City Council Meeting   5/7/2007

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This is actually the one that I have to get my email.

The weather of 2007 was capital W

Welcome everybody and I'd like to call tonight City Council meeting to order and first is the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Here.

Here.

Here.

Here.

Here.

Are there any announcements by council of upcoming community events or items to be considered at the end of the meeting under other business?

So hope that you can all catch one or all those events.

Okay, any other announcements or items for other business?

Spouses, healthcare, just to bring that up under new business.

Okay.

One other thing for other business is I'd like to discuss having a letter of intent to purchase clean energy from Highland New Wind project.

We have a new staff.

So he is here to help lead us in that in the future and I thought I might have him introduce his wife very quickly.

Thank you.

So is there someone here from Region 10 I can hand this to?

I agree.

So I'd like to ask Coach Vandiver and Prather to come forward and receive this and maybe even make a couple comments so you can talk about how great your students are.

Thank you very much.

And so the first person signed up is Rebecca Braddock.

I was

Said, if you vote me, put me up, we're going to do everything we can to help you.

Have you did anything to help to see that we get the service back?

Ms. Baddick, we're going to have to come take a look at it.

Come this one, I'm going to have to pay my taxes.

First of all, that's what we respond and say what we think about the comments been made.

Secondly, I know that you are up for reelection, but what I want to know is anywhere else I can go to ask somebody to help me.

All right, because that's why I'm here.

So I had to ask the gentleman, would you please bring me down here so I could talk?

OK, thank you.

Because I don't give up easy.

Next is Mary Jean Rossi.

Thank you very much.

Richard Bean.

Collette Hall.

The answer seems to be that you will crucify us until we exsanguinate from a lack of savings and retirement funds.

Thank you.

And I want to thank you for your time.

Thank you.

and Anne Carter.

I can start with the attorney.

Okay.

Go ahead and start, I think.

I am most concerned about

Ms. Carter, I will remind you we're running four minutes.

Okay, thank you.

If you had a final sentence, I didn't mean to interrupt you.

So we are not all on the same page here.

Next is Carla Mano.

I know that you might not be hearing what I'm saying because who I am is ringing in your ears.

Thank you.

Thank you for your time.

Or are you going to be sending it?

Okay.

Stratton Salitas.

Thank you.

Thank you.

You know, Mr. Cabot, I'm sorry I overlooked your name and it is on the list so please come forward.

I get friends that come in from Richmond that I've encouraged over the years to come up to the market and one of the things I make them aware of is the market's not just a place for fruits and vegetables but diverse groups that are sold there and encourage them and when they come up and they see it they enjoy it and I am concerned that we're going to lose possibly some of the diversification that we have in the market with some of the proposed regulation that we're thinking about changing.

Mr. Taliaferro?

On the bus issue, we've had some concerns expressed on, I guess, several routes and I know that some of us have talked some about that and I think, Mr. O'Connell, you all are taking a look at that, is that correct?

Some of these do have financial implications, as you might expect, depending on what we might come up with.

I understand that.

I also would like to talk, respond to the question about the farmer's market because we've been hearing a lot from the community about the perceived overregulation and

If I'm selling food, I would... 9.30.

9.30.

We're there to make sure that there's a good consumer experience.

And, you know, I want to solicit the opinions of the vendors to find out what what they think.

And I would hope that we could strike that language just to make sure that that's clear.

It's a really interesting consent agenda, guys.

You might want to stick around.

Item J, an ordinance which is additions to uses allowed in the M1 zoning district, it's a first reading.

Are there items to be removed from the consent agenda to be considered at the end of the regular meeting, or are there any amendments to the minutes?

I'd like to remove item H, Mr. Mayor.

I move the consent agenda.

Second.

I'm sorry.

Mr. Mayor given that there are a number of people in the audience who are here to hear the discussion on item H I wonder if we could instead of putting at the very end of the agenda maybe we could move it up a little bit I'm getting some thumbs up

Is there any objection to moving it up?

That sounds like a good idea.

Should we do it now?

Well, do you want to ask questions or do you want her to do a quick presentation?

Could you do a quick report, Ebony, please?

The scale, the height and the density they were concerned, thought it was inappropriate and all that came forward at the public hearing requested that you deny this application.

