that came through, I think there are some people that wanted to speak about the leaf bagging.

So I guess instead of speaking later, it would be probably most appropriate for them to speak now, as it is currently on our consent.

Come on.

And these are folks that are talking about the leaves.

Good evening.

My name is Jean Chase, a resident of Old Lynchburg Road, and I'm here to talk about the importance of safety and drainage along our street.

And this goes along with having the option of having bagged leaves versus putting piled leaves up into

the roadway along the curb line.

This should be a personal choice of the homeowner as to what is best for a certain street and the safety issues leaves can pose.

On Old Lynchburg Road from JPA to Middleton we have a two lane high volume road with too many people choosing speed and inattentive driving while using the shared roadway.

We have asked for the choice of having the bagged leaves option

to keep safety as a priority for pedestrians, for bicyclists, for vehicular travel, and for folks who have gardens who pick up bagged leaves as well to take with them for gardening from time to time.

The system works well to have the bagged leaves picked up during the designated times.

Our street does not need to have everyone rake their leaves roadside with rain and wind as two variables to scatter the leaves and to have slick leaves on the street on the sidewalk and blown back onto the properties of over 40 families to just have the work to repeat.

We do not need to go back to the earlier problems of the 70s and 80s along OLR, which piled leaves, created yards flooding and clogged drains.

Due to weather challenges and two-leaf trucks with the ability to suck up the leaves in piles, leaves which have been raked in piles along a street which can handle such, the process may even experience delays.

On behalf of the 40 plus families along this residential street of five blind curves of a high volume road and the need to keep storm drains open, we would ask for this option of bag leaves not to be taken away.

We would like the bag leaves to remain a supported option by the city of Charlottesville as we also have three school buses which pick up and deliver youngsters every day representing all ages and grade levels.

Pilda R. Matos, 205OLR, would like folks to know that she can discuss the earlier problems noted as one homeowner who strongly supports having the option of bagged leaves along with the rest of us.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

All right, good evening.

My name is Margaret Murray Bloom.

Thanks for the opportunity to address the council.

I'm here tonight as a representative of Panorama Paydirt, a family-owned business located in the county of Albemarle where I reside.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with our company, Panorama Paydirt is a landscape supply and organics recycling company.

that turns locally sourced debris like leaves, branches, and wood chips into high quality horticultural materials like compost.

For more than 20 years, Panarina Paydirt has been the proud recipient of all of the leaves collected by the city at our on-farm composting facility.

Since partnering with the city, we have produced tens of thousands of yards of premium compost that is getting returned to Central Virginia soils to help improve soil health and grow more productive plants.

Composting is an incredible process that keeps organics out of the landfill, reduces

and reverses the effects of climate change by sequestering carbon and grows great tomatoes.

As Virginians, I know that you can appreciate that.

In fact, tomorrow morning we are delivering compost in partnership with the city schoolyard garden to Clark Elementary, Burnley-Mirand and, excuse me, I believe Jackson-Vaya.

As you all continue the discussion on changes to the leaf collection program, our company would like the city to know our stance.

Considering that we have managed to deal with the plastic bag leaves for over 20 years, we are ultimately neutral on the proposal.

That said, we must admit that the plastic bags brought to our farm can create challenges and we would be more than happy to consider other options.

However, alternatives like compostable bags have their own issues.

A recent study done by the industry's leading publication, BioCycle, did a field test on

the available compostable bags on the market and unfortunately the jury is still out on as to whether composting facilities are finding success with these materials.

Panoram Pater is completely committed to continuing the conversation and maintaining our positive partnership.

We are happy to entertain any and all proposals that would make sense for city residents, whether that is continued exploration of compostable or paper bags, a centralized drop site for residents who may want to continue bagging their leaves,

or increased education about the positive impact of loose leaf collection as it is currently proposed.

We have seen an increase in our product quality since the city did start to switch over to vacuum trucks.

Alternatively, should the city decide to maintain their bagged leaf collection program, we would like you to know that we will continue to support

their collection efforts just as we have done for 20 years.

We consider ourselves to be a community partner and a community resource and look forward to continuing to improve Virginia soils through our compost production made possible by city and county residents alike.

Thank you.

My name is Hilda Matus.

I live in 205 Old Lynchburg Road.

I have my daughter here that she's going to distribute folders with pictures because pictures speak louder than words.

And I beg you not to stop giving bags to collect the leaves because I've been affected by all the drainage.

If we put the leaves on the side road, on the road, it will get flowing back into my yard.

About a month ago or so, we had a real severe hail and thunderstorm and heavy rain.

And it got all washed into my, because the drainage was clogged up and got washed in my driveway.

And I had to spend several hours collecting and cleaning all my driveway.

So I beg you, please don't stop the leaves.

They're begging all the leaves.

Good evening.

My name is Larry Jones and I live on 301 Middleton Lane.

I get some thought also about these leaves, you know, and I know the plastic bags are just a matter of time before they are going to be gone.

I thought about it.

and I looked there and seen the trash can that we put our trash in.

We could get some kind of containers, something similar to that, where you could have a truck that empties the trash with the forks on it.

But you could also take and have the vacuum leaf sucker, once those plastic things or whatever you want to fill them up with, you can actually, one man can actually go over and suck them out of there

with that machine right there and you don't need four people.

I sit and watch them.

There's no way that you can take that vacuum and start vacuuming leaves.

I've watched them go from Middleton Lane to Fry's Spring swimming pool.

Takes them over 45 minutes.

You know, one man running that thing, two men going, traffic goes by, one driving.

What I was thinking about,

If we had something like that, like a trash truck to either come by and go pick them up, empty them in the big trash truck, put them down and gone.

He can do three blocks while that sucker machine is trying to get one done.

I think that if you give it some thought, money wise also, and come up with some kind of idea to put these leaves in.

Plastic bags I know is just a matter of time.

They've already got rid of the straws in a lot of places and the plastic bags are going next.

So we need to look into this and it may be the cheaper way to go.

I don't know.

Might be a good idea.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else here that would like to speak on an item that's on the consent agenda?

Consent Agenda 1A, Minutes, July 1, Regular Meeting, July 31, Council Retreat, July 31, Special Meeting, August 5, Special and Regular Meetings.

