Wanting

to keep a close eye on county developments as

they pertain to the proposed new jail, the

Fayetteville City Council Monday night announced

that a jail committee would be formed by the city

to monitor the situation.

The

council voted to add the item to the agenda at

the regular meeting, then voted to form a

committee whose members would be determined

later. Both votes passed unanimously.

"They're

[the county] going to spend $60 million to build

a new jail, so we'd like to have some

input," said Mayor Mike Wheat.

"Especially

since it's going to be in the middle of our

city," added councilmember Al Hovey-King.

The

City Council also announced that a called meeting

is scheduled for today at 7 p.m. for the sole

purpose of setting the millage rate.

"We're

going to meet briefly Wednesday to reduce the tax

rate once again," said Wheat.

The

city is proposing a rate of 2.59 mills plus .75

mills for its capital projects, a reduction of 18

hundredths of a mill from last year's 3.52 mills.

First

readings were held on three separate items at

Monday night's meeting, although no final action

was taken on any of them.

Jan

Trammell requested rezoning from R-30 to O-I for

a .657-acre lot on the east side of N. Jeff Davis

Drive between Georgia Avenue and Fenwyck Commons.

Trammell wishes to use the existing

1,742-square-foot building as an office with a

side entrance drive and rear parking, according

to city staff reports.

There

was no public comment on the proposal, and

neither Trammell nor the landowner were present.

Councilmembers said that they wanted them in

attendance for the second reading so that any

concerns they may have could be addressed.

first reading was also conducted for a proposed

zoning ordinance amendment restricting the

parking of truck tractors and semi-trailers in

residential areas.

City

staff, after reviewing the document, suggested

that the Board of Education be referenced in the

ordinance where applicable because that body is

separate from the Board of Commissioners. There

was also a question as to who would enforce the

ordinance - the Engineering Department or

the Police Department.

The

Planning and Zoning Commission is also reviewing

the amendments and will make a recommendation

soon. There was no public discussion of the

ordinance at the City Council meeting.

proposed tree protection and landscape ordinance

was also given a first reading by the City

Council. This document would replace two existing

documents that separately govern tree protection

and landscaping, and it would be incorporated

into the existing zoning ordinance.

One

resident of Lakeview Court said that the plan is

very important to her, since a lot adjoining hers

was recently clear-cut. She said that she did not

believe the action was malicious, but simply

uninformed.

She

went on to suggest that loggers register with the

city before beginning their jobs, so the city

will know what it going on at all times and

workers can be reminded of the guidelines for

saving trees in the city.

The

council presented a proclamation honoring 83

churches in the county for their efforts in

distributing the "Jesus" video.

Joe

Bruschetti was appointed Monday night to the

city's Planning and Zoning Commission.