Mr. Norris?

Ms. Albemarle, I know you're new to the city and welcome to the city, but I wonder if you have any historical perspective on why this particular stretch of JPA was not included in the University High Density District when that zoning category was

So basically what happened is this side was left R3 and university high density is basically down the block, but they put it in the regulations, but by special use permit, you could ask for increased height and increased density of this R3 area so we can deem whether it was appropriate or not.

And I'm wondering if you can address that concern.

The setback and the height I didn't think were particularly inappropriate given the surrounding context of this area.

I know this is another issue of concern is there could be upward of we don't know how many tenants, 40 tenants in this building or more and I think there's some concern about where are all these kids going to park and can you address that?

that residents wouldn't be able to park there and correct me if I'm wrong on that.

That's just fraud during the daytime, is it correct?

13 spaces within the building.

But I'm not sure about that, so you have to ask the applicant regarding those particular details.

He's nodding his head, so take that as a yes.

I'm not sure how many spaces, so you could potentially have 30 sites, but the point is that we're hoping that because this is near university, mostly students won't have cars and won't walk, but I think hope and reality might be clashing in this point, so that's definitely something for you guys to consider.

Yeah, where it's actually working.

So I think that that's the, that's the difference.

Would you like Mr. Tolbert to address the bigger issue or did you get?

Oh, hello.

At the stadium and at the U-Haul lots.

Other questions?

The setback from the street on this building, I think I read it correctly, is it 10 feet or pretty close to the street, right?

The stairs are 10 feet, the building is 17 and a half feet.

Say again?

The stairs are at 10 feet and the building is at 17 and a half feet.

So it's basically right on the street.

Pretty much.

That's all.

Discussion?

I think the requirement is 25 feet and the street is, most of them are more like 35, 40 feet.

And I think that why the Planning Commission approved this is that in the future of development didn't deem that as appropriate for Jefferson Park Avenue.

I think, though, wasn't there a minimum on that, that you could go by right to 25?

But when the average of 40% of the properties in 500 feet is something else, then you take the average of that as opposed to the minimum 25 feet.

So until the price of gas goes up, which it probably will, but not, well, not before this thing gets built.

Save three dollars today.

I think that we will have the demand to park cars.

Other comments?

I'm not concerned about the setback just for the record.

Well, that's a good point because originally it was proposed to put this in the High Density District and the neighborhood objected and we took it out.

I do want to say I think it's a handsome building.

So that's sort of my thoughts on the subject.

But I do think we're setting a tricky precedent when we go back and reopen University High Density kind of zoning for a stretch of the city where we specifically exempted it.

No, it's medium density.

There are high densities up to 64 dwelling units break or by right, so this is 46.

So, I mean, I look at that and I mean, I think it is, I think the precedent is what's concerning because I think that that number is not a huge number for a project.

What was the sense, what was the thing that was most persuasive to them?

So I think they were pretty persuaded by that and thought that was a good project given all of the different factors that were at play.

So the entrance to the parking is from JPA except for the one space that's on Montebello.

That is correct.

And not the handicapped space.

They didn't think that there were any impacts that needed mitigating for this project.

And it's a one reading item because it's a resolution.

Oh, I see.

Well, I can sense I'm in the minority here, but I have a feeling that if we build this two years from now, people will be driving down JPA and asking how did that happen.

I'll second the resolution.

So we vote, right?

Mr. Brown, do we do anything else here?

I think it needs to be an affirmative motion.

Yeah, somebody needs to make another motion.

I would move that we approve this in all respects, except for the setback, which would be set to 25 feet.

Okay.

Is that the front yard setback?

And what was the setback?

It's 10.

I don't know if that's a huge factor in this conversation, but just wanted to add that.

I move that we send this back to the Planning Commission to resolve.

They've already given us a unanimous decision Well then, give us another motion I'll second your motion Second Kevin's motion?

My motion goes to the Planning Commission I thought you made a motion I made a motion to send it back to the Planning Commission I'll second that Okay, discussion of that motion?

I think that would be helpful

Well, you guys are the ones who voted against it, so we need to give them the direction.

I'm comfortable with the setback, and I'd like to have them revisit the issue of the density.