B, Appropriation, Fiscal Year 2020, Fire Programs A to Locality Funding, Fire Fund,

$158,343, first of two readings.

C, appropriation, Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure Grant Award, $93,125, first of two readings.

D, appropriation, Charlottesville Albemarle Adult

Drug Treatment Court Grand Award, $240,000, second of two readings.

E, appropriation, fiscal year 2019 to 2020, VDOT revenue sharing program, multimodal improvements and local match transfer, $826,436, second of two readings.

F, appropriation,

VDOT Revenue Sharing Program for West Main Streetscape Improvements Phase 1 Additional Award $163,478 Second of two readings G. Appropriation Bama Works Fund Fire Safety Trailer Grant $3,500 Second of two readings H. Appropriation

State Revenue Sharing and Smart Scale Funds for West Main Streetscape Improvements, Phase 2, $4,009,265, second of two readings.

I, Resolution, Establishing New Line of Succession, City Manager, first of one reading.

J.

Ordinance, amends Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau Operating Agreement, first of two readings.

K. Ordinance, amending Charlottesville City Code, Section 26-29 for leaf collection, second of two readings.

Are there any other comments?

Mayor Walker, I understood that some staff wanted to address some of the concerns that have been raised from the leaf collection.

Is that right, Dr. Richardson?

So the question is, do we do that now?

Thank you.

Good evening, Council.

Thank you for this time.

I'm happy to answer any questions y'all may have, and I can also provide some responses to some of the comments this evening about the leaf collection program.

I think that there's some very valid points that are made.

I think as far as the drainage issue, we're definitely well aware that there's areas in town that do have a tendency to get clogged by leaves.

I think one thing that's going to help with that is by decreasing or eliminating the bag leaf pickup, we'll be able to increase our frequency by which we do leaf leaf pickup.

We know we have a really good idea of the parts of the town that get heavy leaf fall, like Johnson Village, for example, gets a lot of leaf fall.

And so we'll definitely, you know, pay attention to those areas that are, you know, more heavily leached, if you would.

I think another thing that will help with that is educating the community, you know, via website, utility mailings, social media, whatever it may be, to kind of inform folks of where to place their leaves.

What about areas where there is no sidewalk and where the roadway is kind of narrow?

So if there's no sidewalk and there's no bike lane or parking lane, which is like where I live, but there's definitely some areas like that.

you know one thing to consider is you know with the bag leaf program you put your bag somewhere and usually that's a good location to place your loose leaf piles also and I know the bags you can put on top of you I mean I think one of the I'm curious about is there can we have a hotline is there a way for those I mean there's going to be some small areas the city where there really will be a pile up and there could be problems like what we've heard here and for those maybe a hotline that we would establish for people to be able to request

Special help or special frequency because there will be areas where, like, where, you know, I mean I know of areas where what you do is you put the bags on top of one another and you'll have, it's like this high of bags because there wouldn't be anywhere to put them otherwise.

We can certainly look into that.

I know there are some, you know, software applications that we can look into.

Well, we've got one of those.

The MyCeville.

MyCeville is something we could look into.

There's other Esri-based products that we could also look into that may have really short implementation periods that we could certainly look into.

Dr. Richardson, would there be a way of maybe integrating?

We're working on putting a plan in place in terms of trying to address those concerns.

We've been listening to a lot of people throughout the community as we go to different places to try to talk about this to be able to identify as well as be able to

go and collect leaves in those various locations.

So as you mentioned there are areas that we've already identified in terms that we know that there's had a leaf collection in those areas in terms of number of bags that was being collected in the past.

So they'll be working towards that.

What we're trying to work on tonight is just getting the approval from the council then start our public campaign in terms of what we're planning to do and how we're going to receive

the information from the community if there is a heavy buildup or if there's issues dealing with leaves and storm drains and different things like that but we also have our stormwater crews that will be working in collaboration with the Department of Public Works to try to make sure that this

is very seamless in terms of this transition.

As I want the council to know is we're going to try this this year and see how it works out.

If we're successful, we'll continue to do it.

But the hotline, they could just call the regular number.

This is my question.

Is there a number?

And what is that?

I agree, Madam Mayor, that that would be the is there a there's a number that

Yeah, it's Public Service, Division of Public Service.

I think it would be great just to let.

And we can reprogram.

I mean, there's different options when you call that number.

I do have one question.

What prompted staff to make this change?

I think it's a combination of things.

Since I've been in my role at Public Works, I've listened to a lot of feedback both from the community and just kind of watching the process go last year.

I think every year we're asked to reduce budget.

So as a result, you've got to figure out how to accommodate that budget reduction request, essentially.

And so I think it's just a culmination of environmental impacts.

I think as we try to become more of a green city, we need to look at every opportunity to reduce our contribution to the landfill, if you would.

I think there's the monetary piece of it, you know, which I think speaks to itself.

And then I think from a programmatic standpoint, I think one of the things that I'm very interested in is

You know, using our resources internally a little bit more wisely.

I think, you know, the process of doing the bag program, you know, there's a lot of staff effort that goes into, you know, distributing bags, rolling the bags, distributing the flyers, you know, things like that.

Thank you.

I guess for me like one of the biggest things is just how are we communicating this and express this when we met.

I just think it's just so important because it's almost like you have to have the same effort one more time just to be able to get to every door to give the instructions so people know where to go to express

you know any concerns they're having and they really understand this is a pretty big shift that we're taking and the other thing is I'm also trying to understand as some of the folks raised is there an option where I realize that we don't want to create if we're gonna shift really need to make a hard shift but you know is there a way for people if they wanted to if there are certain circumstances they actually want to get their own bag leaves we also want to we identify a place where they actually have to take them that we're not gonna have any part of the handling of bag leaves but or at least giving you an option of somewhere that we can then process

A smaller amount.

I think it will turn away a lot of people from taking that because it's a lot more effort.

I'm telling you, I'm someone who's bagged my leaves every year I've been in the city and I like my bags, but at the same time I also look at it every year and scratch my head like this is a lot of waste and I think I also observe what kind of personnel it takes to make this happen.

I think there are.

I mean, you know, our contract with Panorama, for example, has the bag process in it, and by changing our internal process for doing bag pickup doesn't necessarily change the contract.

