The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, June 4, 1980-Page 3
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Council ordinance may require
increase in Greek parking spaces
0
By ELAINE RIDEOUT
A city ordinance that would increase the required
number of parking spaces provided by new frater-
nities and sororities for their members passed on fir-
st reading at council's Monday night session.
Councilman David Fisher (R-Fourth Ward)
proposed the amendment that would require upgrade
zoning requirements for dormitories, sororities,
fraternities, and social fraternities. Fisher said in his
area "a lot of people think it's too dense already, and
} we don't want it any denser." He said he receives
numerous complaints during the school year from
residents claiming they cannot find parking spaces
on the street.
THE PROPOSAL, IF adopted, will have no effect
on current dwellings, Fisher said. "Any new frater-
nities would have to provide adequate parking
facilities," he said. This won't change anything,
but it will keep the problem from escalating."
But Councilman Earl Green (D-Second Ward), who
voted against the proposal, said the ordinance, as
p worded, might discourage existing fraternities and
sororities from upgrading their current facilities. To
do so, he explained, would force fraternity and
sorority members to meet the new, tougher standar-
ds.
The current ordinance requires single student
facilities to provide one parking space for every six
beds. Fisher said he considers one space per two beds
as more realistic.
"THE ZONING ORDINANCE goes back to the
60's," he said. "At that time only seniors were
allowed to have cars on campus." Fisher cited a
recent neighborhood survey that found three out of
four fraternity and sorority members own cars.
According to Donna Richter, a Burns Park resident
who compiled the survey, one parking space for
every six beds is insufficient. "I contacted five dif-
ferent fraternities located in the Burns Park area,"
she said, "and found that 3.29 parking spaces were
necessary for every six beds."
The first reading passed nine to one with Green the
sole dissenter. "The ordinance is wrong," he said.
"Parking formulas are generally based upon the num-
ber of units, not the number of beds."
GREEN ALSO ARGUED the proposal was un-
timely. "Most of the people concerned are gone for
the summer," he said. "In order for it to be effective
(the ordinance) should be put off until fall."
Fisher, who is a local fraternity advisor, argued
council was obligated to begin the process because
"the neighbors want it done now." He also said he did
not expecta public hearing would be held on the mat-
ter this summer.
"This would be a bad time to do something," said
Howard Miller, a member of Sigma Alpha Mu frater-
nity. "But," he added, "the idea doesn't seem that
unreasonable." Members of his fraternity who own
cars park on the street, he said, because their house
has no lot.
"It's unfair," Green said, "because council falls all
over themselves to allow businesses without parking
into the centrals area, and that generates more
congestion than 12 women in a house ever could."
'U'won't
enter into
agreement
withGEO
By BONNIE JURAN
The University has rebuffed a
request by the Graduate Employees
Organization to enter into a temporary
structural agreement, preferring in-
stead to await a decision by the
Michigan Employment Relations
Commission whether graduate student
assistants (GSAs) are to be considered
both students and employees.
The University, in a letter dated May
29 that was sent to GEO from Acting
Vice-President for Academic Affairs
Alfred Sussman, rejected the proposal
because it did "not wish to prejudice
(its) position before MERC by conduc- z
ting negotiations while that decision is y b K
pending." Daily Photo by JIM KRUZ
THE INTERIM pact would have
required the University Regents and
GEO to adhere to the Public Employees Natasha, a fickle feline that calls Saguaro Plants on S. Ashley St. home, strikes a leisurely pose atop a stepladder,
Relations Act (PERA), thereby calling exhausted per.haps after a hard day of people-watching.
for the University's recognition of the
GSA union as a collective bargaining
unit, according to GEO President Daven
inctadst, colTosilhncueiree eandidates will oppose
Kadlecek said a permanent contract,
in contrast, could possibly include " e
penalties against the University for ulla rfor d str seat
having failed to bargain with GEG in U. W t F- .- -- '- '
the past, in addition to compliance with economic and social problems that the state now faces."
PERA. By ELAINE RIDEOUT Barton said that, if elected, he would pursue five major
GEO members, in response to Three candidates have announced their intention to do goals including: tax relief, a more efficient state gover-
Sussman's correspondence, will most battle with four-term incumbent Rep. Perry Bullard for the nment, an improved business and educational climate,
likely senda letter to the Regents in an State House of Representatives 53rd district seat in the up- worker's compensation reform, and a decrease in unem-
effort to "clear up possible misunder- coming November elections. ployment.
standings" on the part of the University The challengers are: Republican Ray Barton, a company "A TAX CUT will not necessarily mean a cutting of aid to
concerning the proposed agreement, manager; independent Ronald Graham, acar salesman; and education if the legislature makes the needed reforms in
the GEO president said. Libertarian Jeffrey Quick, an unemployed musician, state government," Barton claimed. He said he would work
KADLECEK SAID GEO, which BULLARD HAS INFORMED the State Elections Board of to establish "sunset laws" covering all state agencies, for-
currently cites its membership level his intention to seek re-election, but his formal announ- cing each department to justify its existance periodically or
between three and four hundred per- cement is forthcoming. face extinction.
sons, originally decided to propose the Barton, the founder of a mail-order catalogue business The Republican challenger blamed the state's current
temporary agreement because its based in Ann Arbor,; sid he is ,running beCa . . g nimpi, e raeq'p r se pTisp-F ,t.,i,9th9ut
- See 'U,' Page5 '' '''''cuiirit ib tfirbntsihat's' 'bility -o a deal with e serious See THREE, Page 7