By Scott McCarty –
At the November 10 City Council meeting, staff presented Council with an update on the Main Street Moves project. The item was for information only, and no action was required (or allowed to be taken) by Council.
THE PRESENTATION
The presentation included background and history of the project, an overview of the results from the MSM Ad Hoc Committee, and an analysis of pertinent City and MSM data (e.g., sales tax revenue, foot traffic, police calls for service) over time. Several slides were also shown which depicted some of the proposed street improvements outlined in the MSM Vision Plan.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The City Council chamber was filled to overflowing, and 62 members of the public and business owners expressed explicit preferences or general sentiments during the public comment section of the meeting.
The preferences expressed by the speakers were for one of three options:
(1) Keep Main Street closed to vehicular traffic.
(2) Implement a “hybrid” model, i.e., some combination of open/closed to vehicles.
(3) Reopen Main Street completely to vehicles.
Here is the number of speakers expressing each of those sentiments:
– Keep Main Street closed: 31
– Implement a hybrid model: 22
– Reopen Main Street: 9
MOTION FOR A HYBRID OPTION
Although this agenda item was specifically “for information only,” Council member Duran put forward the following motion during Council deliberations: in the first quarter of 2027, staff shall return to City Council with “hybrid” options for Council’s consideration. The two options that Council member Duran specified were:
Option 1: Keep Main Street open to vehicular traffic from Monday through Friday afternoon, and then close it to vehicles from Friday at 5:00 p.m. until midnight Sunday.
Option 2: Keep Main Street open to vehicular traffic, and close it only for City-initiated special events.
THE UPSHOT
Council members Duran and Mangone voted in favor of the motion; all other Council members voted against it. Therefore, the motion failed 5-2. What this means is that the Main Street Moves project will proceed as planned. It will now be up to Council to identify and appropriate the funds required to accomplish the long-term vision for Main Street Moves.