And so it could be possible that we work out something with, you know, Panorama or, you know, find a way to allow, you know, residents to take their bags somewhere to be dropped off.

I think that's something we need to look into and try to figure out how that would work.

I certainly think we can figure something out.

I'm pretty confident we can do that.

But I think as far as this change, I think, you know, the city performing the actual back pickup is really I think where we're trying to get away from, you know, and really look at just going completely loose leaf.

And then as far as the kind of getting this information out to the community, I mean, we'll use our website, of course, the social media avenues that we have.

I just know that wherever you're throwing those bags, those are the people you really need to get to, whether it's through utility bill or I think a door hanger is even more effective, but it can be timely as well.

But I think if we can figure out those streets that are the narrow streets that they were talking about, the storm drainage issues, then from an environmental standpoint, then it is the direction that we should try to move.

It's easier for me to bag the leaves in my backyard than to rake them all the way to the front also.

But I just think from the environmental standpoint, the shift, and if we can get those concerns

Alleviate those concerns in some way, then it is a healthier option to figure that out, even for people who may can still transport them on their own.

I mean, they may find that with more frequent pickup, if they can call and say, you know, I rake my leaves, it's going to snow or storm that usually ends, you know, them up in the drain.

That's the key.

We have to be more responsive than we've been in the past.

We have to be more frequent about it.

Yes.

Because in the past, that loose leaf was just such a wide range and you don't know when they're going to come.

Yeah.

And that's one of the things that we're looking to do.

And it's like creating sort of like a week ahead schedule so that folks know when the loose leaf trucks are going to be in that yard.

So at that point, they can look ahead and be like, OK, we're scheduled for loose leaf pick up next week.

We just got our leaves raked up so that by a point they're only out there for hopefully only a week at most.

And then I think I'll also add that, you know, one of the things we're doing, you know, the leaf program in itself is really part of the overall solid waste program.

You know, in the next year or so, we're going to take a really hard look at our overall program, you know, trash, recycling, you know, composting, leaf pickup.

And what a lot of localities have moved towards is the leaf program is really part of the solid waste program as far as their weekly pickup, you know, and so a lot of localities offer

Lee's pickup year-round in bags, you know, but the community has to provide those bags.

They have to be biodegradable, but they're part of the actual weekly pickup through trash and it's offered as a year-round service.

And so these are things that we can look into as we really take a deeper dive into our solid waste program in itself, and I know there was a

So with what's being proposed here, we still have the flexibility to make some of these accommodations that we've been discussing.

I guess how would council kind of see that come to fruition?

I think making the decision tonight is imperative because without the decision tonight we can't really move forward as to what the next steps are and so I think we definitely need the decision tonight so we can kind of formulate the plan moving forward and then I think we can certainly look into the request, the hotline, other places for folks to drop their bags off themselves if they'd like to.

I have a quick question.

Would you come up for a second?

In terms of bags being dropped off, I just have a question about that.

Because those bags that we give for leaf pickup are thinner than other trash bags.

Every single, with our contract with the county we are required to recycle all of those bags so we take them to a recycling facility to do that.

It doesn't really matter on the de-bagging end for our side because they have to be hand de-bagged one by one anyways.

That's usually done with an exacto knife that slices it open and then you pull the bag away so I would see there could be an issue if people use the heavy-duty contractor bags that may

Hey there, Jake Gold, City Resident.

It is, yes.

So I think it's a little cavalier to be putting $4 million towards the West Main Street redevelopment without any discussion, especially because it seems like it's just going to be a big gentrification project.

Sure.

Mayor Walker, I do have a comment.

And Councilor Signer also and Councilor Bellamy have been through this.

The West Main project began in 2013, December 2013.

It had about almost a two-year public engagement process.

Three to four hundred people participated.

It also then resulted in a change of zoning of that area so that the large buildings that you see in the flats and the standard won't happen again because the height limits were established to go lower so you couldn't raise height limits by a special use permit anymore.

And in terms of the improvements to the street, the street is going to be more sustainable because of the fact that there's going to be 400% more tree canopy.

That's critically important if we're going to be serious about decarbonization.

That means getting the carbon out of the air.

The current trees are unhealthy.

They're dying.

They're infiltrating the sewer lines.

And they're also infiltrating foundations.

The new trees are going to be put

and what they call silva cell planters, which are a way to filter the stormwater runoff on the streets in a manner that's going to meet the Department of Environmental Quality requirements to meet our total maximum daily loads for the Chesapeake Bay area.

That's important because the Chesapeake Bay

is actually becoming healthy again.

We're actually growing oysters again.

We're getting food out of the bay again because of those kinds of technologies that we're using in West Main Street.

So when you look at the other problem that we've got underground gas lines that are nearing the end of their lives,

If anybody's ever familiar with what happened in Andover, Massachusetts, where 300 houses were blown up because of failed gas lines, these are not things that you can put off.

So when we are replacing the underground gas lines, we're going to also then be undergrounding the utilities.

The utilities are going to go on what they call a duct bank.

Unfortunately, the Dominion Energy will not pay for a duct bank.

Dominion Energy, every year we put in our request with the General Assembly that the Dominion Energy would follow the dictates of a local government.

And we wouldn't be liable for that cost.

But one third of the cost of the whole West Main Street improvement is because we're undergrounding utilities.

The reason why that's important is because you declutter the sidewalks, you get rid of those telephone poles, you get rid of those transforming units, you suddenly have sidewalks that are wide enough for two people to walk side by side, you have sidewalks wide enough for baby strollers, and for people that have visual impairments or physical impairments.

So the final thing I'd like to say is that we're going to be adding more bus stops.

We're going to be actually having bus stops that are better appointed than the ones we have now.

More lighting, better lighting, and all of this is to facilitate public transportation, which is the most equitable kind of transportation you can have.

So all total, this is doing sustainability, it's doing equity at the same time.

And that was a public process that started in 2013.

There's also appropriation here for revenue sharing.

Just to add two other points.

I think over the long history of this, a lot of people have had different reasons they've supported this.

With all due respect, I think that's a gross misrepresentation of what the project became over the journey of it through a lot of pushback on earlier versions of it.

