2009-02-02 - Laserfiche WebLink

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5 ADA Improvements at 407 E. High Street (carried over) APPROPRIATION j. : $16,667 – Marketing Leverage Program Reimbursement (carried over) RESOLUTION k. : Authorizing Additional Marketing Funds ($50,000) for Downtown Charlottesville WHEREAS, on October 6, 2008 City Council approved an expenditure of $50,000 in matching funds to support a marketing plan for the Downtown Mall to alleviate the potential negative impact of the Mall reconstruction project; and WHEREAS, the Downtown Business Association has provided documentation evidencing advertising worth at least $200,000 to comply with the match requirements, and the Downtown Mall Committee (comprised of mall merchants and City staff) has requested an additional $50,000 to implement the second phase in the marketing plan; and WHEREAS, the City funding would be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Downtown Business Association in either cash or in-kind services; now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia that the sum of $50,000 of currently appropriated funds in the Capital Improvement Fund (Mall Construction Account P-00156), is hereby allocated to support marketing efforts during the reconstruction of the downtown mall. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia that the City will match, dollar-for-dollar, expenditures for marketing by Downtown Mall merchants or businesses, in either cash or in-kind services, as approved by City staff, up to a maximum of $50,000.00, which shall include $5,000.00 for two (2) free Pavilion concerts in early April 2009. ORDINANCE l. : “AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THE IVY CREEK NATURAL nd AREA TENANT HOUSE” (2 reading) PUBLIC HEARING/RESOLUTION : PARKING STUDY Ms. Donovan Branch, Assistant Traffic Engineer, explained that in spring of 2008 a study was conducted of parking in the downtown area to address the following four basic issues: 1) Whether adequate parking is provided currently and for the future; 2) Whether the current designation of spaces in the core area is meeting community needs; 3) Whether the existing parking exempt zone is still appropriate; and 4) Whether and how transit can help to reduce downtown parking demand. She listed the following basic findings of the study: 1) There are problems associated with the current designation of spaces in the study area related to an increase in business and a change in business mix on the Mall, and loading and delivery is extremely difficult; 2) The parking exempt zone has outlived its usefulness and should be changed; 3) Increased transit ridership can reduce the demand for parking but these increases need to be substantial if we are to see significant impact; 4) Parking should be managed and enforced in a coordinated and planned manner; and 5) While there may not be a need for an additional parking structure at this moment, there will be in the very near future, and the City should identify a location and begin planning for construction now. Ms. Branch the study recommendations for on-street parking changes: 1) Restrict delivery by tractor trailers; 2) Create a temporary delivery placard to be given to each business; 3) Maintain the same number of handicap spaces as currently exist; 4) Where 15, 30 minute and 2 hour spaces exist intended for short term parkers, convert those to one hour within the core zone; 5) Convert the spaces on the south side of Garrett Street (between Gleason St. and 2nd St.) and on the north side of Emmet St. (between 1st St. and 2nd St.) to two hour parking. Allow unrestricted parking on the north side of Garrett St. from Gleason to 1st Street. Add “back in” angle parking. These changes will be implemented immediately;