Before proceeding to the anticipated nonsense of next week’s council agenda, here are some of the curiosities of the last meeting:

BUY MY MAGIC DUST OR ELSE –
Council approved funding an ambiguous study for undisclosed brownfields that may or may not exist. The Land of Sky Regional Council was authorized to pursue up to $400,000 in EPA grants to, “inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct planning and community involvement related to brownfield sites.” Dr. Carl Mumpower pulled this item from the consent agenda. City staff, as well as LOS’s regional brownfields initiative program manager (her real title), could not state where the brownfields were lest they be stigmatized. There appeared to be no imminent danger. The two $200,000 grants would do nothing to clean up hazardous waste should any exist. They, apparently, would only serve to prevent the EPA from fining property owners for not having the studies done. 

EVIL BALCONIES
Architect John Rogers and developer Chuck Tessier only wanted to put balconies on their building. They’re redeveloping the abandoned First Union Bank building, and trying to add some character. At the time of the request, the city had not been in the business of selling airspace over rights of way, and so conducted a reportedly thorough study before deciding to sell to the highest bidder. Concerned about two trees that wouldn’t be impacted and the deprivation of solar radiation the public would experience with the addition of the 3’2″ overhangs, PARC came to the rescue again and started a bidding war. Council agreed to the city attorney’s suggestion to change the process to end the unanticipated folly. Certain members of council, however, wanted to make sure the Tree Commission could weigh in on any future consideration of balcony construction. The balconies, incidentally, overlook Pritchard Park, described as a feeding zoo and playground/incubator for vagrants.

IT’S NOT THE WORDS, IT’S THE EMOTION IN YOUR VOICE
Council voted to hold the referendum on partisan elections during the general election. Holly Jones was the only person opposed. She said she had received threatening phone calls and had been libeled by people trying to reverse council’s decision to amend the city charter to give the Democrats a significant statistical edge in the upcoming elections. She said if activists really cared about the Unaffiliated voters, they would have wanted to hold the referendum during the primary to incentivize greater voter turnout. Capiche?