It very decidedly embraces the historic neighborhoods that surround it.

It is designed to be the quote living room for Charlottesville and it's meant to be very encompassing through even through the historical markers that are going to be there but it's supposed to invite the whole city and this was on top of the decision to cut the zoning heights

from the surrounding neighborhoods would not be overwhelmed by what happened there.

That cut millions of dollars of potential gentrifiable real estate there intentionally so that it would be

in concert with the surrounding neighborhoods.

That's number one.

And number two, for me, the reason that I really started avidly supporting it was because of the bike lanes, because it's the most dangerous bike corridor we have and a lot of people have been hurt there.

And when you start biking in the city regularly, it is the most dangerous central corridor.

And if you look at cities trying to get up to speed, literally, it is absolutely crucial that West Main Street is safe

to bike and it's not safe right now.

And that's really difficult on a narrow streetscape like what we have there where it's just not a wide street.

And the way to do it was with this really complicated design where the parking spaces alternate and the businesses didn't like it initially because we cut parking spaces and it's had a long journey.

And then the biggest thing now is that the university contributed, came in with money

substantial amount of money as a part of this whole journey where now they're contributing to lighting and public safety because for them, for kids at UVA to feel comfortable using the street a lot more for the multimodal reasons that Councilor Galvin is talking about.

It's just there's a lot that's gone into this.

But the major goals are to make it a very inviting, you know, greener central corridor that kind of does the opposite of that.

In terms of the community engagement piece, as my colleagues alluded to, there was a ton of conversation, but I know even for myself and the consultants, we had special community engagement meetings

in different neighborhoods with community stakeholders, normally folks who don't get the opportunity to express themselves in these kind of forums from low-income communities.

And I mean, we had two of those, so there was definitely engagement in that regards.

I know everybody may not be happy with the project, but I think from Ms. Galvin's perspective, it's one of the most vital things that we have to do in the city, that we have to get

that part of the corridor and specifically the pipes underground squared away or it could be really, really bad for us moving forward.

So I've shared during this whole discussion about West Main Street and just especially with how we're looking at the budget and what's actually there versus what we've been told is there.

The dollar amount for this entire project at this time with balancing that with some of the other city needs has been a concern that I've expressed.

Every time we've had this discussion, I think except the last meeting.

So, that's my concern.

There are still some questions and when we had our first meeting with the, that I was in, that you were in with me,

Councilor Galvin, what they are planning in terms of, you know, the attempt with the historic markers.

I know that you were working with that they were working with Miss Green, the

Heritage Center.

So the attempt there, I think that is still in process.

And so, you know, having a little bit more of that information and again, seeing the trees come up out of the sidewalk and that that will be fixed moving forward.

All of those things can be very beneficial.

But I'm looking at this in terms of the whole, the money that the city will contribute.

to match the funds coming in from the state.

And as I've raised before, this is, I think, a very critical infrastructure project for the city.

And these are significant funds coming from other sources, including the university, the state.

And I've also observed this from many different roles over the past several years.

And then the statue also is another.

We have a round table, right?

It's on calendar.

Did it?

Good evening, Councillors.

And that's 100 percent?

Yeah.

And in terms of smart-scale, I think we receive

for Phase II, $2.09 million for Phase II.

Yeah, it was 30 originally and there were cost escalations and some other components were not added.

So now that the project has been federalized and with other components we are scooping the project and that will include some additional expense.

But right now I think we are pretty close to all the money we need for phases one and two.

No, I'm just saying with the $5 million, I mean, that's good to have that upfront allocation, but I don't know if the university will provide that to us upfront without going into phase three and four.

And I just want to clarify something for the city council.

The $5 million

I think the letter reads it's going to be for any project around the grounds.

In other words, it could apply to West Main.

It may apply to Emmett project we have on Emmett because it didn't specifically note West Main.

It just says projects around the grounds.

So that include West Main and maybe any other

All right, so I am requesting that H and F, if we can vote on that separately.

And then I had one question about what is Mr. Blair, our current policy with regards to

The amendment, one of the amendments to the Albemarle, Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau operating agreement with the alcohol?

Yes.

Do we currently have that in place in the city?

Correct, that's because they're the fiscal agent.

So they, we have to go by the county policy on alcohol.

On their work I was just, my understanding was that they were wanting to follow their own

County Protocols, that that's why they were doing that in sync.

I don't know any specific reasons why they would have an event with the alcohol on.

Right there.

The exact wording, I believe, is appreciation events or something like that.

So I suppose if they hadn't have been at a winery.

All right.

So you want a motion with pulling of F and H first.

Is that what you're asking?

So I move we adopt the consent agenda with F and H, hold for separate or vote.

All right.

Any other questions or comments?

Please vote.

I thought you were going to do procurement.

You know, you can't buy alcohol through the procurement process.

I thought you were going to buy alcohol through the procurement process.

I had some questions about that.

I just wanted to just highlight when we're talking about how money is spent that the city, what do we contribute, a million dollars or so.

And so how that money is spent and

who it's being spent on if that is the, so I think that's a part of the bigger discussions that we need to have that we have been having about branding, who's being targeted, and what city funding, especially in this case, is being spent on.

Correct.

So now I will move for items F, the VDOT revenue sharing program for West Main Street's Keep Improvements, Phase 1, and item H, state revenue sharing and smart scale funds for West Main Street's Keep Improvements, Phase 2.

Second.

Are there any further questions or comments?

All right, please vote.

All right, carries four to one.

Thank you Madam Mayor and members of the council and the public.

I only have one item for discussion tonight and that's pertaining to the question I was raised about the downtown mall security.

Within the next couple of months we'll be coming back to the council to talk about that as far as the information received from our consultant pertaining to the downtown mall security and we'll have that discussion with you with the entire council.

And just for clarification, that's pertaining to the crosswalk side, all of it?

Second and fourth in the whole entire downtown Albemarle area.

OK, so next we have public comments.

Good evening and thank you for the moment to speak to you all.

My name is Avery Chenoweth.

I live here in Charlottesville and I've been following the city avidly for years and written books about the local history and about how we shape the land and the land shapes us.

