City Council discussed the Occupy Charlottesville movement last night and urged activists to obtain a permit from the City's Parks and Recreation Department to protest lawfully.
At issue was both the duration of Occupy Charlottesville's stay in Lee Park and its refusal to abide by the park's curfew, which prohibits people from staying in the park between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
After obtaining a permit, Occupy Charlottesville members would then be able to receive both a curfew exemption and a date extension from Brian Daly, director of the City's Parks and Recreation Department.
City Attorney Craig Brown and City Manager Maurice Jones both noted the broader issues involved in allowing the protesters to remain in the park.
Brown said there is some "precedential value" in allowing the protesters to remain in the park. While "municipal parks are traditional locations for demonstrations and protest," it would be difficult to limit protesters in the future from demonstrating during long periods in the park.
The Council members, on the other hand, seemed committed to finding a way to keep the protest both active and legal. They praised the many members of Occupy Charlottesville who were present at the meeting for their politeness and sanitary conditions.
Most Council members said they supported the ideas the protesters stood for and encouraged Daly to grant the movement the exemptions and extensions.
"I would like to thank you for standing for the 99 percent," Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris said, in reference to the movement's opposition to the richest 1 percent controlling America.
Council also heard concerns from a University student. During the public comment period at the beginning of yesterday's meeting, Council heard a presentation from second-Year College student Isabella Artiles, a member of the Beyond Coal initiative at the University, who urged the council to encourage the University to phase out the use of its coal plant.
"At U.Va. we burn coal every day at the Main Heating Plant," Artiles said. "Coal is the dirtiest way we generate energy today," and the City has "a chance to increase our desirability and our reputation" if it encourages the University to move away from coal.
In an interview before the meeting, Artiles indicated she wanted Council's assistance in encouraging the University to support Beyond Coal.
"We're here mainly to inform the city council," Artiles said. "We want Council to put pressure on [University] President [Teresa A. Sullivan] to try and retire the coal plant."
All five Council members agreed for Norris to arrange a meeting with Sullivan to encourage the University to phase out the coal plant on behalf of the City.
"I've seen the ravages of coal on the places it comes from," Councilwoman Kristin Szakos said. "It behooves us to try and do what we can to protect the air in our community."
Council also prepared a resolution, written by Vice Mayor Holly Edwards, to apologize for the leveling of the primarily black Vinegar Hill neighborhood in 1960 in the name of urban renewal without proper consultation with residents. The resolution will be voted upon at Council's Nov. 7 meeting to allow time for public comment.
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