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122 <br /> <br /> Ms. Judith Mueller, Director of Public Works, stated <br />that following recommendations made in the urban design study <br />regarding downtown traffic, staff had met with impacted <br />merchants and reviewed various loading zones and bus transfer <br />points. Ms. Mueller requested direction from Council as to <br />whether staff should further develop plans to two-way Water, <br />7th and Market Streets. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jim Marshall, Traffic Engineer, stated that South <br />Street could be left open to one-way traffic if Water Street <br />is made two-way. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mueller stated that no on-street parking would be <br />allowed on Water Street if it is made two-way. <br /> <br /> Mr. Marshall stated that staff had concerns about <br />two-waying Market Street, especially at McGuffey Hill where <br />east bound traffic would have to merge into one lane and <br />because of the congestion which would occur at the parking <br />garage. <br /> <br /> It was noted that-advantages of two-waying Water and 7th <br />Street would be to improve traffic circulation and to improve <br />access to the planned parking garage on Water Street and the <br />CSX property. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mueller stated that improvements to the <br />intersections at 9th and Market and Ridge/McIntire, Main and <br />Water also needed to be addressed. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Towe, Ms. Mueller <br />stated that details concerning access to the post office if <br />the streets are made two-way has not been finalized. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters requested that staff further develop the <br />proposal to two-way 7th Street and Water Street, to extend <br />Water Street, to close South Street, and to improve the <br />intersections and that Council hold a public hearing on the <br />proposals once the information is available. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck stated that he would favor including making <br />Market Street two-way in the public hearing. <br /> <br /> Mr. Towe stated that~he was concerned about including <br />two-waying Market Street at this time because of the problems <br />associated with it and.the negative comments it would <br />probably generate. Mr. Vandever and Rev. Edwards agreed with <br />Mr. Towe. <br /> <br /> On motion by Rev. Edwards, seconded by Mr. Vandever, <br />Council unanimously voted to meet in executive session to <br />consider appointments of members to certain public or <br />quasi-public boards or agencies and to consider the <br />acquisition or use of real property for public purpose, or <br />the disposition of publicly held property, and more <br />specifically described as sale of property located in or <br />near downtown area and purchase of property located in or <br />near downtown area, as authorized by Section 2.1-344(a)(1) <br />and (3). of the Virginia_Freedom. of Information Act. <br /> <br /> Following the executive session~Council reconvened in <br />open session and unanimously certified~that,~to the best of <br />each member's knowledge, (i) only public business matters <br />lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia <br />law were discussed in the executive meeting to which this <br />certification resolution applies, and (ii) ionly such public <br />business matters as were identified in the motion convening <br />the executive meeting were.heard~ discusSed or considered by <br />the Council.. ~ <br /> <br />The meeting was adjourned. <br /> <br />~erk <br /> <br /> <br />