And recently I've been in a number of conversations and emails with someone to my vast interest is interested in buying the statues.

and he has the capacity to do so and he has the interest to do so and he shares with me a passion to upright, if you will, the story of Charlottesville and put a lot of the people back into the headlines who have been lost to history and tell that story and we agree, he and I, that the best way to do this is to start by making some real estate available

and that starts with Lee and it goes down the street to Mr. Jackson and they can go live somewhere else for a while and this is a serious offer and he has expressed this interest for quite a while and we just renewed this conversation just a few weeks ago and by email since then and we would love to arrange a phone call

with you all to discuss the opportunity.

And as I understand, it's mired in the courts and maybe heading for the Supreme Court of Virginia.

But in the meantime, I think it would be a galvanizing move if we could make something real start to roll forward and liberate the city, really, from these icons of its

Polite Tyranny, if you will.

So that's the end of my comment, but I'd love to be in touch with you all and see if we could arrange a phone call time.

Thank you.

I'll just say my wife has told me I can't bring home any more lawsuits.

So I better not say a word about any of this period.

Yeah, I appreciate that.

Well, actually, there was a hearing today in this particular matter, but as things stand right now,

The council couldn't have any action to remove that statue.

I have something to bring up.

I know this has been going on for quite some time.

Every Friday night and every time something happens at the pavilion, 15 handicapped parking spaces are removed from the disabled community and none are provided elsewhere within for the disabled community.

It's frustrating that Charlottesville

does not also provide proper enforcement for disabled parking.

There's a little video on YouTube that proves that.

230,000 views doesn't look good for Charlottesville.

So I ask that city council impose a zero tolerance when it comes for handicapped parking.

I also ask that city council impose

the term officer discretion be removed.

Because just this past week, a woman parked outside this very building in the handicapped parking.

She told an officer, well, I don't have anywhere else to park.

She did not have a handicapped placard.

She did not have a plate.

She knowingly parked in handicapped parking.

I also ask that you guys impose full fines.

It's not getting done.

Also the handicapped parking located right outside this very building.

There's a caddy that parks out there for eight hours a day.

The parking located between the two buildings is basically our parking for a reason.

It allows citizens to do business between the two city buildings.

Handicap parking should be two hours.

Just like throughout the city in the downtown area, it's two hour parking.

Handicap parking should be four hours according to Virginia state law.

Ask any police officer.

They don't have a clue how long handicap parking is.

It's a shame when a police officer doesn't even know.

I've tried to get a hold of parking enforcement.

I've made numerous phone calls.

No one returns phone calls.

I've stood in the police station.

I've asked to speak to parking enforcement.

No one comes.

I've stood in this very building and I've asked to speak to the ADA person.

Apparently, the ADA person quit.

You guys have not fulfilled the position yet.

So what is a citizen supposed to do with disabled parking when there's no one to help us?

Thank you.

I'm Johnny Hall, Fry's Spring, president of Hall Group Companies LLC of Fry's Spring, a medical and industrial art design doctor professional being allowed to submit capital improvement plan options before city council for FY 2021 funding.

Four, one, directing the resurrection of the old landmark hotel with solar panels for government rent subsidy affordable housing.

I'd like to show the poster.

and the new Beacon Hall Hotel, old landmark, with light streaming downward to light the areas below.

It doesn't contribute to light pollution if you stream lights downward toward the street.

I'd like a change machine.

in the QC City Transit and Visitors, Quechua City Transit and Visitors Center.

The city annexed, registered to vote, social services there for vetting people that would help build back the New Beacon Hall Hotel under the auspices of the Habitat for Humanities.

Once we get the funding, I really believe that we shouldn't be building any more affordable housing until we take care of the needs and services needs of the existing affordable housing buildings such as the need for dehumidifiers where there's mold.

This is a

A really good dehumidifier.

It's American made.

It's a GE, General Electric.

It costs about $200 and should be liberally purchased for people with mold problems and especially in the summertime.

They're also

We should get maybe oscillating fans for such residents of affordable housing buildings.

We also have fold-out signs on CAT and

Thank you.

Good evening, mayor and council.

I couldn't talk last meeting, so I want to go back to last meeting about the proclamation about respect.

December 5, 2016.

Do you guys remember that meeting when Jason Kessler threatened Wes Bellamy and told him his days were numbered?

You didn't do the proclamation then.

Mike, do you remember when Raymond Mason was doing his work and you had his criminal record pulled?

Do you also remember right before election when you told Chris Horace to write that article about Nikuyah's email and the way that she talked to counsel?

And then after 812 when you tried to throw Chief Thomas under the bus.

So I just want to take you two, because Bob ain't here and Kristin isn't here, I want to take you two back, post, or pre,

August the 12th and post August the 12th to have this man and his family was being completely disrespected and you didn't even do a proclamation then.

Chief Thomas was being disrespected.

You didn't do a proclamation then.

Nikuyah was running for city council.

He had a whole article written.

You didn't even do a respect proclamation then.

Like you guys go be a little extra with this.

When people say something to hurt my feelings, when it's y'all.

But when it's black people, you don't care.

Like you really don't care.

Let me see.

What else did I want to say?

Yeah, pull up that me in December 5th because I went and watched it.

Y'all didn't even really make those people sit down.

Like, Jason Kessler them was still able to come in here with their little signs, be loud.

They were being very disrespectful and ruthless.

But then when we do it to get the change that we need and the equity that we need for black people and the same treatment that you give everybody else, it becomes a problem.

And see, I mean, yeah, you know, a little cuss word may come out here and there.

That's just, you know, sometimes our nature

by design.

It doesn't have to be, but sometimes it is by design.

But those words don't hurt y'all.

I know y'all heard the saying, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt.

At least that's what the teachers tried to teach us when we was in school.

But y'all got to learn to let stuff roll off y'all back the same way you expected this man to let a death threat roll off of his back.

Oh, and Mike, about those historical markers, you can barely see them.

We should probably get those.

enlarged so that people can see them.

So when you do get these wider bike lanes, that they're able to see what black people really did along Main Street and Starr Hill.

Also about Main Street, let's get that pedestrian way straight.

You can die coming from Mel's Cafe if you park across the street from the pawn shop.

Let's do something about the pedestrian there the same way we was fussing about Fourth Street.

Thank you.

