Minutes 01/25/1966 - Laserfiche WebLink

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8 TUESDAY JANUARY 25. 1966 space, with the understanding--as to the latter--that said space will be used only for ingress and egress until such time as the City desires possession of same. A proposal--from Mr. B. Hairston Townes--to acquire City-owned property for direct frontage along East Church Street (U. S. Route 58) for his property, adJoining the aforementioned Lawrence property, was continued for further consideration. Council acknowledged with appreciation a report on, and analysis of, parking meter revenue for the calendar year 1965, compared with the year 1964, and for comparable interim periods during these years. By letter dated January 14, 1966, Mr. Walter H. Hagood, Promotions Committee Chairman of the Retail Merchants Association, requested Council to declare "free parking" at all City-owned parking meters, excluding its twelve-minute metered spaces, during special sales periods promoted by the merchants, of which there are approximately three during each year and the purpose of which would be to attract more shoppers to Martinsville. City Manager Noland observed that, while the intent is good, experience elsewhere and even local usage of metered spaces by persons who are not shoppers tend to support the conviction that special "free-parkingl' occasions do not accomplish the intended purpose. Mr. Noland also pointed out the problems which might arise, if the request were granted, from a precedent-setting standpoint. As an indication of its desire to cooperate with and assist the merchants in every manner possible, Council designated Tuesday, February 22, 1966, as "customer free-parking day" at City- owned parking meters (excluding twelve-minute meters), stipulating that in no way is such designation to be construed as establishing a precedent to influence favorable action on similar requests in the future.