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11 <br /> Mr. Aubrey Watts, Director of Economic Development, said that the proposal is <br />to exchange parking spaces in the Water Street Parking Garage between the City and <br />CPC for a lease agreement with the new hotel proposed downtown. Mr. Watts said that <br />all relocated City spaces will be more accessible to the public. He said the hotel <br />developers have requested that Council waive the second reading so they can proceed <br />with financing. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Lynch, Mr. Watts said the new spaces will be <br />scattered throughout the garage. <br /> <br /> The public hearing was opened, but as there were no speakers, the public hearing <br />was closed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris made a motion to approve the ordinance and Ms. Hamilton seconded <br />the motion. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he does not see a compelling reason to change the process on the <br />vote and to waive the second reading. <br /> <br /> Mr. Watts said the agreement is needed to close on the financing. <br /> <br /> Council voted to approve the ordinance by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, <br />Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Noes: None. <br /> <br /> On motion by Ms. Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Taliaferro, the second reading of <br />the ordinance was waived (Ayes: Dr. Brown, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. <br />Noes: Mr. Lynch) and the ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE <br />EXCHANGE OF 49 PARKING SPACES WITHIN THE WATER STREET PARKING <br />GARAGE BETWEEN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE AND <br />CHARLOTTESVILLE PARKING CENTER, INC.” was approved. <br /> <br />PRESENTATION/RESOLUTION <br />: PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE <br /> <br /> Ms. Meredith Richards, representing the Piedmont Rail Coalition, gave a <br />presentation about the non-profit organization that was launched in May of 2005 with a <br />goal of bringing passenger rail service to the Piedmont region. Ms. Richards asked <br />Council for a resolution of support for local match should State funding be secured. She <br />explained that a market survey will be conducted if funding is approved. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said it would be great to have better rail service, and it would be good <br />if the local service would be on time. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards noted that freight trains have priority. <br /> <br /> On motion by Mr. Norris, seconded by Mr. Taliaferro, the Resolution supporting <br />the Piedmont Rail Coalition was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Ms. <br />Hamilton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Noes: None. <br />WHEREAS <br /> a growing population and a burgeoning commercial explosion have <br />helped to expand Virginia’s prosperous economy, but they have also helped to create <br />steadily worsening problems of congestion and accessibility in its major transportation <br />corridors, and <br />WHEREAS <br /> among Virginia’s major transportation corridors, U. S. 29 North, or <br />the “Piedmont Corridor,” represents a vital and heavily used north-south travel route <br />between Washington, DC and Lynchburg that serves many counties and cities in the <br />Piedmont region of the Commonwealth, and <br />WHEREAS <br /> the counties of Albemarle, Greene, Madison, Orange, Culpeper, <br />Nelson, Amherst, Fauquier and Prince William and the cities of Lynchburg and <br />Charlottesville have a vital interest in providing their citizens with an efficient and <br /> <br />