Good evening, I'm Kevin Cox, I live on Fairway Avenue and I'm here tonight because I want to proclaim my gratitude and appreciation for the hard work that city parks and rec employees do keeping the downtown mall clean.

The reason I feel like I need to do this tonight is because of a story that was on local TV a few days ago about a group of well-intentioned volunteers who decided to come to the downtown mall and clean up the downtown mall.

And I think this story has some unfortunate negative messages.

One of those messages is that the downtown mall is so filthy that it's necessary for volunteers to come and clean it up.

Just like with Fourth Street being one of the safest crossings, one of the safest places for pedestrians in Charlottesville, the Downtown Mall is one of the cleanest places in Charlottesville.

It doesn't need volunteers to come and clean it because the crew with Parks and Rec is very diligent, does a great job, and I just want to stick up for them.

I think that if the volunteers really want to do something, there are plenty of other places in Charlottesville that could use cleaning up.

So that's all I have to say.

Good evening.

Hello, my name is Emerald Young.

I live in the county part of Charlottesville.

And I came here today because I wanted to ask the council to consider disbanding the Civilian Review Board because I believe its genesis was that there was a higher rate of stops, arrest of African-Americans rather than other

races and I want to say that disparities are normal and also the fact that there's the reason I'm here is because I want to preserve living in a lawful society and there are certain programs to create lawlessness

in the US.

One is demonize the police.

Number two is have the media constantly harping on black victimization and white racism.

The third is establish civilian review boards that hamper the effectiveness of law enforcement.

Thirdly, the third component in creating lawlessness is criminal justice reform, which allows dangerous criminals to be out in the community without being charged, undercharged, no bail, low bail.

Another component is elected officials who minimize, cover up, misplaced blame for black criminality.

And another component are Soros-funded district attorneys, chiefs of police, who also feel their mission is to reduce the population

of incarcerated black people, when the effectiveness of law enforcement depends on the police having

being able to do their job and not being undermined by city officials and politicians who have an agenda to release criminals when it's not warranted and it creates a lack of safety.

And the fact is black people create

commit more crimes than other races.

Thank you.

No, this is a fact.

Thank you.

Hey, so I'm here to thank City Council for supporting the Civilian Review Board.

and to let you know that the community is kind of concerned about what direction the city council is going in.

I think they're waiting for the work session to happen to see what the community needs to do to organize around.

So I guess I'm kind of a little shook about what just happened.

The issue is to know what's going on so we can help y'all organize around making sure that it happens, right?

Because we really need the Civilian Review Board for certain issues other than black folks are the main ones who commit crime.

So thank you, and I hope everything is working good about the CRB, and I'll talk to y'all soon.

It's four and then it's at six.

Good evening, council, city manager, attorney, Don Gather, city resident.

I apologize.

I just have come to realize why we have to have surgeons available at these meetings so that they can do pre-funnel LeBron abuse when necessary.

It is

I want to thank the police chief.

I'm going to do something different tonight.

I want to thank the police chief for taking the opportunity and the time to go over to the community of 7th and Dice Street and offer her apologies and her explanation and the fact that the city was not at all involved or even made aware of the incident and the operation that the state police put on.

I also want to point out to council that words are not necessarily profane actions, and in many occurrences, inactions are what could be labeled as profane.

So we just need to take that into consideration, please, and understand that black lives matter.

And just a quick comment, even to what you just

I'm trying to figure out how to you know two speakers ago to what to say but I think that's the education that we need to do in the community that's what the ask is the arrest that was made a few years back on Rugby Road with the fake ID

theft, there was guns, there was money, laundering possibilities.

That house didn't look like the house on 7th Street look.

So this isn't about not when black people are talking about what this fair and equitable and just systems look like.

It is that if you are in a predominantly white community going into a house occupied by white individuals, that the outcome is the same.

and those outcomes are not the same.

And that is what fair and just and equitable systems that we don't have what they look like.

Now, I don't have the information about what was being looked for or, you know, doing that rate, but those are the, you know,

type of changes that we're asking for with reform that

You know that people are treated the same.

When I worked at Region 10 in the treatment center, everyone in this room will know, because it had to have affected you, that drug and alcohol addiction across lines, the suffering from it, it is not a black or white thing.

And there was frequently more white individuals in

the treatment program, but that is not the story that we see.

Even in Charlottesville, that's not what's reported on.

Well they're hurtful and they don't do anything to further the hope of the city.

They just continue to drive a further wedge.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

All right, closing public, well, community matters.

And we'll, okay.

All right, I call this meeting back to order.

Good evening.

Good evening, mayor and councillors.

In January of 2015, the city acquired a natural gas line easement across property located in the shops at Stonefield Shopping Center.

A proposed building in the Stonefield Shopping Center will encroach into the easement and the property owner and the Department of Utilities have agreed to relocate a portion of the easement.

The property owner has already granted a new easement for the relocated portion of the gas easement.

The Department of Utilities has no objection to the release of this small portion of the easement in order to accommodate the proposed building.

A public hearing is required by law to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed conveyance of a property interest.

Notice of such public hearing was advertised in the local newspaper at least seven days in advance of this public hearing.

Therefore, staff recommends approval of the ordinance, releasing a portion of the existing gas easement in the shops at Stonefield Shopping Center.

Can I have a question about the relocation?

Absolutely.

Yes, absolutely.

All right.

All right.

Open the public hearing.

Is there anyone who would like to speak on the topic?

I don't think we've really gone over it yet.

It's ordinance number four.

We've not gone over that.

No, we're talking about number two.

Right.

OK. All right.

I'll close public discussion.

Any discussion?

All right.

Thank you.

Oh, you're still here.

In 2007, at the request of the University of Virginia, City Council approved a proposal to close and vacate a portion of Valley Road to mitigate cut-through traffic from the South Lawn project and to accommodate requests from the adjacent neighborhood.

It was conditional upon a utility and pedestrian access easement be granted to the city by the University of Virginia.

In 2014, UVA granted

The City, the utility and pedestrian access easements in the portion of Valley Road.

In 2016, UVA developed a master plan to redevelop several properties adjacent to Branded Avenue to be constructed as a model green student community that will include academic spaces, student wellness facilities, student housing, and a central green street.

