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Budget Study Session May 11, 2005 COMMENTS Mr. Wagner asked about the request two days ago for the “unencumbered analysis and what it would be.” He said he hoped it would be ready for the Budget meeting next week, including a statement of his analysis and not “just the bottom line.” Mr. Wagner was especially interested in the policy. He said Mr. Norfleet needed to analyze the figures and to inform the Council about them. It is the analysis that is of special interest to him. Mayor Adams said SBC advised State legislators of a “one word amendment” which has destroyed a bill by inserting the word “wireless.” This will halve the revenue stream. The problem is that the senate approved it with that change, but the house would not accept it with any amendment. He provided some additional details relating to this situation. Mr. Wagner asked what the impact would be and was advised that it would be reduced revenue by half. Mr. Wagner wanted to know into which sentence the word “wireless” was inserted and was advised by Mr. Ollendorff that “The total definition of what is covered by this was changed to leave out the cell phones.” Mr. Wagner wanted more details to explain this situation, but was willing to wait for another time. CITIZEN’S COMMENTS Richard Dockett, thanked the Council for accepting citizen’s comments at these budget hearings and for the good job done by them in improving the quality of life in University City. He said social integration works well in University City. Then he mentioned the topic of economic integration, by which he meant proportional representation and taxation with representation, which he feels has not been dealt with in respect of the black African-American community. He said there must be a plan to do this. There is nothing in the Five-Year Plan for University City which addressed this issue. Currently the black African-American population is forty-five per cent and within a decade that group could become a majority. He referred to the Economic Development Advisory Board report discussed at the th March 15 meeting, noting that it was “done by all white males and they did not mention anything about economic integration.” He asked that this be looked at “so that there not be a continuation of a good old white boys club and them coming up with a Boss Hall to rule over these predominately black areas and the majority black communities that have developed in the northeast triangle.” He asked that Parkview Gardens and other areas receive the “pennies left from the CDBG Funds.” He also asked that the five stations for the Metro be considered, with input from the black African-American community. He noted that there all ready were ties with the Asian community, but they had not addressed the issue he raised today, about economic integration. He offered his services and said that he was “an expert on it.” Page 8