Oct. 5, 1998
Contact: Frances Granger (804) 982-5541



MEDIA ADVISORY

STATEWIDE SUMMIT ON CONDITION AND FUTURE OF VIRGINIA'S CITIES TO BE HELD
IN CHARLOTTESVILLE OCT. 13

	A statewide public conference aimed at launching a process to
solve some of the longstanding problems of Virginia's cities will be
held in Charlottesville on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
	The day-long meeting, billed as a summit conference on the
problems facing cities, is sponsored by the General Assembly's
Commission on the Condition and Future of Virginia's Cities chaired by
House Speaker Thomas W. Moss Jr. (D-Norfolk) and will be held at the
Charlottesville Omni Hotel.  It is expected to draw some 250 invited
participants, including governmental representatives of the state's 41
cities and their adjacent counties, members of the General Assembly and
the commission, citizen representatives and members of the business
community.
	The session will begin at 9 a.m. with an introduction by Moss
and a keynote address by former Indianapolis mayor and former Indiana
congressman William Hudnut III.  Hudnut, a well known urban expert and
advocate for the value of healthy cities, helped guide Indianapolis and
adjacent suburban areas through a consolidation and restructuring that
is seen as a national model of cooperation.
	The General Assembly commission is undertaking a two-year study
of Virginia's urban problems.  The Oct. 13 summit meeting's purpose is
to develop a common base of understanding about the problems facing
Virginia's cities and point to immediate concerns as well potential
solutions that the commission can consider in coming months, according
to John Thomas, director of the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper
Center for Public Service, which is providing staff assistance for the
commission and helping organize the conference.
	Virginia's cities and problems vary widely but their essential
concerns include shrinking 

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resources that rely heavily on real estate taxes, while having fixed
boundaries with no way to expand the tax base, Thomas said.
	Del. Mitchell Van Yahres (D-Charlottesville) and Sen. Emmett W.
Hanger (R-Augusta County) are co-chairs of the Charlottesville summit.
Some 50 key state legislators are expected to attend.
	From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the meeting will include panel
discussions with a variety of experts on the financial conditions, needs
and services, and legal and governing structures of Virginia's cities.
	From 1:15 to 3:45 p.m. participants will divide into small
groups to identify the several most important stress points for Virginia
cities and make recommendations, then will review these together as a
full group. 
	At 3:45 p.m. Moss will make concluding remarks and describe
where the commission's efforts will be focused.
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	Please note: Reporters are invited to attend and cover all
sessions and interview participants. A mult box for taping and a press
room with phones will be available at the Omni Hotel.  For advance
interviews John Thomas may be reached at (804) 982-5541. 

Television reporters should contact the TV News Office at (804)
924-7550.