The redevelopment project envisions multifunctional programs

enhanced pedestrian connections and a mix of uses for the student community.

UVA is nearing completion of the student housing building and has started construction on the wellness facilities.

UVA has requested the city vacate the utility easement and the pedestrian access easement in a portion of Valley Road.

This request is to accommodate the construction of the Brandon Avenue project and the proposed buildings.

In addition, UVA submitted to the city

a utility easement and pedestrian access easement in the same area that will accommodate the proposed buildings the city have reviewed the easements and they will meet the city's needs the city's approval should be conditioned upon UVA granting the city the new utility and pedestrian access easements

In addition, UVA has requested the city approve easements to allow connection of a new UVA water line to an existing UVA water line in Jefferson Park Avenue.

UVA has also requested the city approve easements for a fiber optic line

in Jefferson Park Avenue and Monroe Lane.

These connections for the water line and the fiber optic line are to accommodate the Brandon Avenue project.

The Departments of Utilities, Public Works and Neighborhood Development Services have reviewed the request for easements and find them acceptable.

A public hearing is required by law to give the public an opportunity to comment

on the proposed conveyance of a public interest.

Notice that the public hearing was advertised in the paper at least seven days in advance of the public hearing.

Therefore, staff recommends approval of the vacation of the utility and pedestrian easement access easements conditional upon UVA granting the city utility and pedestrian access easements in a notable location in Valley Road.

In addition, staff also recommends approval

of the easements for the UVA water line in Jefferson Park Avenue and the fiber optic line in Jefferson Park Avenue and Monroe Lane.

At that time they hadn't finalized.

The locations just concerning the pedestrian and utilities, they hadn't finalized the footprints of the buildings and exactly where they would go associated with that phase of the project.

Does these access limit the neighborhood surrounding it?

Are they access points that they currently use?

No, they're giving us.

So the footprint, the one concerning Valley Road, the footprint of the building actually encroaches into the easement that they already gave.

And it's actually just shifting a little bit up and there'll be sidewalks to accommodate the sidewalks we put back.

And then there was something in here about the 40 year time frame.

The city is responsible for our lines, just ours.

Okay.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Um, so I'll open this up to a public hearing.

Is there anyone who would like to speak on the project?

I just have one comment about that.

I went down there among contractors while they were working on Brandon Avenue, that area.

There's a mishmash of fiber optics.

A whole lot of different entities at UVA want their own fiber optics separate and all.

It's just really poorly coordinated and designed.

However,

A lot of work has been done.

A lot of money has been spent.

Just shows you when UVA owns the roads, they do as they please with them and spend as much money as they want to have it the way they want to do it.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

All right, closing public hearing.

Any further discussion?

Do you prefer that this be placed on the consent agenda and just have it removed?

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

Number four, amendment to the text of the city zoning ordinance, city code section 34-896 to modify access requirement for various uses.

Good evening.

At the May 2019 Planning Commission meeting, Mr. Trey Stegman requested that the Planning Commission consider initiation of a zoning text amendment to change access requirements in the zoning ordinance.

He specifically noted that

the section that denotes that at least two vehicular points are required if a development contains 50 units or more.

The commission discussed this item at a June work session and then initiated the text amendment for review in July.

Staff then worked to develop text to provide that to the commission for joint hearing and that joint hearing occurred in August.

As staff looked at this, we looked at it like we do any other zoning text amendment.

We look at it in the context of the city as a whole and how it will affect all aspects.

We don't look at a specific development, though we do look at different circumstances that may occur throughout the city.

So I just wanted to make sure that you all understood that we

provided the review of that in the context and the larger context as opposed to a specific application that we do not have at the moment.

At the public hearing, we had a number of people who commented on the language.

A couple of individuals were in favor of the language.

There was one individual who was concerned that this would open

the floodgate for potential for other considerations and make it so that only one point of access for large developments would be required.

So that was a concern that came up as well as another speaker talked about concern for increased density within the community.

So that was a more general comment.

One modification made to the language during the hearing was to remove the language that specifically said pedestrian and place multimodal in the language so that it was encompassing of all the different transportation modes as well as the Planning Commission requested that we have the Fire Marshal review the specific language which we have done and he has no problem with the language as proposed.

One of the clarity points that we do want to make is that any change to this code section does not change any safety or anything related to that.

There are still fire code requirements for access requirements for residential and commercial units.

So the fire code dictates a certain way, and that's going to be the way that that is.

And then the traffic engineer has the ability

to weigh in on a proposal that comes forward based on sound engineering practices.

So this section review was actually a good opportunity for us to look at a very small section of the code, get the code into a pretty good shape, and it's something that we can continue forward with and incorporate into any sort of process that we do going forward.

I'm here to answer any questions.

Brendan Duncan, our traffic engineer, who's been part of this discussion, is here as well.

Will you answer my question?

OK. Any other questions?

I do have a question there.

So I guess I want to have a better understanding about why the default didn't stay to access points, because I'm wondering, what was the driver to make this be a one point?

Was it topography?

Was it natural areas?

And the only analogy I can think of is

You know, when you look at a system of roads where you've got the arterials and collectors and then you've got cul-de-sacs getting into the collector and if you've only got one point getting onto that arterial, that arterial is going to get really congested.

And so instead of distributing traffic to different points in your network by having two different an egress and an entrance point,

You're all now just funneling all down one point.

Well, this change that's being proposed would not change how things are analyzed now, except it would provide an opportunity if less than two entryways were appropriate in a circumstance.

It does.

It does not mean that if there is a circumstance where two access points or more required in order for it to be a safe situation,

The Fire Code as well as the Traffic Engineer Review still has that ability to do so, but as you all know we're in a built out city with a lot of things in a very small area and there are potentially circumstances where

One access point may be appropriate for a unit that has more than 50 units in it.

Yeah, I guess I'm just wondering still why the

So you could, if you were under 50, you could do one.

If you were over 50, you had to do two.

That was the mechanism that was there.

And there was no leeway for

Any kind of engineering practice, the numbers seem to be very arbitrary.

So there is still that threshold for residential units.

It's at 100 in the fire code.

But if it's mixed use, if it's commercial, then it goes to three stories.

or 30 feet.

So, and there are several others depending, you know, if it's single family residential units, then you can have 30 single families.