You're either going to lower the height, lower it, shrink it, move the front up, you're just going to build a bigger apartment.

they would like rather than us telling them do it this way, which may work or may not work.

Right.

I think maybe a better approach would be instead of sending it back to the Planning Commission just to defer it for tonight and ask the staff to work with the applicant so that the applicant doesn't have to go back through the Planning Commission, rather come back to council directly and see if they can address some of the issues that have come up tonight.

I'd like to come forward and identify yourself and maybe, I guess, not argue with us about our concerns, but rather address the issue of a deferral and working on either the density issue and or the setback issue.

Fred, can you address more specifically?

Is density a setback that or at least three of us share to make sure that whatever direction we give is not hitting, is not misinterpreted.

And I'm not sure if we go back to the drawing board what new information we can come back with is sort of how I respond to if we have or are told to go back.

Okay, so Mr. Norris, you have a motion to defer?

I move to defer and I think there's a pending motion from Ms. Hamilton.

I'm sorry, thank you.

Have the applicant address concerns about density, number of bedrooms.

Second.

Okay, that's been moved and seconded.

Discussion on this motion?

I'm happy to entertain you, Council.

Mr. O'Connell.

Be glad to answer any questions.

It's a second reading.

The second option would be to also approve the budget as written and then leave the $200,000 with the housing authority for them to use for capital projects instead of operational funds and then take some additional money out of the money you've set aside for housing programs

But either way I would ask that to keep up with our HUD submission deadlines that you approve the budget as written and then on the 22nd we can have a larger discussion about what to do with that $200,000 specifically.

but under either scenario we don't have to decide tonight.

We're just going to go ahead and approve the CDBG budget so that you can meet your deadline.

Okay.

Next is a public hearing on the resolution on the CDBG Housing Opportunities Made Equal Action Plan for 2008.

And now that the budget has been passed, it will be sent along as an attachment to the action plan.

And Ms. Billy Campbell is here from the planning district if we have any additional questions besides ones for myself.

Is there any questions before we open the public hearing?

And the reason I point that out, first of all, just to make sure that we don't provide inaccurate information, but also to point out the fact that we need something like this.

Yes, sir.

We use Housing Initiatives Fund dollars instead of CDBG dollars, but we do still need that funding.

Would anyone like to come speak on this plan?

Thank you.

A couple comments.

We're putting more money into the housing authority as a result of that.

Do you have that page number handy so I can look at that language?

Yeah, give me just a second.

Oh, the page I've got it open to.

The other comment that I had.

We do have language on that, but it just doesn't mention specific numbers.

I think we could do better than that.

I move approval of the plan.

Second.

Can we get, let me ask, can I ask that we move approval with at least the change of, and I think whether or not we are able to do more rehab, that's something that we really need to discuss as a budget item and as a programming item.

We can do more rehab if we spend more money on it.

We have money to spend on it.

Mr. O'Connell.

So with that, I'll stop unless you have some other questions.

Comments?

And also the fact that we made use of the vision principles in actually guiding of our budgeting process for the first time.

It was a great job.

And we should thank all of them, although there are a couple here tonight, probably more watching on TV.

So it would be great if we could, you know, make that connection.

However, I think it could stand, especially since we're going to be using this as a funding document, it could benefit from another round of polishing before we approve it as is.

as long as we don't have to have eight more work sessions.

I mean, would that be a way of proceeding here?

That way we can get moving and go forward.

So we can approve it now but with the plan that would come time and time we could also have amendments?

Probably with it.

Would that be acceptable, Kevin?

I don't think they would be controversial, we just have to tweak a few things.

But that by doing this, we are creating a work plan going forward, basically, for the city.

And then some kind of summary on top of that so that you have that working document that's out there all the time.

It seems like this is an important document and it ought to be updated.

available for the public, the updates that would show where we are with specific activities so that that constantly is updated, probably on a monthly basis.

Okay, any comments?

First of all, I appreciate the comments offered by Mr. Lynch, and I agree with all of them.

I think they're very well... Yeah, I got to see the email, so...

It's my memory's failing me here.

Yeah, we have a work session on that, I'm pretty sure.

We do have a work session scheduled, I believe.

