City Council Meeting   6/6/2011

I would like to bring up a letter that I received from kindergarteners from Clark Elementary School under the public comment time because if I put it under other business, it will just be so late in the meeting.

So I'd like to read the letter that I received.

Dear Vice Mayor Edwards,

Dogs are pooping all around Clark Elementary School.

We only found one sign saying walking of dogs prohibited on this property.

The red circle with the line across the dog is faded.

We couldn't understand all the words on the sign.

The sign is 82 inches high.

The sign is too tall.

We need new signs that use short words that people who have dogs will see.

We need a short sign three feet tall.

Signs should be at each playground and where people walk in at Belmont and Monticello Avenues.

We have a new song that we like.

The picture on the song needs to be big.

Words on the song are big and easy to read.

Sincerely, the kindergarteners of Clark Elementary.

Hi, I'm Cindy Cartwright and I'm the Talent Development Teacher at Clark and Johnson and we were studying problem solving.

And the problem came up actually when we were doing this

Science Study, this international study on tulips.

And we'd gone out weekly to measure our tulips and measure the temperatures, the air and the ground temperature.

And then right next to our tulips was a lot of dog poop, which I think I've used that word now more than I thought I ever would.

And so as problem solving came up, and we talked about ways to solve problems and all this, and we were generating a list in all the kindergartens of what they wanted to work on.

And in the final vote, this was the issue that the kindergartners wanted to work on.

So two of the classes really worked on the letter, and then another class was the sign design class.

So they came up with four possibilities.

and the kids all voted.

And the one that won actually went on the letter that went to the Parks Department.

So, but there's like a little version of it up there.

But it was really, I mean, the kids were, I thought, right on with a lot of it, you know, when we read the sign, because I had to read the sign to them, and they said, what does that mean?

I was like, that's a really good question.

Or, yeah, it was faded, or we talked about people walking with dogs and where they're looking.

and that no one's looking up there when they walk a dog.

But the kids also started gathering information on the dogs were going to the bathroom in the playground where they play and they were going to the bathroom in the field and it was and we were out there one day researching

where signs might be and like somebody comes by with their dog.

And of course the kids were all like, you can't come here.

But it was a really great process I think and the kids are very proud of the letter that they worked on and the sign work that they did.

Thank you.

I want to make two comments.

First, just to complete this process that children have started, maybe our Parks Department can put in new signs along these lines so that children can see that democracy does work and decision-making can be good.

So there's one item I want to just share with you.

Second, I just want to make one more comment on the sustainability issue.

I think we should be planning for sustainable development in the community.

We are sitting and counting in one community

We need to be working together instead of separate.

And I think the idea of not thinking of sustainability will be foolish in the long run in my mind.

Vice Mayor Edwards, I've already begun our discussions with Brian Daley, our Director of Parks and Recreation about this.

We do acknowledge that there are some concerns about this, especially at school grounds.

So we've begun that.

And I would also suggest in Charlottesville fashion that we form a task force to look into this issue.

Okay, thank you all very much.

We are now going to move on with our meeting.

The next item on our agenda is our consent agenda.

On tonight's consent agenda we have item A, which are the minutes of May 16th.

Item B, an appropriation of $187,500, Market Street parking garage replacement of park equipment, second of two readings.

Item C, an appropriation of $23,000 for the 2010 State Homeland Security Program grant, hazmat, second of two readings.

Item B is an appropriation of $119,000, a grant for Azalea Park Stormwater Wetland Project, first of two readings.

Item E, an appropriation of $386,000, Charlottesville High School Solar Power System appropriation grant funds and local cash match, first of two readings.

Item F in appropriation, approval and appropriation of CDBG and home funds for FY 2011-2012 first of two readings.

Item G in appropriation of $751,016, amendments to the fiscal year 2012 adopted city schools general fund and grant and other governmental funds budget first of two readings.

Item H, an appropriation of $3,000, Player for Life grant from the U.S. Gold Association, first of two readings.

Item I is a resolution to transfer funds to CATEC, VDOT, Land Take Funds, $120,086.13, first of one reading.

Item J, an ordinance, 14 and under helmet ordinance, second of two readings.

Item K is an ordinance, street closure, closing a portion of Seminole Court, first of two readings.

Item L, Ordinance, Zoning Tax Amendment, Assisted Living Facilities, first of two readings.

Item M is an Ordinance, Sunrise Park, PUD, first of two readings.

Finally, item N is an Ordinance, Homeowner Tax Relief Grant, 2011, first of two readings.

Are there any comments, items to be removed for further discussion?

I would like to make a very quick comment regarding item J, ordinance 14 under helmet ordinance.

I've had several people come up to me and ask, why are we only limiting restrictions to young people under the age of 14?

Why don't we require all bicycle riders to wear helmets?

The quick answer is we are not allowed to.

The Commonwealth of Virginia only allows localities to restrict or to require bike helmets for young people 14 and under.

Alright.

Second.

Or the whole agenda.

It's been moved and seconded.

Any further discussion?

If not, please indicate your vote.

and it carries unanimously.

Yes, the whole consent agenda.

Meeting's adjourned.

The whole consent agenda, that's correct.

Item 2, the public hearing and resolution regarding Discovering Museum Carousel Lease is before us tonight.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

As you probably know, about five years ago, the city council approved a lease of 240 square feet on the downtown mall for the Virginia Discovery Museum to place a miniature carousel.

I think that by all accounts it's been a huge success.

Even though they've not allowed me to write it, it looks like it's a lot of fun for the kids.

I wish.

Any questions for Mr. Tolbert before we open the public hearing?

Okay, this is an item that does require by law a public hearing, so I will now open the public hearing.

There's nobody who signed up to speak.

Is there anybody from the public who would like to speak on this issue?

Hearing none, we will close the public hearing.

It's been moved and seconded.

Hearing none, please indicate your vote.

And it carries unanimously.

Thank you, Mr. Tolbert.

Next item is a report and a resolution, McIntyre Park Master Plan Amendment.

This is for the west side of the park.

Before us tonight, first to one reading, Mr. Brian Daley.