So, it's much more specific versus our code that we had was 50, didn't matter if you had a, you know, a 50 foot of frontage, you know, you're required to put two access points in there.

Well, how do you do that?

and you don't necessarily need it.

So it's not that we're not saying you won't have two access points, that's not what we're saying.

And I was here for the joint public hearing between what was said tonight and just now.

I mean, sorry, that night and tonight I have no more questions.

Any discussion?

All right.

I guess that's a question about consent for the next meeting.

OK. Any other business?

Thank you.

That wasn't a public hearing.

Council?

I sent something this earlier today.

I just want to know, do we want to put that on agenda?

I would just like your feedback.

What was the date?

And there were two.

Oh, that's right, though.

But we need to let her know if she can respond.

Well, while Vice Mayor Hill is pulling it up, can I respond to the AATF one?

Mayor Walker?

Yes.

So it's been traditionally our policy to support these initiatives in a wide variety of ways, by person and table and whatnot.

I know Councilor Signer has often stated his position, which I respect 110%.

Well, I mean, we are all here, so it's just we want.

And I'm fine.

I do think that you and I after this, we should probably set a little bit more of some guidelines around this for the next council.

Because I know that what's come up before is there's a number of things that we are asked if we'll sponsor tables for different events throughout the community.

And there's certainly a limit.

So I just think that's added to one of the many things I think that we should probably get a little more structure around as a council so that we're not finding ourselves in this kind of circumstance.

I'm fine with it.

I think where we ended up before was that we just started looking at other organizations' fundraisers that we also did.

So we did, I think, like the Food Bank is what you were talking about.

Oh yeah.

So we did that.

There was no controversy about that.

So it was just, it was just like, we don't really have that much of a policy other than when it surfaces and there's a couple of counselors and it, but I think it would be good to have a budget for sponsorships.

Yeah.

Like as long as we're already talking about what we talked about before, which was the individual counselor things, I think it'd be nice to have some amount of money that was

Yeah, for sponsorship of local events.

That was basically the issue that I brought up before with, but I support this.

And I've been as well.

Yeah.

I'm just saying Vice Mayor Hill's comment.

Is that what you're doing?

Someone had approached us and I ended up meeting with that person a few months ago and then just I really emphasized the point that it was important to go through our off-cycle budget process and not just come directly to us and so that's what Miss Beauregard had set up and she handed that kind of off to me last week and so I just wanted to

At least introduce it to make a decision on if we want it to come in front of us.

But as I understand it, because of the budget, off-cycle budget policy we have,

Right.

And she's, all that's been done, and so what I share with you was the draft memo that Leslie had gotten to that point, and then, um, Chrissy Hamill will kind of take that over from the budget office perspective.

Okay.

I was, I would have thought that on something like this we would get a staff analysis.

before it even got through, which would say that it's probably not really that appropriate for us to be funding a book tour for an author.

I mean, it just seems like it opens the floodgates for many kinds of requests like this.

It doesn't seem, I can't really think of any precedents where we would

I've done this in the past and it seems like not a good precedent.

And there wasn't a recommendation in the memo, draft memo, but there were some items mentioned in the communication, which was around that it is close to 100% of the cost of the program.

So we might want to get some clarity around this because some of the numbers have been changing.

And then we might want to press on the outcomes and expected cost benefit of those.

And then just her suggestion, if we have a lot of questions that we should have the requester come forward on a regular agenda if we want.

Well, again, I just feel like the regular protocol would be to have staff present it.

Then Chrissy Hamel would present it to us.

And then we we make the determinations right then and there.

But that's how it's always been done in the past when there's ever been an off budget cycle request.

I don't think we never jump the gun, so to speak.

And that they usually are criteria in our budget policy

Oh, no, no, and we weren't going to make that decision tonight.

It was more, do we even, are we, can we at least align on even having it coming in front of us based on what you've seen, or that can answer the questions.

Right.

No, I don't disagree.

I know it was a request at the last meeting for funding and I don't have it with me but it was stated that we should start having proposals with those items that come before the council for any type of

I want to call it off-cycle budgeting or whatever you want to call it.

This is my first time going through this process here.

But I think when we talk about budgeting for sponsorships and different things like that, that within the 2021 budget, we do create a line item that has that specifically for that where you have the dollar set aside for that.

But things that are, you know, on an annual basis that you do want to fund, even though it is off cycle, but I think like a lot of things you do fund on an annual basis, we need to go ahead and identify that in the 2021 budget ahead of time.

Right and this is I think it's just a one-time unique thing that did not make it through a regular nonprofit assessment.

but it's had to go through, so she had to, that person had to show that they have a non-profit partner who can be considered and even if they're out of state and so that work was all done through staff but I don't think that we got it to the point where there's a clear recommendation so I understand that.

So I guess we would want to go back to staff and have them provide a recommendation based on the guidelines that have been done.

Yeah, I mean, that's how I would understand that to be, at least what we've done in the past.

And that off-budget cycle request was the source of funds.

It was often the council discretionary fund.

That's what was being recommended, yeah.

So that is why it does come to council.

It all would have to still come to council because we have to decide whether it's worth giving our money to that.

Yeah, and I would just think that it would come through staff.

Okay.

And I brought up the Charlottesville Winneba Foundation that I had discussed a request with them.

And I just sent it, not for an answer tonight, but I just wanted to bring it back up publicly.

And I sent an email to counsel and Dr. Richardson, a letter that was sent to me yesterday, an updated letter.

and they are planning to do two trips for 2020 and would like to because taking the number that we took last cycle was too many at one time but they

would still like to take around the same number of people, so increasing that to 60.

So the request is there.

Nana would like to attend the next council meeting to discuss the request, so I would just like to know if there is support, if you all can review that over the next week or so and just see if him coming to present to us is something that you all would be open to.

And so is this coming from the sister city's budget?

Yeah, I just sent it.

Oh.

I guess it might even help to have like a what's the running balance of like the equity fund and of the council discretionary fund whenever something's being asked of it as a drawdown so we know what we have left.

No, I'm done.

Eliminate the equity fund.

Right.

No.

All right.

What do we have next?

So anybody here to speak for the second matters by the public?

All right.

No?