Well, I know we're scheduling a work session, but is it scheduled?

I thought we did.

And being a former copy editor, I hope we can fix some of them.

Thank you.

Mr. Taliaferro.

I don't know, does anybody else have that?

I have just heard.

Is that right?

Yes.

On the other hand, I do think we're missing some important pieces, so I wouldn't want to say that this is our finished product until we've had a chance to make some changes.

So should we wait until we get through those work sessions to approve this?

I like the idea of just saying draft.

Yeah, I would be willing to approve it in draft form, in recognizing that it's a work in progress, but you know.

Would you like to make a motion to that effect?

Yes, I would like to make a motion that we adopt the City Council vision, a strategic work plan, in its draft form, recognizing that we're going to continue to work on it over the next few months.

I do think if we can get some electronic copies of it, it'll be easier for us to share this back and forth.

Yeah, I think so.

Mr. Taliaferro, you had a couple items to start with?

$1500 and I think the county is matching that and so I'd like to move that we appropriate $1500 out of the council reserve to do that.

Next, Mr. Taliaferro?

I mean, it seems to be excessive, so I don't know.

I'll be happy to discuss.

Anyway, we'll have it on their next agenda.

I understand that, but the issue I want to go to is the same, this $400 wide that's in retiree on Medicare, his spouse pays the same as a ploy that's not retired, because I don't understand.

I'm not saying that we should pay for it.

I'm just questioning why it should be at the same rate

Mr. Norris?

Do we add a section on the agenda after each of their quarterly meetings to have proposals brought forward that we can then direct staff to follow up on?

Those are some of my thoughts just off the top of my head.

Yeah probably fall would be the right time to bring that in there November when we're putting together the budget for the following year if we could just like the agencies come in if we had a yearly report that said you know these should be the priority items that would allow us some time to incorporate those into the budget.

I think an update even you know just to let you know what that was percolating the public can hear what we're saying the press can report it.

So as long as we can bring some of those forward throughout the year, maybe not.

I think as chair of the committee you should decide which ones you're ready to bring forward and bring them.

Thank you.

That's okay.

Anything that's more than $50,000.

So I would just like to ask for some time on our next agenda so I can do another update.

We can send in advance.

Yeah, we've got one we can send out.

If that's okay with everybody.

I don't know what other people think.

But we could certainly send out, if we have a letter drafted, I can easily send it out by email to the committee members and just ask them to provide feedback within a certain time range.

And if it turned out to seem to be significant concern about the language or whatever, we could tinker with it.

Okay.

Other business?

I think we should give some thought as to what we want to do.

I was going to say I'm in favor of withdrawing it.

I would say not withdraw it, but at least defer it.

It just is saying that we're withdrawing it from this round of consideration.

I'd like to get some comment from staff about the process.

Stricter regulation.

I just bring them up because it's significant to me that not only do we have the number of people in the neighborhood not wanting us to move forward, but now we have at the other end of the spectrum the preservation organization saying,

maybe help the neighborhood appreciate what the value of something like this would be.

That's what I think.

I'm more inclined to support deferral and to work with the neighborhood to flush out the application and make it a truer application and one that the neighborhood's more comfortable with.

Where exactly are we in the process and what can we do and what are the implications of doing that.

One last thing, could I just raise it?

So when can we expect?

This is part of a bigger route structure issue that Mr. Lynch was talking about.

Previously the route was on that block or within a block?

but I guess maybe if you could stop at lights or, I have no idea, I can't see, it didn't seem like it was like a huge loop but it was like a little circle that it would go through the neighborhood.

And we're going to get more of a comprehensive update on changes we've made on the bus system so we can talk about the bigger picture context.

We can do that.

You want that as an agenda item?

It's not like two or three.

locations, it's a longer walk.

I think it might be good to put in perspective what neighborhoods are being well-served, what happened, what got lost, where are their needs, kind of conversations, just so we have a good picture of what was changed and why.

You know, we shouldn't be that far off from being able to really get some improvements in performance.

I mean, yes.

Well, right.

Then we can add the routes back.

It's more complicated than that because it's only on certain routes.

some of the changes may not have been the best.

Let's go back into the small room.

John F. Kennedy