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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1997 <br /> <br />City' s needs at this time. Upon motion duly seconded, and by unanimous vote Council authorized the Police <br /> <br />Department to apply for the above stated grant. City Manager Reynolds then took the opportunity to point <br />out the evidence of the City Staff' s safety performance, as noted in the latest Safety Report provided by <br />Bobby Phillips, City Safety Coordinator. Councilmember Teague noted that the report showed an almost <br />50% reduction in safety incidents since the last report period. Mr. Reynolds attributed the results shown to <br />the establishment of a full time Safety Coordinator' s position, and Mr. Phillip's authority to interact with both <br />City staff and private contractors to ensure safe practices. <br /> <br />Council next considered the adoption of a resolution to set a Public Heating on an amendment to the City <br />Charter that would enable the City Council to establish Design Overlay Districts. Mr. Wayne Knox, City <br />Planning, Zoning and Housing Manager, was present to explain the intent and use of such districts. Mr. Knox <br />stated that these overlay districts were a tool to enable citizens to provide more information to Council on <br />what they wish their neighborhoods to be like, and help the residents reinforce the character and nature of <br />their neighborhoods as they desire them to be. When questioned by Councilmember Dallas on how these <br />districts would work, Mr. Knox stated that the covenants and restrictions established by the residents of a <br />district could be as stringent or as loose as the residents themselves chose to make them, and that the residents <br />themselves would set the boundaries of each district. Councilmember Dallas asked whether the districts <br />would have to be surveyed, and whether this new Charter provision would apply only to the Uptown area. <br />Mr. Knox replied that the areas would have to be surveyed, and that the ability to establish such districts <br />would be City-wide. Mayor Adams noted his knowledge of such a district in Baltimore, Maryland, and Mr. <br />Knox noted several others in the State. Councilmember Haskell asked whether these districts would have <br />architectural review boards, and whether property values in these districts were usually enhanced by theS~ <br />designations, to which Mr. Knox replied in the affirmative to both questions. Councilmember Teague asked <br />whether the Planning Commission might be involved in overlay district decisions, and Mr. Knox stated that <br />they could ~be. Mayor Adams noted that in the language of the proposed Charter amendment the review <br /> <br /> <br />