09/17/07 Council Special Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 17, 2007 Councilmember Puzzello stated that because students come get involved and graduate, it would be good to have an evaluation process, a sort of progress report of how things are going. Documentation, statistics and reports from the various city departments and neighborhood organizations would be very helpful to see if the ordinance is working or if some things in the ordinance need to be reevaluated. Councilmember Puzzello would like to see the permit for lawn parking be okayed by the Council. Councilmember Dieter asked if the two Council representatives on the CCAC could be revised from two (2) At-Large Members to two (2) Members of the Council. Councilmember Rouse stated that the whole Coalition was presented because of the people who had been in dialogue. He stated that it is not written in stone it can be amended. Councilmember Varner stated he thinks that one of the good things that he has heard this evening is that from a perceptional perspective to focus on responsibility a lot more than he has heard rights. For too long people have focused on rights. Rights come with a responsibility and that is inherent, everyone seems to forget the last half of the equation because they are looking for their right. What has been brought before the Council tonight is a number of conflicting needs. The students have a need to party. Councilmember Varner stated that he did it the neighbors have a right to peace and quite and that there has to be a balance there. He stated that he is not sure how you always find that balance perfectly, but Councilmember's Kirsits and Rouse given where they have started and where they are this evening, that made a diligent effort to address some of those issues. From and administrative perspective, and this will be directed to Ms. Brown, since she will be the President and the end of the semester, and inherent, upon her to see at the April or May meeting to set the standard and the tone for the people coming back so that in fact they leave town knowing what there responsibilities are, and don't come back so that the neighbors have to go through this every year. He stated that it is not the neighbor's jobs to deal with this problem every year. He thinks that it is Ms. Brown's responsibility and subsequent Student Body President to see to it that students leave knowing that if they are going to live off-campus, there are responsibilities that they must adhere. And those are no different than they can expect from their neighbors who live next to them. Dr. Varner questioned where there was a constitutional issue here? He stated that he doesn't know, it's beyond him, and he was not afraid to say that. He understands what people are saying about their right to assemble. But there is a right to assemble in a manner that doesn't offend or affect other people's neighborhoods. This is something that will have to be decided by a court that will look at the details, if it will go that far. He hopes that it doesn't go that far, he thinks that the folks in that neighborhood have the right to enjoy all the benefits of being close to the University, they have the right to enjoy students and the students have a right to live in a neighborhood and work with the neighborhood to make sure that it works for everyone together. As such, this is the balance of rights and responsibilities, it use to take all the responsibility and put it on the City to do this and do that, now with this Committee, it will put some of the responsibility back on the students. Councilmember Varner stated that he feels strongly that it is not the job of these neighbors to deal with the same problem every year after year. The folks living in that neighborhood for as many years as he can remember, he understands their frustration and hopes that perhaps Ms. Brown maybe after this public hearing has a better feel for that and can take back that feeling to the students. The balance of rights and responsibility, that is what this bill is trying to do and he hopes that it does and effectively because the Council has a lot of other bigger problems out there to deal with. Quite honestly he said that if everyone acted responsibly, the Council wouldn't have to deal with this period. Councilmember Puzzello stated that she will be voting in favor of this bill, because they have been working diligently on special events yard parking and attending meeting after meeting after meeting and nothing has come to light. She stated that this is the time to pass such legislation. She noted that she has some problems with some of the language in the current bill, but she believes that over time they can be worked out. Councilmember Puzzello stated that if this bill is not passed then nothing ever will for a very long time. 14