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283 <br /> <br />session format; give feedback to Planning Commission early if individual Councilors <br />would like. Also follow up with status report on workshops held on Pen Park, Fry's <br />Spring and CSX projects at same time. <br /> <br />Race Relations and Diversity: <br /> <br /> Cky government efforts - equal opportunity in hiring and promotion (Human <br />Resources Director preparing plan) <br /> <br /> Council leadership in community - promote better atmosphere. Ideas: Council <br />award for building bridges; facilitating new leadership with new approaches; get schools <br />involved in building inter-cultural friendships; projects such as Jefferson School <br />proposal. Strategize different forums on race relations. More discussion needed. Engage <br />businesses in efforts - ask why not hiring minorities, explore employment practices, <br />opportunities, workforce development, link with region through Thomas Jefferson <br />Planning District Commission. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty said she is willing to take on the race relations and diversity <br />initiatives, to continue brainstorming and solick ideas. <br /> <br />Transportation: <br /> <br /> Comprehensive transit plan for future; CTS (future role in region and within city); <br />agreement between City/County/University for alternative transportation; long-tern multi- <br />modal plan to follow railroad tracks (will impact width of JPA Bridge); revisk 3 party <br />agreement on roads (work session needed if Council decides it wants to revisit this <br />agreement); time to step back and review CATS Plan; extend U. Va. Transportation study <br />to central grounds to downtown and North Grounds to 29 North. Work session <br />recommended. Long term transportation needs of development should be addressed; and <br />alternatives to traditional public hearings should be considered by Council. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said that she would help staff prepare for a work session on <br />transportation. <br /> <br />Economic Development: <br /> <br /> West Main Street - Union Station; other projects; transition zone, U. Va. Need to <br />communicate to public about these initiatives and why they are important. Need point <br />person. Technology initiatives; workforce development; Economic Development <br />Dir~tor to be hired; opportunities downtown/Cherry Avenue/Belmont. Create a <br />predictable process for development/redevelopment. Council should hold a work session <br />with the Board of Architectural, Planning Commission, and City staff to develop a more <br />predictable process. Council should be more involved in appointments to these boards to <br />make sure Council's priorities are reflected. Use high technology zone discussion to help <br />frame future work sessions. <br /> <br />Presentation: High Technology Zone Initiative <br /> <br /> Mr. Ken Schwartz, a member of the City's Planning Commission and Director of <br />the Design Resources Center, gave a presentation to Council "West Main Street as a High <br />Tech Corridor." Mr. Schwartz said that attention has been focused on sensitive <br />development on West Main Street, and on process, constructing a framework for <br />discussion, not development ora master plan. Mr. Schwartz explained that a meeting <br />was held in May of 1998 with Virginia Gateway and a public/private partnership was <br />organized A steering committee was formed to develop dialogue and tools for design, <br />and was funded by the City, University and private businesses. Mr. Schwartz said that <br />intelligent and sustainable community-based development is envisioned for West Main <br />Street. <br /> <br /> Mr. David Martin, President of Mosaic Technologies, Inc., a member of the <br />Technology Steering Committee, explained that the goal is to provide space for <br />technology businesses on West Main Street, and for them to be linked with the University <br /> <br /> <br />